doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com GE Lewis hammergun info and records.

Dear folks i have bought a GE Lewis hammergun SN. 2737. I have emailed Leeds Royal Armouries but got a reply that they dont have the records for this Serial no. The gun has 30 inch Damascus Barrels. Nitro proofed at 719 now measures .724 left and .725 right respectively. Much of the original finish is on the action. Rib is marked " GE Lewis Maker. Duke St. Manchester Square London. No. 2737. Any info about this maker and how can i access to info about this serial number other than the Royal Armouries is appreciated.

Best regards

Lovely gun, exquisite hammers. Congratulations!

Is it built heavy, and with heavy proofs like so many of the G E Lewis guns which were intended for waterfowling? I have longed for a 32" one for a long time to use for ducks. What are the chamber lengths? That top view of the shaping of the "snail areas" to the rear of the breech balls is just perfection.

Thank you Stanton, it is chambered at 2 1/2" with open chokes in both barrels. Weight is 7lbs. Right barrel MWT is 31 and left is 37. The gun is at the gunsmith right now for a strip and clean service. I will post better pics after i have it back.

Best

The IGC information is here
https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=439739&page=1

Nigel Brown's "British Gunmakers" Volume 2 "Birmingham, Scotland & the Regions" has a list of DOM by SNs

As Stan said, Lewis promoted heavy fowlers



but also made a lightweight hammerless 12g "The Aeriel"

That number should be around 1874. A view of the proof marks might add a bit more to the story. I gather that he was established around 1850 and was formerly at Duke Street, Manchester Square, Paddington, St. Marylebone and 172 Strand, London. I can't seem to get to the date he moved to 32 & 33, Lower Loveday Street, Birmingham. He may have used both addresses for a period. Looks like the book with records to your gun may be missing. Lagopus.....

Drew, thank you for the link to IGC information, quite a bit of info and history there. Actually i checked Nigel's book it falls between 1873 and 1874. Did he ever work in London or he had two showrooms? One at Manchester Square and other one as Lagopus said 172 Strand. Sadly the records are not available at least not from Royal Armouries. I will enjoy the gun and live with it though.

Thanks for sharing your information guys!

Excellent maker of fine guns

I know the late Cyril Adams shot a GE Lewis underlever, 34" pigeon gun

I contacted him in search of a nice pigeon hammergun and he offered me one of his. Unfortunately it was too expensive for me.

Interesting comment about Cyril Adams Stanton. (Not to turn this into another Reilly line) but he had three Reilly pigeon guns that I know of. . .all I think are now somewhere in Los Angeles. In 2020 I sent his assistant in Houston the then short-version of the Reilly history as published (in edited form) in Diggery's on-line magazine. Here was his response, three weeks before he died:

Mr. Williams:
Thank you for your exhaustive and well-written history of REILLY. You have produced a much-needed work which will be studied by students of English Guns and Rifles for both knowledge and pleasure.
Good job, Mr. Williams ..........Cyril Adams