British Sporting Firearms Articles

Aug 01, 2026

Westley Richards – 1860 Breech-Loader

Westley Richards – Gunmakers 1860 Breech-Loader The first Westley Richard Sporting Game breech-loading guns emerged in 1858 and were of Pin-fire form. The majority of early breech-loaders from Westley Richards encountered today are of Top-Lever patented designs.

171 David Neale

Jul 04, 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 Victorian Sporting game gun. However, there have been a number of surviving guns bearing the Barnes name, including Shotguns, Muskets, Rifles, and Pistols. The period of gun-making and manufacturing took place between 1825 and 1865.

263 David Neale

Jun 23, 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 discussions over the terms of ‘best gun,’ ‘best-gun maker,’ and ‘best gun maker’, these discussions are seemingly hard to avoid, and are even harder to settle. While there have been many storied gunmakers, the period 1851 to 1869 is of primary interest to the author of this article, Stephen Nash, to which he reminds us, ‘It must be remembered, Gun makers of the new concept in building breech-loaders were all equally new to the task, no matter the pedigree of the maker, or their name’.

241 Stephen Nash

Jun 14, 2026

Reverend Alexander John Forsyth

Reverend Alexander John Forsyth Inventor of the Percussion Lock Alexander John Forsyth (1768-1843) was the Presbyterian church minister of Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, from 1791 to 1843. The Reverend is highly regarded, for his inquisitive mind, the invention of the percussion lock, and the high quality of his work.

341 David Neale

Jun 14, 2026

Thomas Wild - Birmingham

Thomas Wild - Gunmaker - Birmingham - The gun retailed by Thomas Wild of Birmingham, with the William Baker ‘Coil Spring Lock’ patent No. 2899 of 1902. The example of the patent No. 2899 in this particular gun, is one of three variants of the patent, however, this is the only one that is regularly encountered.

295 David Neale

Jun 01, 2026

Edward Bond - London

Edward Bond – London 1865 Pin-fire Gun maker 1762-1879 Edward Bond of London is best known from the era of the Muzzle-loader covering pistols, sporting guns and military weapons made as both Flint-lock and Percussion. The quality of work from this maker is well established including good quality ‘Duelling Pistols’ Edward Bond and the manufacture of Sporting Game guns in the form of Pin-fires are relatively low in number.

316 David Neale

May 23, 2026

Henry Watson Whaley - Gunmaker

Henry Watson Whaley - Strood, Kent A Pinfire Single barrel, signed Whaley An interesting article from Stephen Nash, after securing a Single barrel conversion - Muzzle-loader to Pin-fire, by a provincial gunmaker, who likes to doing things the hard way !

316 Stephen Nash

May 08, 2026

Robert Adams - Gunmaker - Pinfire

Robert Adams - Gunmaker - London - 1858-1866 Stories from the Scrap pile Stood in the corner of a provincial gun shop, dusty, rusty, and out of favour, this old gun was getting ever closer to ‘Madame Guillotine’ – fortunately, the gun was purchased for the price of a good Pub lunch. This 1860’s London made Pinfire had a ‘Tale to Tell’

393 David Neale

Apr 26, 2026

Westley Richards - 1858 - Presentation Gun

Westley Richards Muzzle Loader Conversion – 1858 Looking at another quality made British Vintage gun, and then something interesting catches your eye ! – A plaque in-let to the right hand side of the stock, which reads – Presented to John Sidebotham by the late Lord Newton “Jan. 1899”.

518 David Neale

Apr 13, 2026

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

506 David Neale

Apr 07, 2026

Westley Richards - Pinfire Patent No. 2623 - Article One

441 David Neale

Mar 22, 2026

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.

538 David Neale