Comments on the Birmingham Trade.
Most of the forgings used by the English gun trade came from Forge shops located in the Black Country towns, adjacent to Birmingham. For example; Dudley, Halesowen, WestBromwich, Wolverhampton, Wednesbury & Cradley Heath. Industry located in these towns were also major suppliers of gun locks and barrels to the English gun trade.
By the 1950s Webley and Scott were the principal supplier of,"In the White," A&D actions to the British trade trade.
There were how ever at least two companies located in the Birmingham Gun Quarter that specialised in making Machined actions "In the White" for the trade. Namely Phillipson and Nephew and J.Astbury. By comparison to Webley their production would have been small scale and was perhaps focused on the side lock action.
Companies such as S.Wright and Son, also located in Birmingham, made actions and complete guns for companies such as Churchill[Box locks],Rodda, Hilsdon, Radcliff, Gallyon and a host of other well known names.
W&C.Scott, W.W.Greener, B.S.A. Westley Richards all had in house capability to manufacture actions for their own guns and guns of others.
In the 1970's I visited A.A.Brown and at that time they were extremely proud of the fact that despite their limited production they made all major components of their fine guns in house.
Spot on Roy
