redwins Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 I have inherited a double hammer 12 gauge proofed for black powder. The proof marks date it around 1860 and the name A.Kew Louth appears on the action and barrells. I cannot find a gunsmith/company etc by that name. Has anyone come across the name before or could it be the name of the first owner. The history of the gun facinates me and i would welcome any comments anyone has. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 I have a book on gun makers of Lincolnshire i will look it up later when I get home Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted February 27, 2013 Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 I have done some research and all I can tell you is Alfred Kew was a gun-maker located in Louth at 27 Mercer Row Louth between 1868 to 1885 but from 1872 he was a fishing tackle supplier. It was possibly his fathers business as there is also a Jonathan Kew listed at the same address in 1841-1861 before that he was at Market Place Louth but I do not know the shop No regards Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwins Posted February 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 Thanks Deershooter thats brilliant. As i said using the proof marks as a guide to its age, it certainly fits into the era of Alfred Kew. I took it along to a local clay club and one of the trappers who's well versed in all types of guns dated it at around 1860. He loaded me some black powder cartridges to try in it but as yet i'v not tried it. It was passed to me by my brother and it was our intention to just have some fun with it but sadly i lost him before we had the chance. I thought it was a wildfowling piece with the 30 inch barells but i understand this length was the norn, untill churchill started using 28 inch with the advent of smokeless powders Thanks once again, i will post the outcome of its first trial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaunda Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Boothroyds Reveised Directory of British Gunmakers gives - Jonathan KEW 27 Mercer Row,Louth 1834 to 1863 Alfred Kew .. 1867 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaunda Posted February 28, 2013 Report Share Posted February 28, 2013 Jonathan Kew b Louth,Lincs 1809/1811 1841 Census has him as maried,no children,Gunmaker,Mercer Row,Louth 1851 Census,married,no children Gunmaker,Mercer Row 1861 Census, married,no children,Gunmaker, 27 Mercer Row Alfred Kew b Louth 1842 1861 Census 62 Eastgate Gunmaker 1871 Census 4 Lee Street,Louth,Gunmaker,married,two children and a domestic servant Most likely Alfred was a nephew of Jonathan who took learnt at uncle's bench and later took over family business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 In 1864 Jonathan Kews shop at 27 Mercer Row changed name to Alfred Kew .Alfred had been apprenticed to his uncle before he took over the shop serving a 7 year apprenticeship . Jonathan died on 19 August 1867 aged 59 his estate was valued at less than £450.00 An advert in Whites directory in 1872 describes Alfred Kew as "Gunmaker ,single and double breach and muzzle-loading gun dealer in rifles revolvers and every other kind of pistol, loaded cartridges of the best quality pin and central fire . Alfred Kew died on 9 July 1887 aged 47 and was buried on 12 July 1887 the business was take over by JP Hodgson on 13 August 1887. Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwins Posted March 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 Once again thanks to both "Deershooter" and "kaunda". All the above information is very gratefully received. Based on the above i think it reasonable to assume the gun must have been made by Alfred sometime between 1864 and 1887. The black powder proof marks it bears were used by Birmingham between 1868 and 1925. If guns could talk what stories it could tell!! Regards redwins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted March 1, 2013 Report Share Posted March 1, 2013 No problem I have a very good book that lists all gun-makers from Lincolnshire Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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