The Birmingham gun trade, First World War

[Pedrocut]

From the Evening Despatch, May 1915, a report from the annual meeting of the gun trade, and the effect of the War on the Birmingham gun-making trade.

“Since the declaration of war demand for sporting guns had practically ceased, on the eve of what promised to be an exceptionally good shooting season, both in the country and for export, which was of more importance in its volume....In no previous war had there been so little employment for the gun maker, nor, indeed, at any other time. In the Crimean War, the American War, and the Franco-Prussian War nearly every maker turned his attention to the hand-made weapons which were acceptable at that period, and a rich harvest was reaped both by masters and men.”

 

[mw0njm.]

From the Evening Despatch, May 1915, a report from the annual meeting of the gun trade, and the effect of the War on the Birmingham gun-making trade.

“Since the declaration of war demand for sporting guns had practically ceased, on the eve of what promised to be an exceptionally good shooting season, both in the country and for export, which was of more importance in its volume....In no previous war had there been so little employment for the gun maker, nor, indeed, at any other time. In the Crimean War, the American War, and the Franco-Prussian War nearly every maker turned his attention to the hand-made weapons which were acceptable at that period, and a rich harvest was reaped both by masters and men.”

......crafted gunsmiths made millions of hand crafted weapons .only to be destroyed after the war

 

[Pedrocut]

In August 1914, the father of the Birmingham gun trade, Henry Jones, dies at the age of 102...

 

[mw0njm.]

In August 1914, the father of the Birmingham gun trade, Henry Jones, dies at the age of 102...

View attachment 140120

any more imput on this gun smith. Pedrocut?i cant find any

• Joseph Bentley – shared patents with Webley & Scott
• Thomas Bland & Sons – now trading in the USA but still using Birmingham proof for quality assurance
• Braendlin and Sommerville – eventually Galand and Sommerville
• A A Brown & Sons – Founding member John Joseph Brown, learned his trade at Webley & Scott, Birmingham Small Arms and W. W. Greener, the company was still trading in 2007
• Thomas Chambers – originally of Bristol, manufactured in Birmingham from 1753 to 1757 at which point he moved to London
• Farmer and Galton – supplied weaponry to the Company of Merchants in Africa
• W. W. Greener – Owned the large Prize Gun Works in Loveday street
• Thomas Ketland – established in the early 18th century and became one of the largest businesses in the gun quarter
• The Kynoch Gun Factory
• Parker Hale – closed down in 2000
• William Perry – established in 1778, manufactured brass and silver guns, often marking them with a London tag
• Westley Richards – producers of the famous British Lee–Enfield rifles
• E. Roberts – specialised in walking stick shotguns
• William Tranter – founding partner in BSA
• Webley & Scott – pistol and airgun manufacturers

Far

 

[mikejee]

David Williams' book "The birmingham gun trade" does not mention any Henry Jones in the Index
g8

 

[mikejee]

The newspaper archives give another obituary and also a couple of snippets that show his business went into bankruptcy , so presumably he worked for others after this.

 

[Pedrocut]

There is a Henry Jones Birmingham gunmaker from Hockley mentioned in the bankruptcy courts of the 1860s, and also what may have been his father in the 1830s

 

[Pedrocut]

Henry Jones v Samuel Colt?

1835...Year of claimed invention (by Henry JONES) of the ‘self-acting revolving pistol, in Birmingham’. (The Ironmonger, 24/12/1910, p566)

(Research Press, Firearms, Long Range Target Shooting & Associated History)

 

[Pedrocut]

In 1835 a Chas Jones, of Whittall Street, met the turkish embassador for purpose of examining Mr Jones's beautifully, newly invented patent gun....his wish Mr Jones should adopt his invention to military purposes...

 

[mw0njm.]

In 1835 a Chas Jones, of Whittall Street, met the turkish embassador for purpose of examining Mr Jones's beautifully, newly invented patent gun....his wish Mr Jones should adopt his invention to military purposes...

i would love to see his invention.

