I recently bought a nice boxlock inscribed, "J. Venables and Son, St Aldates, Oxford" and would like to find information of this maker and hopefully on my gun. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

The only information in Boothroyd's "Directory" indicates it's an old firm, dating back to 1846. Last listing is circa 1900, all in Oxford. I think Cabela's had a 16 for sale not too long ago, but it's no longer on their website.

Nigel Brown lists the following:
John Venables, 21 St Aldate's St, Oxford 1846-63.
At same address as John Venables & Son 1868.
Then 99 St Aldate's St c 1870-1985.

Pete

In their book, "British Gunmakers and their Trade Labels etc.,W.Keith Neal and D.H.Black,page 88 state,
"J.Venables & Son have been established at 99 St, Aldate Sreet,Oxford,a little before 1832& still conduct business at this address.[cica 1980].Plate 291 in this book shows a Venables trade label confirming the address. The differences in street numbers given by others, is almost certainley due to street renumbering.Examples of cartridges loaded and sold by Venables include "The Oxford" colour Blue or Black marked with the coat of arms of the city of Oxford, and Loaded only by J.Venables and Son, Gun and Rifle Makers.

Thanks for the responses; I guess I'll have to pop for one of those books. It is a nice gun and I would like to know when it was made.