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Forums10
Topics39,519
Posts562,295
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Most Online9,918
Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 118
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 118 |
Anyone have the scoop on this maker? I've never heard of him and am considering a sidelock of his that has been refinished by an unknown smith.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,274 Likes: 1 |
Send your email address to me and I will send you what info I have. My email address is in my profile or PM seems to work for me.
Jim A.
I learn something every day, and a lot of times it's that what I learned the day before was wrong
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,164 Likes: 11 |
George Bate, established in Birmingham, 1881 as a gun and pistol maker.They operated from various locations in the Birmingham gun quarter.During the 1940-1950,s they were located in Steelhouse lane. By the 1990,s they had relocated to 8-10 Colmore Cicus, Birmingham.I purchased a used and restored, English gun from them from them at that location[Not their make] which they shipped to Canada.I was pleased with their service.Also at this time they had a branch outlet in the city of Stafford.Their business was observed to be, used English guns and imported guns from Europe.
Roy Hebbes
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,698 Likes: 46
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,698 Likes: 46 |
Still going strong (even expanding) shop still in Colmore Row B'ham and at Stafford (01785 244191) is the local telephone code.You would need to speak to Mr Cross methinks.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,954 Likes: 12 |
The guns of this brand name I've seen follow the usual spreads of Original Quality grades and Current Condition levels. The name has Brand Value level three (BV3) - Original Quality grade for grade and Current Condition level for level, 1/2 the price of a BV1 (Boss, H&H, Purdey, or Woodward), or 2/3 the price of a BV2 (there are 17 maker's names in this level). You can't establish the Original Quality by the name - period. All makers, with the possible exception of Boss, supplied a variety of quality grades based on selling price.
Bate brand guns will be what they appear (once you have learned to recognize OQ grade and CC level); not more, and not less. I am not aware of any "tarted up" Brit clunkers as we see with Belgium - no Brit counterpart to the JABC. Also, I'm not aware of any magical maker who turned out only best guns from his cottage and has remained unrecognized to this day. Brit shops were run by Masters who knew to the penny what their work was worth - and they all charged it, too. The guns were commercial products, not just labors of love. Fortunately for us, the standards of craftsmanship were high and labor was relatively cheap (the Master would, of course disagree with the last statement!!). The bottom OQ grade, Colonial/Farmer grade, was still a perfectly servicable arm.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165 |
Friend of mine has a 2" Bate BLE. Neat little gun, very well made.
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