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Old North East gun makers


jgguinness
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Armstrong of Newcastle made shotguns. Have a look in Bagnal and Kirkwoods Newcastle, they have a few on the wall. Reid also stamped his guns Darlington for a very short time. There cant be many of those about. Remember some of these local gun shops did not make guns but finished them off and put their name on it. That includes Papes who made guns but the cheaper range they just finished off maybe a Birmingham made gun. Markings will tell. Ask Alan in Bagnals as he knows the score on Papes etc

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A Ward Thompson Middleborough and Stockton .W Greener New Castle . Conyers Scarborough and York. Several in the boarders ,Forest of Kelso for instance . Akrill from Beverley if that's not to far south .Numerous in Hull from time to time .Robson Durham . B Norman Framlington . A lot were just shops that sold guns but had them made with there name as maker .Don't know if Wilkinson of Barnard Castle or Metcalf in Richmond ever sold guns "by them".

Fosters of Darlington in more recent times sold guns signed John Foster but most went to the States I'm told .

Edited by Gunman
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A Ward Thompson Middleborough and Stockton .W Greener New Castle . Conyers Scarborough and York. Several in the boarders ,Forest of Kelso for instance . Akrill from Beverley if that's not to far south .Numerous in Hull from time to time .Robson Durham . B Norman Framlington . A lot were just shops that sold guns but had them made with there name as maker .Don't know if Wilkinson of Barnard Castle or Metcalf in Richmond ever sold guns "by them".

Fosters of Darlington in more recent times sold guns signed John Foster but most went to the States I'm told .

Hi Gunman I note with interest you have listed Forrest of Kelso as gunmakers. I am extremely interested in the history of this firmand have managed to get up on line some photographs of Forrest guns for sale, one an immaculate 20 bore hammer gun and others located in the USA. Looking through trade records it seems that the firm originated in Jedburgh as gunmakers then perhaps one brother moved to Kelso trading as gun and fishing tackle makers.. Have you ever come across any examples of Forrest guns?

 

Blackpowder

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  • 1 year later...

Burnand made fine guns,P.Small also J.F Smythe of Darlington.

Pretty sure there was a one in Barnard Castle too,but can`t recall the name,I have seen a m/l by him though.

Barnard Castle had several gunmakers and gunsmiths working from 1750 till 1960 period the early ones were Arrowsmith and Dunham from 1750 to 1800 from 1800 there was James Rowntree this gunmaker built the first percussion cap gun using the steel top hat cap for Joshua Shaw the inventor of the percussion cap, Othe gunmakers of that period were John Hesketh, Thomas Dalkin, William Rowntree , Borrowdale , Humble, Simpson , the last gunmaker family to work in Barnard Castle were the Richardson Family from 1890 till 19 60 approx the last was George Richardson who had his shop in Galgate.

Feltwad

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Used to go into W G Richardson`s as a youth for cartridges .Mr Richardson was rarely in,believe he spent most of his time at the golf club ! By then,1970`s they didn`t have many guns in stock .Paul Crompton took over the premises for a while ,before he moved to Newcastle.

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Blackpowder , sorry I seemed to miss your post . Forrest was at one time taken over by Dickson's of Edinburgh then I understand was sold on to a guy who ran it for some years whos name escapes me [might have been Duncan ] . Can not remember any specific guns singed by Forrest but I'm certain I've seen a boxlock and a hammer gun .

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Blackpowder , sorry I seemed to miss your post . Forrest was at one time taken over by Dickson's of Edinburgh then I understand was sold on to a guy who ran it for some years whos name escapes me [might have been Duncan ] . Can not remember any specific guns singed by Forrest but I'm certain I've seen a boxlock and a hammer gun .

Yes I was still a customer when Dickson's took over and bought quite a lot of fishing tackle there over the years. I have seen a Forrest of Kelso hammer gun which I suspect was only Forrest by the name on the rib. I have two Forrest catalogues from 1920's but they only list fishing tackle. There is or was a muzzle loader by Forrest of Jedburgh in Kielder Castle and I have seen several Forrest guns for sale on line both here and in the USA.

 

Blackpowdeer

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I think there was one in Bishop Auckland and there may have been one in Wolsingham, where l live, will have to dig deeper.

There was one gunmaker working in Wolsingham,my records show a David Coates gun maker who was born at Cockfield Co Durham in 1845 he traded under many different trades of which a blacksmith was his true profession.His guns were purchased in the white from Birmingham, I have examined and worked on serveral guns by him most were top lever hammerguns.The years he traded at Wolsingham were has follows 1875 - 1879 Pack Horse Inn ,Market Place,. Wolsingham has a publican come gunsmith, then 1881-1900, 22. West End ,Wolsingham Co Durham has a Black Smith come Gun Smith

He was also a keen live pigeon shot and took part in many compertitions , on the 23rd October 1882 he shared first prize by killing all his birds at the 3 day event at the Old Engine Inn , South Church , Bishop Auckland , Co Durham

Feltwad

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There have been a few Forrest & sons guns and rifles going through Holts auction over the years the last I remember was a 7 bore percussion Live pigeon gun which sold just over £700.I also remember in the June 2011 sale a .500 percussion s/b rifle signed George Forrest & Son, Jedburgh and sold for £3300 .These guns were both top quality

Feltwad

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  • 6 years later...
On 29/12/2015 at 18:06, Feltwad said:

There have been a few Forrest & sons guns and rifles going through Holts auction over the years the last I remember was a 7 bore percussion Live pigeon gun which sold just over £700.I also remember in the June 2011 sale a .500 percussion s/b rifle signed George Forrest & Son, Jedburgh and sold for £3300 .These guns were both top quality

Feltwad

are they the same forrest and sons kelso ...that used to make bepoke salmon and trout tackle ?

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10 minutes ago, ditchman said:

are they the same forrest and sons kelso ...that used to make bepoke salmon and trout tackle ?

Yes they are the same. I remember going in to their shop as a boy. By then it was more fishing than shooting really. It was like Aladdin’s cave to me. 

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