doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com James Lang history inquiry

Good evening! I recently came across a very high grade gun made by James Lang. What little info I could turn up via Mr. Google is that James was the son of Joseph Lang, and made guns on his own for one year- 1891. Now one source I saw suggested that after that year he went back to Joseph Lang and Sons. Does anyone have more/ a better history of the company? Any idea if A, G, and L would have the records of James Lang? I enjoy knowing at least who the gun was sold to originally, seems like a stronger connection to the past. Silly perhaps, but if I buy an expensive best gun I'd prefer to be able to buy a copy of its records.

Thanks!

I attempted to get info on a Joseph Lang single shot 12ga I have and all inquires A G & L have gone unanswered. Even after sending pics, Ser number and offering to comp�nsate them for the info.

Wbldon

According to info provided by A G & L a few years back James Lang started production in 1887 (at serial # 10000) and continued at least until 1895 (serial # 10764) when the outfit became Lang & Hussey.

From Don Masters book Atkin Grant and Lang � In 1886 James Lang and his stepmother Hannah sold the business of Joseph Lang and Son to Thomas Morton� �James Lang placed advertisements in The Field (magazine) during 1886 one stated
J Lang
For over Thirty years in Cockspur Street has removed to
4 Briton ST.
Bond ST.,W.,
Where he proposes to Manufacture of his well known quality,and also to expedite repairs for strictly Cash Terms which will enable him to charge at least 25 percent REDUCTION IN PRICES. Inspection is invited to his NEW HAMMERLESS GUN,the safest on the market. Speciality MACHINE MADE Guns on his new hammerless principle the best good gun in the world. Sent anywhere by post on approval and trial �14. 14s �
�James Lang�s best shotgun known as the Imperial Model ,was built as a hammer and hammerless gun. He stil made the occasional muzzleloader such as the 14 bore No. 10111 made for Colonel Matlock�
�The shooting range used by James Lang was at Wimbledon and when his business was sold to Col. Hugh Alexander Douglas in 1893 ,equipment at the shooting range was included in the sale. The last shotgun number used by James Lang with the 18 Brook Street address (In 1888 he took out a lease on 18 Brook Street) is believed to have been No. 10592.( he appears to have used the 10000 gun number series) However there were still several guns numbers in the 8000 series with out workers. James Lang also built a dozen rifles numbered between 17000 and 17012.�
I have to head out to a lunch to celebrate my sons 25 th birthday ,then out working on call but will look up the book for any other information over the weekend hope the above is of interest

If you go to Holts Auctioneers sight and in the past catalogue search put in James Lang you will see pictures and details of James Lang�s guns including an Imperial sidelock ejector and the sale of James Lang�s records.

Thank you gents for the info! Just goes to show there is lots of incorrect info floating about! I ordered Master's book, it's a great excuse to add to my library!

So A,G and L do have the records of James Lang I wonder? I see Holt's sold a copy of gun books for ~600 guns back in 2012 so someone probably still had them@

Here is a thread on my former James Lang BLNE.

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=446516&page=1

Although nicely finished, it was likely a trade gun as it just had his name on the rib and not on the action. I attempted to contact AG&L about it multiple times but my inquiries went unanswered. Toby Barclay has sold a few of them and was able to provide some insight on the provenance of mine.

http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Lang%20913%20SLE/Lang%20913%20SLE%20Details.htm

http://www.heritageguns.co.uk/Lang%20SLE%2010536/Lang%20SLE%2010536%20Details.htm

http://heritageguns.co.uk/Lang%20SLE%20Pair/Lang%20SLE%20Pair%20Details.htm

Has anyone seen a picture a James Lang case label?

There is a Joseph Lang and Son label pic in the AG&L book. Also, this is a good pic (see last picture) Lang Label

Peter Dyson's site PD shows a Joseph Lang label only and 2 Lang & Son labels.
Ken

Thanks Ken! I was hoping to find a James Lang label if possible, the son of Joseph.

Ok...I wasn't looking closely at the request. If you access the Internet Gun Club, they have a poor picture of a James Lang label. James Lang.

I'm no longer have full access so I can't get much more on their historical archive.

Ken