 

[mw0njm.]

Henry Jones v Samuel Colt?

1835...Year of claimed invention (by Henry JONES) of the ‘self-acting revolving pistol, in Birmingham’. (The Ironmonger, 24/12/1910, p566)

(Research Press, Firearms, Long Range Target Shooting & Associated History)

there is a club in the quarry here that fire them muzzle loaders.and black powder weapons....i tryd them.na ill stick to my blunderbuss

 

[Pedrocut]

In August 1914, the father of the Birmingham gun trade, Henry Jones, dies at the age of 102...

View attachment 140120

One of the nice things about the BHF is that it can unearth information that is not mentioned by previous persons who have looked very closely into certain subjects. Here we have a clip from 1914 that mentions a Henry Jones, the “King of Birmingham gun making” and yet he does't seem to get any mention in the “gun trade" information which is easily available. In the clip Henry Jones is said to have invented the self-acting revolving pistol in 1835.

However there is the another clip from 1835 that reports a Charles Jones of Whittall Street demonstrated the pistol to the Turkish Ambassador. There are references from at least 1833 of a Chas Jones, gun maker and medalist at 16 Whittall St and St. Mary's Square, and in 1862 at Alma Street. There is also a mention of a Henry Jones in 1849 at Park Road, 1855 at 6 Court Lench St, 1873 at 41 Islington Row, and 1890 at 10 New buildings Price St.

Of course Charles and Henry could be brothers, or father and son, or even the same person.

In the first clip it also says that in 1858 Henry perfectected a double grip action breech loader. There is a mention of a “Jones screw grip action, a patent 2040 of 1859” on the vintage Gun site below

The Jones screw grip shotgun

The Henry Jones screw grip is a brilliant action.

www.vintageguns.co.uk

Looking on further vintage gun sites it reveals....

“The screw grip was first patented in Britain by Henry Jones in 1859 - an "underlever screw grip for breech loading actions" - typically referred to in the trade as "Jones underlever" or "lever over guard" as Lagopus correctly stated. The Jones is a screw grip action. It's primary (and only) locking system is a screw grip.”

So we have the basis for anyone who has an interest in vintage guns to delve further.

 

[mw0njm.]

One of the nice things about the BHF is that it can unearth information that is not mentioned by previous persons who have looked very closely into certain subjects. Here we have a clip from 1914 that mentions a Henry Jones, the “King of Birmingham gun making” and yet he does't seem to get any mention in the “gun trade" information which is easily available. In the clip Henry Jones is said to have invented the self-acting revolving pistol in 1835.

However there is the another clip from 1835 that reports a Charles Jones of Whittall Street demonstrated the pistol to the Turkish Ambassador. There are references from at least 1833 of a Chas Jones, gun maker and medalist at 16 Whittall St and St. Mary's Square, and in 1862 at Alma Street. There is also a mention of a Henry Jones in 1849 at Park Road, 1855 at 6 Court Lench St, 1873 at 41 Islington Row, and 1890 at 10 New buildings Price St.

Of course Charles and Henry could be brothers, or father and son, or even the same person.

In the first clip it also says that in 1858 Henry perfectected a double grip action breech loader. There is a mention of a “Jones screw grip action, a patent 2040 of 1859” on the vintage Gun site below

The Jones screw grip shotgun

The Henry Jones screw grip is a brilliant action.

www.vintageguns.co.uk

Looking on further vintage gun sites it reveals....

“The screw grip was first patented in Britain by Henry Jones in 1859 - an "underlever screw grip for breech loading actions" - typically referred to in the trade as "Jones underlever" or "lever over guard" as Lagopus correctly stated. The Jones is a screw grip action. It's primary (and only) locking system is a screw grip.”
So we have the basis for anyone who has an interest in vintage guns to delve further.
[/QUOTE.......... Thanks P. very interesting stuff........