Scope & Period

Our focus is British Sporting long arms from the early Sporting muzzle‑loading period through the birth and evolution of the breech‑loading Sporting gun into the early 20th century. Military links appear only where a pattern saw genuine Sporting use.

Featured Articles

Forsyth's Scent-Bottle Lock

Forsyth's Scent-Bottle Lock

Forsyth’s Scent‑Bottle Lock The Chemical Breakthrough - Ending the age of Flint The Reverend Alexander John Forsyth at the of this time of his invention, was neither a gunsmith or gunmaker by trade, yet his focussed frustration as a keen Scottish wildfowler led to one of the most consequential inventions in firearms history. John Forsyth was instrumental in the production of some of the finest quality guns, in resolving his frustrations. These guns being made by some of the best London Gunmakers working for Forsyth at this time.

14 min read
Richard Burnand - Gunmaker

Richard Burnand - Gunmaker

Richard Burnand – Gunmaker Newcastle-on-Tyne 1837-1886 Richard Burnand, a talented Gunmaker from the North of England, Burnand produced quality guns of various types, including; Dueling Pistols, Rifles and Sporting game guns, all within the Victorian Period. Burnand is given credit by a number of gun-making historians and collectors, even though many of us are unfamiliar with Richard Burnand's work. 

19 min read
J. D. Dougall - Percussion / Cartridge Conversion Guns

J. D. Dougall - Percussion / Cartridge Conversion Guns

J. D. Dougall - Percussion / Cartridge Conversion Guns This article covers the mindset of the Victorian Gunmaker and Inventor of J. D. Dougall. This unusual dual firing system, allowing the sporting Victorian game shooter in using the latest established design concept of the Centre-Fire Breech-Loader, but also in adverse or difficult conditions, allowing the gun to be used in reverse, and return to days gone, through being used as a Muzzle-Loader.

21 min read

Recent Articles

Forsyth's Scent-Bottle Lock

Forsyth’s Scent‑Bottle Lock The Chemical Breakthrough - Ending the age of Flint The Reverend Alexander John Forsyth at the of this time of his inv...

Oct 01, 2026

Richard Burnand - Gunmaker

Richard Burnand – Gunmaker Newcastle-on-Tyne 1837-1886 Richard Burnand, a talented Gunmaker from the North of England, Burnand produced quality g...

Sep 14, 2026

Frederick Barnes & Co.

Frederick Barnes & Co. Gunmaker, London - 1825 to 1865 The established business of Frederick Barnes, is not well known for its contribution to the...

Jul 04, 2026

James Woodward of London

James Woodward of London Charles Moore, Pellet-Lock conversion to Pin-fire An interesting ‘Woodward-Moore Conversion’ – With the unending discus...

Jun 23, 2026
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