IGC - Forum

Wonderful to find this rifle has found a good home and has been restored to working condition. My grandfather, who "made" it, would be very pleased. R B Rodda & Co always used better than average wood, which is probably why they became the largest gun makers in India, but the quality of this replace...

Never seen anything quite like it, and would hesitate to try to date it, so I'm pleased it's already been dated to 1886. However, calling it an "Express" is ridiculous. There is nothing "high velocity" or "low trajectory" about a 24 inch barrelled 12 bore! A pity there is no information about bullet...

Hi Rick,

This is the usual and pretty useless set of marks for 1904 to 1925. You seem to have a serial number - who is the maker and what exactly is the number?

John

I did get your email and applied my not inconsiderable intelligence to it ! One thing is not clear, was he at 26 or 36 Hampton Road. The census certainly said 36 but he may have moved or maybe he lived at 36 and the shop was at 26? I have to pretend to be clever because nobody else thinks so.

Hi Rick, So many men named Alfred Davis ! This was not Alfred Edward Davis ! We have re-investigated and re-written the history as follows: Alfred Davis was born on 16 March 1871 in South Hornsey, north east London. His father was Henry Davis who was reasonably well-off and lived "on his own means"....

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.

Well ! That's a surprise ! Why would he open two shops at the same time - and doubling his overheads?

Hi Rick, No, they were different people, maybe both of Welsh ancestry - I suppose that means related but probably non incestuously! Wales is larger than most people think! He seems to have had a happy marriage - 9 children, but the business does not seem to have been a success. By 1939 he was a labo...

Hi Rick, He would have bought from the Birmingham trade mainly, perhaps his best guns came from independent London makers. Blanch would have made guns only for themselves to retail. Unfortunately, censuses after 1911 are not yet available to the public but through other sources I think I've found hi...

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-Antoi...