Ramrod Antiques

  This blog should read in conjunction with our older post dated 8th May 2022, in which a slightly different angle of events are given. However, General Thomas Russel was hung. Fleming was dead and Daniel Muley (Gunsmith) had spent over two and half years imprisoned in atrocious conditions without charge. David Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

                                                   Kilkenny Moderator 8/12/1829.                                                      (British Newspaper Archive)    Interesting note here, being that Mr Richardson wanted the apprentice to live outside of his business as it was quite common at this time for apprentices to live in the masters abode and take full lodgings. David Stroud. ramrodantique.co.uk

NB: All Mail and Day Coaches entering or leaving Belfast pass by the Door. Another outlet for the gunmakers of Dublin & Belfast. Blunderbusses and Pistols to protect the travellers and cargo!! No doubt the above information was also of use to the footpads and highwaymen. We are always interested in material such as the above. David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

  Thomas Fowler Gold Crowned Proof/Makers Mark. Our thanks to the owner for photography. (NH) Saunders Newsletter 15th October 1823 (British Newspaper Archive) David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

                                              These pistols not associated with the Reverend.                                            Waterford Chronicle 26th April 1845                                                   (British Newspaper Archive) The question is... who would call him out?... or more importantly... who would the Reverend call out?  He may have engaged divine intervention... which could have been a severe disadvantage to any opponent. I would suggest it's better than being called out by a Canon with a cannon or a Vicar with a Vickers!! However, 1845 was a period when duelling was in decline and Queen Victoria had made i...

Daniel Mara Gunmaker Ellen Street Limerick Tipperary Vindicator 12th June 1847  (British Newspaper Archive) Daniel Mara Jnr., was at this time in the process of leaving Ireland in order to set-up business in America and this he achieved in 1849. Please refer to "A Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers" pages. 300 & 301. David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk  

  Trulock Brothers Gun & Rifle Manufacturers Inventors and Patentees of Hammerless Ejector Guns. 13 Parliament Street Dublin Leinster Express 12th September 1896. (British Newspaper Archive) The rivalry between Trulock & Harriss and Trulock Brothers was immense.  Refer to our older post dated 16th August 2026 relating to Try Guns.  David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

  The Field Magazine 30th November 1889 Image courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive. We are always interested in material related to the early Irish guntrade. David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

  Bowls ( Late of London) Denmark Street Limerick Limerick Gazette 19th June 1807. Image courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive. Refer to: "A Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers" for details relating to the Bowls name in gun making in Cork. pages; 62,63 & 64. We are always interested in material related to the gunmakers of Ireland. David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

  Jersey and Channel Island Advertiser 4th June 1889. Image courtesy of the British Newspaper Archive. Refer for additional data relating to the Trulocks via: " A  Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers" David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

  Henry Allport & Sons Gun, Rifle and Pistol Manufacturers Cork The voice within an invoice Billhead of Henry Allport & Sons written out for the attention of  "The Representatives of the late Capt' Cosens Weir. Cork December 4th 1867". This invoice detailing the sale of a Breech-Loading Double. A gun case with tray and accoutrements including:-  ammunition .. cartridge bag... wads.. loading tools... turnscrew... oil bottles.. A revolver and case complete... including 300 cartridges for it. Holster, belt and pouch.  The balance being £37-18-00. due to Capt' Robert Cosens Weir having traded a revolver to the value of £2-00-00 in July 1866 and then paying a cash deposit of £10-00-00 in April 1867.  This cash deposit indicating that Weir embarked from Cork prior to his deployment to India. Unfortunately, Captain Robert Cosens Weir of the 1st Royals died at Husserabad, India on the 3rd September 1867 aged 27, prior to the completion of this order? The above p...

  Dublin Trades Directory 1940                               We are always interested in material related to the early Irish guntrade.                                                          David Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

  Stephen Grant Gunmaker Dublin & London Following Stephen Grant's apprenticeship with Wm Kavanagh in Dublin he moved to London where his skills were honed with the great gun and barrel maker, Charles Lancaster until Lancaster's death in 1847.  Later in 1847 Grant joined Thomas Boss who traded in St James's Street, London. Thereafter in circa 1855 Grant decided to return to Ireland and set-up in business at Portobello Harbour, Dublin. Grant appears in the Dublin trades directory of 1856 at the aforementioned address. However, on the death of his old master Thomas Boss in 1857,  Grant was called upon by the widow of Boss to steady the ship and took on the title of Managing  Partner at Boss & Co.. and this position he held until 1867.  In 1855 Grant had already proven that he wished to be master of his own house and this he achieved in London following his leaving Boss & Co., in 1867 and opening Stephen Grant, Breech Loading Gun & Rifle Manufacture...

  John Rigby (Gunmakers) Ltd..  43  Sackville Street London W1. An advertisement from "The Field", August 1935. Interestingly called "Progress" 1780 through to 1935 and then stating that the company of John Rigby was Established in 1775? Refer to our older post dated 24th March 2016. What is  clear, is that from the closure of the Irish branch of the Rigby Company in 1898 and its incorporation in Trulock, Harriss and Richardson Ltd., the Rigby company did prosper in London and the company is still active today under new management. For additional data regarding The Rigby's please refer to: 1/ Great Irish Gunmakers Messrs Rigby by D.H.L. Back. 1992  2/ A Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers by David Stroud. 2023. or the company direct : John Rigby & Co.. London. SW8 4TP. David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk