Charles Frederick Niebour
Charles Frederick Niebour of Uxbridge
Forgotten Victorian Gunmaker
An uncommon surname and almost forgotten Gun-maker, “Niebour”. Fortunately, Stephen Nash an outstanding Pinfire Game Gun historian, has managed with very little, and limited information given this Gun-maker a voice.
Quality made Pinfire Game gun from a little know and almost forgotten Gun-maker.
Charles Frederick Niebour was born in Faversham, Kent, in 1818. He is said to have established his business as a gun maker in 1831 at 124 High Street, Uxbridge, but this is unlikely to be correct, assuming a 7-year apprenticeship at age 14, he would have completed this somewhere around 1839. However, the business was definitely in operation by 1855.
Action is signed by Edwin C. Hodges, This action maker being the very best breech-loading actioner in London.
Charles Frederick Niebour had a son, William Henry, born in 1843. He joined the business around 1865, probably after completing his apprenticeship with his father. William Henry Niebour had a son in 1866, also named Charles Frederick. The gun-making business of C. F. Niebour took on a new apprentice around 1869, this was Herbert G. Gudgin from Canterbury, as was typical of the time, apprentice Gudgin lived with the master. Charles Frederick the younger joined the family business around 1883. The elder Charles Frederick died in 1888, and the business closed its doors in 1890.
Advertisement in the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette - Saturday 1st June 1889
After Charles Frederick Niebour had passed away, the business was put up for sale by his Widow. The Advertisement, published in the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette - Saturday 1st June 1889, had the desired effect, catching the eye of one Sydney T. Hackett.
Advertisement in the Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette - Saturday 14th June 1890
The Gun Maker – Sydney T. Hackett, advertised locally within the same Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette - Saturday 14th June 1890. Advertising himself as a Gun, Rifle and Pistol Maker, who purchased the business of the late C. F. Neibour. There seems to be very little information about the Gunmaker Sydney T. Hackett.
Charles Frederick Niebour's Uxbridge location had access to the superior craftsmen attracted to London.
Uxbridge is now contained within West London, but in mid-Victorian times, it was a small Middlesex market town just outside of London. However, being close to London meant access to the superior craftsmen attracted to the city, and Uxbridge was also well served by the Grand Junction Canal, linking Uxbridge with Birmingham and the Thames. It was a good location for a gunmaker.
No serial number, but put together by a quality gun-making business - Charles Frederick Niebour.
This article covers a Charles Frederick Niebour sporting game gun, a 16-bore Pinfire gun, made in the early 1860s. The has no serial number, this being typical for such a small business. However, this was no amateur job, this gun was put together by a quality gun-making company. The action is signed by its maker Edwin C. Hodges, the best breech-loading actioner of London. The action is a single-bite screw grip, the type favoured by Hodges / Joseph Lang. This gun lacks the assisted-opening stud of the Beatus Beringer design used by several London makers at the time. The 29 7/8” Damascus barrels have London proofs, and the top rib is signed “C. F. Niebour Uxbridge.” The gun is beautifully made, and it has some unusual features. The hammer noses have exaggerated flanges, the finial of the under-lever is left smooth, and the splinter fore-end is unusually long, almost certainly a special order request. The gun also has a very brief action bar, resulting in the distance between the hinge and the bite being shorter than usual. Still, Hodges must have judged the action sufficiently strong, and the gun is still tight and on face. Some vestiges of heat-bluing and case colours are still evident. With the guns’ Hodges lightened frame, the gun weighs just over 6 lb. 8 oz.
