doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com London Armory Co. Made Barrels?

This Reilly .577 Enfield has been on the Reilly chart for several years. It's for sale now on Poulin for quite a comedown in price. It is a really nice rifle. The Reilly SN is 11227 (1859 per the chart) and is the first known Reilly with the E.M. Reilly & Co. Address:


https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...queryID=9a5b2f612e65b01cbb6b4a703cade58a
MUSKET. Cal. 577. S# 11227. Pattern 1853 volunteer rifle musket, made about 1860 based on serial number. Reilly was quality gunmaker in London for few generations early 19th century into 20th century. Several other high quality volunteer muskets are known by Reilly. Standard configuration, 39" barrel made by London Armoury Company, 25 gauge London proofs, lock has crown and VR cypher and "E.M. REILLY & CO / NEW OXFORD ST / LONDON". Brass furniture is engraved. CONDITION: fine overall, barrel has traces of original blue finish, balance plum patina, lock has silvered patina. Stock is sound with large chip repair at toe. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of John "Jack" Dhooghe. (01-28234/JS). ANTIQUE. $1,000-1,500

Here is the question. It's been assumed that the last London barrel maker Fullard closed in 1843. After that all barrels used in London guns had to have come from Birmingham or from Liege. But on this gun there is a clear London Armory Company (LAC) stamp on the barrel. Did London Armory Company make barrels in London? The internet is not clear. If so where did they make them? LAC was a major supplier of rifles and revolvers to the Confederacy during the WBTS.

From Wikipedia:

The London Armoury Company (LAC) produced their own barrels for firearms like the Kerr revolver and Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle in the early 1860s, often marked "LAC" or with specific inspector marks. While the firm was known for assembling firearms, key components, including specialized barrels, were often manufactured in-house or sourced from specialized Birmingham and London barrel makers during that period.

-- In-House Production: Many LAC barrels for their 1860s-era revolvers and rifles were produced in-house under the direction of superintendent James Kerr.
-- Barrel Makers & Marks: Some, or part, of their barrel supplies may have come from known London gun trade barrel makers, such as Charles Lancaster.
-- Proof Marks: LAC barrels typically carry London proof marks rather than Birmingham proof marks.
- Key Figures: James Kerr (foreman/superintendent) was central to the development of the company's rifling, including the .451 caliber Kerr rifle (circa 1860-1861).

Was Lancaster making his own barrels in the 1850's? Were there "London barrel makers" in the 1850'? My understanding is, "No there weren't."

Dr. Drew's post from a previous line:

From William Wellington Greener, The Gun and Its Development, 1907, 8th Edition
http://books.google.com/books?id=3HMCAAAAYAAJ

In London the barrel-welding industry was never of great importance since 1844 no gun-barrel welder has practised in the Metropolis. The last maker was W. Fullard, of Clerkenwell, who enjoyed a high reputation for all kinds of sporting gun barrels. The military barrels were obtained from the Midlands, whence, or from foreign centres, the figured barrels used by London makers are now imported.

Gene,

At the risk of differing with WWG, it all depends on what you mean by “London” and what you mean by “barrel maker”.

The Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield is within the London area, and I am sure that they made their own barrels for Enfield rifles.

What I don’t know is whether the iron or steel came to them in rods, billets or rough bored tubes.

Cogswell and Harrison manufactured shotguns in London, and London Small Arms produced Lee-Enfield and War Office Pattern Rifles, but again the same caveat applies.

By “gun-barrel welder” I believe WWG meant to refer to someone who could produce a gun barrel with no greater industrial means than an anvil, furnace, hammers and a mandrel. W.Fullard appears to have been the last such practitioner in London.

Thanks and a very good answer. One would assume that a barrel could still be bored and finished in London. But to what extent was this done is indeed a mystery. Perhaps someone toured LAS or some other firm and wrote it up.