Henry Harris - Gunmaker
Henry Harris - Gunmaker
Ex. House of Rigby
Henry Harris ex. Rigby - 1, Sandymount Avenue - Dublin, a highly regarded outworker and contractor to William & John Rigby of 24 Suffolk Street Dublin. Henry Harris is recorded as being trained and working for the House of Rigby during the early 1830’s, by 1835 being listed in trade directories of 1835 & 1836, and further reference records Henry Harris at Sandymount Avenue in 1847.
Henry Harris - 1, Sandymount Avenue - Dublin - Ex. House of Rigby Apprentice, and respected Rigby Outworker.
A number of William & John Rigby firearms (all types: Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns etc.) have been found unnumbered, which leads us to believe they were manufactured under contract or under licence by other Dublin gunmakers associated, and having close links with the Rigby house.
Henry Harris out on his own (1835 to 1847) - building his own guns and as an Outworker for Rigby
In the Dublin trade directory of 1835 and 1836 no less than 9 gunmakers listed were ex-employees of Rigby. All these gunmakers would have been trained to a very high standard, this being where Rigby could place work when the Rigby production levels dictated. No doubt Rigby supplying all the parts from their 24 Suffolk Street - Dublin manufactory.
Dublin Trade Directory 1835
Anglin Joseph Bath Street, Irishtown. # ex Rigby
Aston John 44 Gt Brunswick Street # ex Rigby
Calderwood Thomas 14 Earl Street.
Dempsey William 192 Gt Britain Street
Devine James Howth
Flanagan Martin Sea View. Irishtown # ex Rigby
Gallagher Henry 207 Gt Britain Street
Hanson Charles 36 Grange Gorman Lane.
Harris Henry Sandymount Ave # Ex Rigby
Kavanagh William 4 Ormond Quay
Lanigan John 14 College Green
Mc Laughlin Edward 9 Bolton Street # ex Rigby
Murphy 190 Britain Street Gun Barrel
O' Flanaghan Francis 10 Erne Street
Parkinson John 19 Arran Quay
Pattison Mark & John 17 Crampton Court
Pepper George 25 Capel Street
Quinlan Thomas 1 Kelly's Court # ex Rigby
Rigby William & John 24 Suffolk Street. Shooting Gallery #
Ryder Thomas Seafield. Sandymount. Armourer to the pigeon House.
Smith George Bath Street, Irishtown. # ex Rigby
Truelock William & Son 9 Dawson Street
Tuite Richard Sea View. Irishtown # Ex Rigby
Wilson James 43 New Row, Thomas Street.
Willett Robert Bath Street, Irishtown. # Ex Rigby
The benefits of being trained by Rigby, being a valued Ex. Employee, and a contracted outworker, allowed Henry Harris accessibility to quality parts as a Gunmaker. The gun in question on close inspection uses barrels, lock plates and woodwork likely to have come from Rigby, or Rigby trade sources. The gun has a slightly British look, the lack of heavy engraving and broad based hammers ensures the Rigby origins are mellowed.
Etched Twist Damascus Barrels - Brass tipped ram rod & retaining clip to barrel end.
Irish proofing - The prestigious William & John Rigby and Trulock & Son were making their own barrels commercially by 1830, and prior to this Rigby had developed the deeply etched Damascus barrel the year before his death in 1818. All these noted barrels never show proof marks, merely the manufacturers name either on the barrel, lock or "Dublin" to the top flat or rib.
Top Rib engraved - H. Harris Dublin - Acid etched Twist Damascus barrels.
The weight of evidence somewhat crushes the idea of there being a Proof House in Ireland, the nearest Ireland came to this was by nominating Robert Symes as the Proof Master, but this was a short lived phase in Irish gun-making history. It should also be remembered that both London and Birmingham were very proud of their proof houses and their presence gave added credibility to the indigenous gunmakers. It is believed Dublin would have shouted from the rafters in the event a proof house had been sanctioned by the British Government. Bearing in mind the hostility that existed between the London and Birmingham gun trades, a third option for proofing arms would have been considered an insensitive and inflammatory measure.
Good quality trade made locks
Steel forend finial, cross pin fastening, solid forend escutcheon, and good flat top checkering
Dublin Castle had always been the main area of assembly for military arms and the Irish Board of Ordnance was abolished in 1801 due to price differentials and logistics. However, it is possible that within the Pigeon House or Dublin Castle there was a military "finished view room" where completed weapons were overseen and passed fit for use. The evidence from weapons found is that the military barrels were imported only, thereby obviating the need for proof in Ireland.
Strong straight grained walnut stock - vacant silver escutcheon - steel butt plate
Figuring in the stock is primarily at the tail, and straighter for strength through the hand.
The Henry Harris gun pictured is of classic back action design, although being Proof covered in Ireland by the makers name Henry Harris - Dublin, in effect demonstrating the gun had passed Irish proof. As the gun found its way to the UK, the gun would need to be proofed for the UK market, using one of the UK Proof Houses. This took place as identified through the Birmingham Proof marks 1855 to 1868, giving an indication and time period of when the gun arrived in the UK.
The dating of this gun without a serial number, and with the curved ball of UK proof marks being applied some twenty years after the gun was made took a little time to work out, and understand. It appears very few Henry Harris - Dublin named guns are in circulation, there are a number of reasons for this. It is likely his guns, and this particular gun would have only been built and named during the time Henry Harris was out on his own (1835 to 1847) - not forgetting his work as a valued outworker for the House of Rigby, and others in orbit of 24 Suffolk Street Dublin.
