IGC - Forum

Perhaps this website might help in your search?

The Hodges Gunmakers (1839-1964)
http://hodgesgunmakers.yolasite.com/

You know more than we do ! Stockel lists H J (1845-1858) and M N Colleye (1850-1865 also spelt Coley also seems to have traded as Colleye Fils) are listed as having a patent and being located in Liege, Coleye is not listed. J E Colleye is listed in St Etienne 1781-1814. Fantastic, John. Thank you v...

The following is an interesting 16-bore pin-fire gun, and I am looking for additional information on this peculiar action and its enigmatic inventor. The gun has a rib inscription for August Schüler of Suhl, but it is of Belgian origin, with a single Liège provisional proof mark. At first I thought ...

Stephen, you may be interested in a gun coming up at Holts next sale, apparently it is in fine condition. The gist of the story is as follows: The gun and cartridge patented by Jean Samuel Pauly in 1812 is well known but Jean-Antoine Robert knew Pauly and to some extent copied his patent. Jean-Anto...

Barrelled actions or complete guns definitely. Guns stating Belfast and London have been seen but no London address has ever been found although they might have had an agent in London coordinating their export business. Your source material is good but details of the firm's history seem to be based...

I very much doubt if Braddells ever made any guns themselves and bet you any amount the gun has Birmingham proof marks although that proves nothing - because Ireland never had a proof house and all the guns made there (Rigby, Kavanagh but probably no others!) had to be proved in Birmingham. Hi John...

I have a note to the effect that a fire destroyed the records in 1895, so there is little information, aside from existing guns, before this date. For interest, I have a 12-bore pinfire by Joseph Braddell & Son, s/n 2500, with bar locks. The rib is inscribed "Joseph Braddell & Son Impro...

Bastin Freres patent underlever would be lovely to see in person, Stephen. Here's one from Holts but is a center fire. https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-bastin-freres-patent-12-bore-underlever-sl-1084-c-ua6kdqzotv You'll see it in June, John. The metal work on the Masu is very plain, bu...

Hi John, I have limited information on the Masu name and gunmaking in the Belgian side of things. Various sources mention simply “Masu” as a gunmaker in Liège, Belgium from 1849 to 1853 (and possibly as early as 1845); “Masu Frères” (Masu brothers), gunmakers, in Liège from 1853 to 1876. The only ot...

The following is from The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage and Baronetage, Edmund Lodge Esq, Hurst and Blackett, Publishers, London, 1859. I hope you can understand the arcane jargon of heraldry! In any case, it might help your search, though the information pre-dates your gun. FLEETWOOD OF...