doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William Smith - Duck gun - history required please

Grateful for any background history that can be offered on the maker and the gun.

It's a single barrel gun (with the rod underneath to push stuff down the barrel), 27mm bore (1 inch and a bit), made by William Smith, Princes Street London. Number 15XX. The barrel is very long (total gun length with stock about 60 inches). Engraving of a duck just leaving the marshes is on the side near the hammer.

As you can see from the description I know nothing about guns, but the owner doesn't know anything about the internet and doesn't speak English - so apologies for errors/omissions. I told him I'd just wikipedia it for the history(!) but I came up with nothing, so I'm hoping somebody here can offer some info re history etc.

Thanks very much
Ant

William Smith was apprenticed to John Joyner in 1766 and turned over to William Shepherd in 1771. He was recorded as a gun lock maker in St James's in 1792, and St Pancras in 1800.

In 1805 (some reports say 1801 but this has not been confirmed) he established a business at 34 Tottenham Court Road and traded as a gunmaker.

In 1806 the firm moved to 2 New Lisle Street.

In 1812 he patented an "early quick firing" gun lock (No. 3588).

In 1817 he was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to the Prince Regent and moved to 59 Princes Street, Leicester Square. In 1820 when the Prince Regent became King George IV he was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary and the following year moved to 64 Princes Street. By this time he had been appointed Gunmaker to the Emperor of Russia and the King of Bavaria.

In 1825 (some reports say 1823) William was succeeded by his son Samuel (1794-1855) and the name of the firm changed to Samuel Smith (some reports say Samuel Smith & Co). Samuel patented a percussion cap and nipple, the "Imperial," in 1830 (No. 5978). This cap was larger than normal and the firm provided interchangeable hammer noses to fit the different sizes.

In 1831 Samuel submitted a percussion musket to the Board of Ordnance but it was rejected.

In 1834 Samuel's brother, Charles, joined him and the firm became Samuel & Charles Smith. Between 1835 and 1837 they were appointed Gun Makers to His Majesty (William IV) and the Duke of Gloucester. The firm continued to make flintlock guns until about 1850.

In 1855 Samuel died. Presumably Charles had pre-deceased him because Samuel's two sons, also Samuel and Charles, took over the firm.

In 1867 Samuel (Jnr) patented a breechloader (No. 1075).

In 1870 the firm moved to 18 Oxenden Street, Haymarket, Samuel and Charles occupied these premises until 1875 when the firm closed down and they appear to have emigrated to Australia.


Pete

Sounds like it is close to being a 4 bore. Might be a light punt gun but more likely what used to be known as a Marsh Rail or Bank Gun. They were used, often in the East Anglian fens of England, and poked over the banks of the drainage ditches and fens to shoot groups of water fowl on the water. Not used for standing shots from the shoulder but rested on the banks. Used by Market Hunters rather than sportsmen. Still legal over here in England. Lagopus.....

Howard L.Blackmore, in his authorative book,"Gunmakers of London 1350-1850", lists 19 London gunmakers with the name William Smith.William 1 was in business from 1589-1598.Your gun is correctly identified by Pete M; as the work of gunmaker William 9 who was located in Princes Street,London.

Thank you very much for your replies. I will pass this info to the owner.
It all makes sense as I just couldnt work out how anyone could fire the gun from a standing position - and they didnt!

Thanks
again
Ant

This is how punt guns were used.





A French version...


Pete