British Sporting Firearms Articles

Explore our collection focused on British Sporting long arms — from early muzzle loaders to the rise of the breech‑loading Sporting gun — with history, makers, and technical details.

Westley Richards - Centre Fire Patent No. 2623 - Article Two

Westley Richards - Centre Fire Patent No. 2623 - Article Two

Article Two – Centre Fire - Patent No. 2623 The second of the two Westley Richards sporting game guns featuring the Patent No. 2623 of 1864, for a single bite snap action. The patent bridges the Pinfire and Centre fire transition. The use of the lateral thumb lever, has made the guns in both; Article One & Article Two, look up to date and ahead of their time considering their date of manufacture

579 David Neale
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Charles Lancaster - Base-Fire, Gun & Cartridge

Charles Lancaster - Base-Fire, Gun & Cartridge

The 1856 patent ‘Slide and Tilt’ action is renowned for its links with the ‘Base-Fire’ cartridge made by Charles Lancaster. The action durability and strength comes directly through the locking of the barrels to the action in two stages.

649 David Neale
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Westley Richards – Muzzle Loader – Pair

Westley Richards – Muzzle Loader – Pair

The Westley Richards guns in this article, built in 1853 were at the very pinnacle of the Muzzle loader era, however, and interestingly during 1853 / 1854 is when Joseph Lang’s Breech-loading Pinfire game gun emerged, was in production, and being promoted, as the start of the British breech-loading story had begun.

794 David Neale
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James Beattie - Deer Park Rifle

James Beattie - Deer Park Rifle

The Rifle that inspired this article was built by James Beattie, hand-made to order as a Park Rifle, for dedicated use within the confinements of the Deer Park.

782 David Neale
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William Moore & Co.

William Moore & Co.

Patents are an interesting area of study regarding British hammer guns, but not all good ideas were patented, including some innovative ones. For example, when under-levers first appeared on breech-loading guns, they were forward-facing, after the original French design.

584 Stephen Nash
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Charles Frederick Niebour

Charles Frederick Niebour

An uncommon surname and almost forgotten Gun-maker, “Niebour”. Fortunately, Stephen Nash an outstanding Pinfire Game Gun historian, has with limited information given this maker a voice.

518 Stephen Nash
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Edward Paton

Edward Paton

Edward Paton was born in 1819 in Dublin into a military family, who were deeply tied to the 42nd (The Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot. Edward became the regiment's armourer, and in 1847

525 Stephen Nash
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William Anson

William Anson

William Anson was the founding Father of the Legendary Boxlock action design, developed and built through the foresight of the Westley Richards Gun-making business.

904 David Neale
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