My understanding is that it designates guns made for them to be badged with their name but actually made by others in the Trade.
I have also seen it suggested that it designates guns made by them (or for them?) for others in the trade to sell.
A “Special ^ Quality” Westley Richards 12 bore BLNE T5*** stamped by them on top of the top extension “Made for Ford Bros.Maritzburg” which recently came back from South Africa clearly supports the latter theory.
As it has a Greener style cross bolt (as used by then by many others in the Trade) it could well also fit the former theory.
Intriguingly it is also stamped (using a different style of letters) on top of the left barrel “FORD’S HAMMERLESS WARRIOR’S GUN”.
I suspect that stamp might have been applied by Ford Brothers who were then Ironmongers in Pietermaritzburg.
( The “ ^ “ denotes the W R Triangle trademark which is lacking from my keyboard)
Last edited by Parabola; 10/23/21 04:21 AM.
