doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Horatio Jones

Just put a deposit on an English back action hammergun with the name "Horatio Jones" on it. I got nothing in my (limited) reference library. Google search only turned up the listing on that gun. A friend on another board checked his DGJ indices and found nothing. Anybody know anything about the maker (or retailer, as the case may be)?

John Jones was recorded as a gun maker at 6 Yorke Street, Wrexham, Denbighshire in 1867.

He was recorded in Chester Street, Wrexham in about 1878. From about 1883 to about 1886 his address was detailed as 54 Chester Street.

From about 1890 Horatio Jones was recorded at the 54 Chester, but between about 1897 and 1900 he moved to 25 High Street where he was recorded until about 1922.

The relationship between them is not clear.

Horatio Jones sold Eley Smokeless cartridges marked with his own name in about 1905, and a cartridge named the "Pheasant" in about 1920.

Pete

Damn, Pete. That was impressive. What reference are you using?

The Internet Gun Club has an on-line database. When all other sources fail me, I go there.
Often times Roy, lagopus or many others have additional information. Stick around, there may be more info coming.

Here, I found him in the 1891 census in Wales. He was 29 and listed as a gun maker.
He appears to be living with his brother Frederick, an engaver.
Of his 3 sisters, one is a maid, the other two are dress makers.



Pete

In my collection I have an example of the Horatio Jones,12G Pheasant cartridge. It is an Eley 2 1/2 case,orange in colour. The case is printed with the legened;"H.JONES, gun maker WREXHAM. including the image of a pheasant." It is a high brass cartridge,head stamped," H.Jones Wrexham.No 12 ELEY." From a collectors stand point, these cartridges are rare.They are not listed in the first edition of Ken Rutterford,s excellent book,"Collecting Shotgun Cartridges."

Nothing much to add. Roy, Ken Rutterford's later book still fails to list the 'pheasant' but only lists the 'Smokeless Cartridge'. That one will be a rarity and not in my collection.

Ghostdog, I'm sure that we would like to see a photograph when and if you get the gun. Lagopus.....

I'm really impressed and thankful. Thank you all for your efforts. Very interesting stuff. I'm glad my gun was not made by a lunatic or imbicille.

Here's the link from the seller:

http://www.cabelas.com/gun-inventory---owatonna---english-sg---1549930-hjsxs-owa.shtml

no photos of the proofs, but they tell me it has been nitro proofed. Chambers are actually 2 1/2, not 2 3/4 as indicated. I like it because it appears to be a good (not "Best") gun in reasonable condition that has not been messed with.

It says Sold on the web site so I guess it is now yours. Use and enjoy. Lagopus.....

yup. It will be a bit before it comes "home". photos and report to follow.

Thanks again to everyone who dug into his resources. Much appreciated.

ghostdog,

I hope you enjoy the gun when she comes home!