doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Charles Smith & Sons...(Pics added)

What is known about this maker? What was this makers reputaion in the trade? I have had in my hands a very petite 16 bore hammer gun built on a Purdey thumb opener action, the gun looks to be of the highest quality. This particular hammergun also has 30" best quality damascus barrels with plenty of choke, the gun weighs less than 6 pounds. It was so slim in the hands that I at first thought it to be a 20 or 28 bore. Any information regarding Charles Smith & Sons and their guns would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Dustin

I have seen one Charles Smith and Son SLE and it was the very best quality with very good game scene engraving. Top notch gun all the way.

I have a Charles Smith 12 bore 30" Damascus top lever hammer ejector gun with nitro proofs. It has profuse scroll enrgaving and a solid action body. It dates from the 1880s and the Southgate style ejectors were added some time later, I presume. Quite a nice gun. Smith traded from atleast 2 addresses in Marketplace, Newark-on-Trent. Mine is marked #37 Marketplace. Sorry I do not know how to post a photo of it.

Thankyou Daryl. Do know when this maker was building guns? What is the history behind the firm? This hammergun that I am looking at....I really believe you would be fooled into thinking that it was a Purdey, until you see the name on the locks and barrels, its that good, like you said...the very best quality. The scroll work is fantastic, the sculpted hammers, the fit and finish...everything is top notch.
I would love to know more about this maker.

Dustin

Here is info from Internet Gun Club. Maybe this is the "Charles Smith" you speak of. You might get an idea of the manufacturing date of your gun from the proofmarks and the various times they operated as Charles Smith and Sons.

Charles Smith was recorded as a gun and pistol maker at 86 Weaman Street, Birmingham, from 1861 to 1867. In 1868 he moved to 25 Weaman Street where he was recorded up to 1903.
In 1904 the name of the business changed to Charles Smith & Sons. In 1912 the address of the firm was 25a Weaman Street.

In 1917 the name changed to Smith's Khama Gun Works Ltd, the reason for the inclusion of the word Khama is not known (it may have had something to do with exports to South Africa in particular to Bechuanaland and one of its paramount chiefs who was named Khama 1875-1923).

The name changed again in 1921, this time to Smith's Gunmakers Ltd, but in 1922 a further change was made to Charles Smith & Sons (Gunmakers) Ltd.

In 1927 the company took on additional works premises at 22 1/2 Weaman Street.

In 1933 the name of the business became Arthur Smith, but in 1933 it changed to Charles Smith & Sons. They closed in 1947.

Interesting Daryl! The few C. Smith & Sons guns I have looked over have all been marked with the "Newark on Trent" address! I wonder why there is no mention of the Newark address in the internet gun club descript. Were there two makers with the same name??

LeFusil, the additional information of Newark would have been helpful. There were more than one Charles Smith [and sons]. Here's some info on the Newark connection. The Internet Gun Club also shows three Newark Trade labels.

Charles Smith was born in 1844 in Scarborough, Yorkshire. He was reportedly apprenticed to David Nixon of 37 Market Place, Newark on Trent, Cambridgeshire, but this has not been confirmed.
In the 1871 census he was recorded living as a lodger with the Brewster family at 64 Maldertongate. He was recorded as a gunsmith living with his wife, Ellen (b.1847 in Newark) and their children, Charles (b.1868) and Nelly (b.1871).

In 1878 David Nixon died and his wife, Elizabeth, inherited the business. She made Charles Smith a partner and the firm was re-named Nixon & Smith.

In the 1881 census Charles was recorded as a master gun maker living at 37 Market Place with Ellen, Charles (II), Nelly, and a second son, George (b.1878).

In 1889 the premises at 37 Market Place were given up and the family moved to 40-41 Market Place. A new workshop and testing range was built in the yard of the Clinton Arms Hotel which was the property adjacent to 37 Market Place.

Jack Parker joined the firm in 1890 (he remained with it until 1961).

In the 1891 census the family was recorded living at 40 Market Place which may indicate that the shop occupied the ground floor at 40-41 Market Place. In the census Charles (II), then aged 23, was described as a gun maker, George was a scholar aged 13 years.

In about 1892 the firm changed its name to Charles Smith & Sons. In about 1894 the shop moved to 47 Market Place.

Charles Smith died in 1908 but his sons Charles (II), George and Walter (b.1887)continued the business through the First World War, the 1930s depression and the Second World War.

Reports differ about the date, but in 1942 or 1951, probably 1951, the firm bought the business of Peter Knight of Clinton Street, Nottingham.

In 1953 the firm closed the shop at 47 Market Place and part of the workshop at the Clinton Arms Hotel Yard was converted into a shop.

In 1954 the Nottingham shop was moved to 28 Milton Street, and in 1961 to Broad Street.

In the early 1960s the firm became a limited company, C Smith & Sons (Newark) Ltd, Walter (Jnr) was recorded as a Director and shareholder. The firm is now owned by Roy Martin Gunsmith, The Old School, Darlton Road, Dunham-on-Trent, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG22 0UJ. Tel: 01777 228 259 Fax: 01777 228 960 Email: info@rmartinguns.co.uk

Other Info
The firm loaded cartridges under the names the "Brown Sixteen" (post 1910), the "Castle", the "Clinton", the "Gorten" (.410 2 inch post 1920), the "Newark Cartridge", the "Newark Twenty", the "Rufford", the "Universal", the "All British Extra Special" and "Schultze Loaded".

Fantastic Daryl! Thankyou so much for taking the time to research the firm. Great information. I am going to buy this gun, its just too nice to pass up. Thanks again, and if you like, after I bring it home, I will send you pictures for your files if you so desire. Thanks again.

Dustin

Dustin, that would be nice . Email is in profile.

Dustin,

How about us?