British Sporting Firearms Articles

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.

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.

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”.

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.

Westley Richards - 1848

Westley Richards - 14 bore Muzzle-loader, conversion to Breech-loader

Henry Harris - Gunmaker

Henry Harris - Gunmaker – Ex. House of Rigby