cc/dt
Certainly we Blackcountry artisans used water power in the gunmaking industry, barrel forging etc.,in fact there is an Industrial Estate at Halesowen that was built around a river to power the machinery and many outworkers set up around that brook including Brett Parsons Leatherwork, Brady's, Clive Lemon et.al.
I don't know about 'The Smoke' guntraders as my Bonneville,Bullet, and Rocket only ever made it to the Ace Cafe at Watford.Any way your older than me.Ha Ha.