doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com John Fry Gunmaker

I'm traveling right now and don't have access to my library. Can anyone tell me anything about a British gun maker named John Fry?

Era? Birmingham or London? Quality range?

Thanks & Regards,

James

James,

Courtesy of the IGC:
"William Fry was born in Birmingham in 1813. In the 1851 census he was recorded as a journeyman gunsmith living at 4 South Street, Derby, with his wife, Mary Ann Fry ( b.1812 ), his son, John ( b.1838 ), and his daughter, Emma ( b.1840 ); all were born in Birmingham. William must have been doing work for John Holmes or John Robinson or both of them.
In the 1861 census John Fry was recorded as a joiner ( aged 24 ) married to Emma ( aged 20 born in Derby ), they were living at 218 Abbey Street with John Bamford, John's brother-in-law. The description "joiner" may well be a census misunderstanding, his occupation may have been "stocker".
In 1862 William Fry was recorded at 45 Sadler Gate. He appears to have moved in about 1871 to 33 Sadler Gate, but he died in 1873.
In 1881 John Fry was recorded as a gun maker at 14 Sadler Gate. By this date he and Emma had two sons, William ( a gunmaker aged 18 ) and John ( a telegraph clerk aged 15 ). They also had three daughters.
John Fry ( the father ) was recorded in the 1901 census aged 63 still in business at 14 Sadler Gate and still married to Emma, but his son, William had died in 1895. It is believed the business continued until 1920."

There are some here who own Fry guns. They will be along with more.

Pete

May be able to add a bit more. I have a Fry hammer gun with post 1925 proof marks. I only live a few miles north of Derby, England and have a special interest in guns from this town. Mine is marked 17, Sadlergate which was his last known address. I think that 14 and 17 Sadlergate were the same premises with just a re-numbering of the street. I have been down the backs off the shops on Sadlergate and found an old brick building still standing there in one of the yards which I believe could be part of the old workshop. Over the years the street has had a few modifications. I'll get the gun out and get a photo to post. Lagopus.....

Not the best of photographs; just got a quick one to post.



John Fry, 17, Sadlergate, Derby. 30 inch steel nitro proof barrels, bar action, pistol grop stock. Lagopus.....

Here's a few pictures of what I'm looking at. Been sleeved at some point by CG Bonehill.

Interesting in that Bonehills have 'New Barrel by etc.' whereas the proof stamp indicates 'sleeved'. I have seen barrels wrongly stamped by the proof house before. The barrels have post 1925 Birmingham marks then new marks from the London proof house in 75. Possibly new barrels were made between 1925 and 1954 and then later sleeved.

Just to add a bit more history to the above from an old Derby - Illustraded magazine that I have dug up. William Fry founded the business in 1847 and passed it through the family to James Fry (possibly son) then passed to John Fry. The magazine is dated around 1906. Must get down to Derby library and museum and do some more research on this one! Lagopus.....

Lagopus, Thanks for drawing my attention to the "New Barrels / Sleeved" discrepancy. Wish I could pick up the gun and figure it out.

Regards,

James

Does anyone know where I can find parts to this gun? I know this thread is old now, but I'm in desperate need of parts to this shotgun. Does it have to be John Fry made to fit the gun, or will other parts from similar guns do just as well?
Thanks

Trouble is with English guns is that there are all 'one-offs'. Even pairs don't have parts that interchange. There are odd exceptions by Bonehill, B.S.A. and Webley & Scott so your only hope is to have the part made by a Gunsmith.

I would like to know a bit more about your Fry gun if possible. Since posting the above I have acquired a further Fry hammer gun in 16 bore. Lagopus.....