doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Armstrong and Co History? Re-Barreling Practice?

This is the London thread:

Name Armstrong & Co
Address1 5 Newman Street, Oxford Street
City/Town London
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gunmakers
Dates 1850?-1897

Notes

Certainly connected with the Port Elizabeth, South Africa, firm of G Armstrong (later W G Armstrong) which traded from c.1869 to 1899.

And this on Arthur Howell:

Name Arthur Howell
Other Names Arthur Howell & Co
Address1 Dean's Buildings, Weaman Street
Address2 28 Weaman Street; 16 1/2 Weaman Street
Address3 28 Weaman Street
Address4 21 Whittall Street
City/Town Birmingham
Country United Kingdom
Trade Action maker; gun & rifle maker
Dates 1905-1957

Notes

Arthur Howell established his business as an action maker in Dean's Buildings, Weaman Street in about 1905. From about 1909 he described himself as a gun maker, and moved to 28 Weaman Street; he took additional premises at 16 1/2 Weaman Street but only for about one year. In 1911 the firm was recorded in Back of 28 Weaman Street only. In 1915 the firm became known as Arthur Howell & Co. In about 1942 the firm moved to 21 Whittall Street. The firm ceased trading in 1957.

Tim

Hi Tim,

Great info. on Arthur Howell, thank you.

Have you ever seen an Arthur Howell trade label? I have been looking for one for several years, with no luck.

'Fraid not. It is quite likely he did not have one - or that if he did, it was quite plain. Most of his guns were at the then cheaper end of the inter-war British market (I do not mean that in a derogatory way at all, just that it was the style of gun bought by those starting to shoot, who did not have deep pockets, yet wanted something better than a gamekeepers knockabout).

As such, a case would have been a luxury accessory. Far more likely that a new owner of such a gun would have bought a leg o'mutton case and a canvas cartridge bag. This was certainly so for my grandfather, who took up shooting in around 1925 and that is exactly how he kitted himself out. I still have the gun, the case and the bag!

Tim

Hi Tim,

RE: Arthur Howell Trade Label

OK, thanks for the explanation, that makes sense, and is probably why I have not been able to find one...

Out of curiosity, what gun did your Grandfather purchase in 1925?

Henry Clarke of Leicester. I have done some extensive research on the firm and have much detail, lots of it previously unpublished, on the firm.

I also research Hussey and Wilkes.

Tim