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Apr 27th, 2024
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19 |
Ok so who is familiar with prefix letters before serial numbers on British trade guns? Or makers marks for whole or individual pieces Is there a listing or reference for them? This what I know of so for:
H: Holloway
JA: Joseph Ashbury
G: Graham
I have seen an "o" but not sure who that is, possibly Osborne?
Were there any others?
Last edited by RARiddell; 04/14/19 06:05 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 351 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 351 Likes: 2 |
Hi RA,
I do not claim to be an expert on the British gun trade. And the more that I learn, the more complicated it seems to get. Apparently a gun might go thru any number of specialist workers to the trade on its way to completion.
I do have a number of guns with the initials "J.A." stamped under the barrels, just forward of the barrel flats. On my guns these initials do not appear to be a prefix to any serial number, though. And although I understand that stamp indicates that Joseph Asbury supplied the barrels, and perhaps machined the actions, any number of other Birmingham outworkers or gunmakers to the trade may have had a hand in finishing these guns up, for yet another gunmaker who actually sold it.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19 |
Absolutely correct about Mr. Ashbury. I figured I would include him in my query.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202 |
W P J, I assume is William Palmer Jones. Found on a British sidelock made for Kirkwood.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19 |
W P J, I assume is William Palmer Jones. Found on a British sidelock made for Kirkwood. Thank you! Exactly what I am looking for!
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,271 Likes: 202 |
Another set of initials can be found on American guns started at least by Westley Richards. I see "W R" on a Schaefer gun with Westley Richards opener etc.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
James Woodward barrels carry a "JWS". But, this stamp is not associated with the serial.
DDA
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19 |
I changed the intro a bit, but this is perfect.
JD & sons: John Dickson and sons
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617 |
I stripped a Hooton & Jones boxlock a while back and it had the Asbury stamp above the bolt slot at the rear of the action but also had H.C stamped near the knuckle on the underside.
I've no idea who that could have been but maybe someone on here will know ?
Also seen a few JL stamps from Jack Lilley and Ford stamps at the front of the flats on his bored barrels, the latter can be easily missed they were that small.
Another mystery craftsman was J.G, these initials were on the trigger plate of a William Powell.
I hope that lot hasn't muddied the water.
Last edited by Nick. C; 04/14/19 06:44 AM.
Rust never sleeps !
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,124 Likes: 19 |
Jack Lilley or John Lilley? John Lilley was a barrel maker in Birmingham!
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