blasterjudd Posted November 26, 2013 Report Share Posted November 26, 2013 Anyone know the history of this old Birmingham gunmaker? Am told they sold their guns in London through Abercrombie & Fitch but thats all i do know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) Do you have the gun? It might be worth taking the wood off of the fore end and seeing if there is a makers stamp on the metal work. I say this, as I have a D.H. Wallace (name on rib and action), but on the fore end metal work the name stamped reads 'Westley Richards'. I have checked with Westley Richards and they have confirmed, from the gun's serial number, that they built the gun in 1923 and sold it, in the white (unfinished/stocked) to D.H Wallace. It's what is know as a trade gun. As the maker in question is from Birmingham, which had a thriving gun trade, it may be more likely that they are the maker though, most likely having local specialists do the work and putting their name to guns.. Mmm, not able to quote or link. Found some info on an American forum. Have a look at this. www.Shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=156289 It mentions that the work was outsourced and Skimmin & Wood just added their name. Edited November 27, 2013 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) Skimin & Wood, 31 Loveday St. B'ham 1920-23, 52 Cliveland St 1923-28, 10,12,14 Vesey St 1929-56, Little Shadwell St 1957-63, 3 Price St 1964-74. F.J. Wiseman succ to bus circa 1964/65. All above information from British Gunmakers, Vol 2 by Nigel Brown. According to 'Boothroyd's Directory' "Skimin & Wood were mainly gunmakers to the trade, but they also specialised in pigeon guns - and had interests in Australia and New Zealand" Mr Skimin was also connected with (owned?) Holloway & Co, Holloway & Naughton who shared the same addresses at Vesey St, Little Shadwell St and Price St. The Vessey St address appears to have been Holloway and Naughtons premises (a four storey building with 16 workshops and a 120 ft test range) called the Vesey Street Gun Works. Information again from Boothroyd and Brown Edited November 27, 2013 by JohnfromUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 27, 2013 Report Share Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) He also bought the Charles Osborne and J.W Tolley names too. Edited November 27, 2013 by Penelope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=156289 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted November 28, 2013 Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 All smaller Birmingham makers used trade out workers in one form or another .That's the way they worked .Some made and sold barrelled actions in the white .Other bought the barrelled actions stocked and finished them . Some just used trade workers for all the building but as the commissioning "Gun Master " that is they were the owner of the company who's name the finished gun bore . Many gun shops before the days of mass imported guns had guns built by Birmingham workers that they sold as their own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted November 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2013 (edited) Do you have the gun? Hi Penelope Yes i own the gun but it is definately a skimmin and wood shotgun and engraved accordingly on the action and top of the rib area. This is all interesting reading thankyou ! It might be worth taking the wood off of the fore end and seeing if there is a makers stamp on the metal work. I say this, as I have a D.H. Wallace (name on rib and action), but on the fore end metal work the name stamped reads 'Westley Richards'. I have checked with Westley Richards and they have confirmed, from the gun's serial number, that they built the gun in 1923 and sold it, in the white (unfinished/stocked) to D.H Wallace. It's what is know as a trade gun. As the maker in question is from Birmingham, which had a thriving gun trade, it may be more likely that they are the maker though, most likely having local specialists do the work and putting their name to guns.. Mmm, not able to quote or link. Found some info on an American forum. Have a look at this. www.Shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=156289 It mentions that the work was outsourced and Skimmin & Wood just added their name. Edited November 28, 2013 by blasterjudd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted November 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 Anymore data greatly received ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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