doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A. J. Burgoyne, Pontypool

Does "A.J. Burgoyne, Pontypool" has any particular relevance to the English gun trade?

Thanks.

That would depend on whether you're talking about gun marking or an inscription.

If it was made in Pontypool it's probably a Midland.

If it was owned by an individual, and marked with a plaque,A.J. Burgoyne was a chronicler of the famous King's Light Infantry Regiment during World War I.

It all goes back to Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne,and the surrender at Saratoga during the Revolutionary War. Interesting conversation piece.

The name is on the top rib of a gun that�s on the way to me from a member here.

William Ford is on the left barrel, and what in the photo looks like Birmingham on the right barrel. Mr. Burgoyne is in the middle. In a search I found an Alfred Burgoyne in Pontypool who was a brick maker.

Well you've answered your own question. A Ford is a nice gun. The inscription was the owner. I suspect he was more than a brick maker however. He probably owned the factory. Of course it could have just been someone with the same name. I have no idea what the connection between Pontypool and Midland was. Perhaps they made some part for the Birmingham trade. But they seem to be often mentioned together.

Yes, the image of the bricks had the last name embossed on them.

Felt it couldn�t hurt to ask, thinking that perhaps there was a fellow with this name in the gun trade as well. Is the rib where the owners name would typically be inscribed? I�m more used to seeing a social security number, or drivers license number, inscribed with an electric pencil somewhere. I once worked on an AyA Matador that was done that way.

No that's very typical... what you might call aristocratically subdued. Nash Buckingham used to mark his guns on the top rib.
I think I figured out that there was no connection between the Midland Arms Company and Pontypool, just a computer override between gun company and arms Company.
He was actually a pretty famous fellow in a pretty famous family. Show us a picture of the gun when you get it.

I have a W & C Scott pinfire ca 1863/65 which had the customer's name factory cut into the rib. It reads "Made for Benjamin D Kennedy, Louisville KY". It has a top lever built under Matthew's patent with a single underbolt. It has been identified as being a quality A. It does not have a SN which appears to be extremely unusual for a Scott. Mr Crawford did the research on it at the time Scott had a facility in Washington State, USA.


PS;
My oldest Lefever has a SSN cut into the wood underneath the forend. At least it was situated where the forend has to be removed to see it but I would have much preferred it had not been there.