Gerald,
William Kavanagh & Sons; Wm & Jas Kavanagh; William Kavanagh & Son, Dublin, Ireland.
Gun, Pistol & Rifle Maker, Gunpowder Merchant, 1796-1928
Although established in 1796, William Kavanagh was first recorded in 1817 at 6 Anderson's Court, Greek Street, Dublin.
In 1822 he made his sons (William and James) partners in the business. While he moved to 4 Upper Ormond Quay to trade as William Kavanagh, his sons traded at 11 Dame Street as William Kavanagh & Sons.
By 1840 William Kavanagh was trading at 4 Upper Ormond Quay as a gunpowder merchant.
In 1847 William Kavanagh & Sons took additional premises at 12 Dame Street into which they moved relinquishing 11 Dame Street later that year.
In 1849, James Kavanagh was recorded trading on his own as a gunmaker at 4 Upper Ormond Quay. William Kavanagh (& Son?) was recorded at 12 Dame Street. William II appears to have managed the business.
In 1853 William Snr retired or died and William and James took over to trade as Wm & James Kavanagh, gun makers and gunpowder merchants. They exhibited at the Dublin exhibition in that year.
In 1872 it appears that James retired or died because William continued at 12 Dame Street with a factory in Dame Lane. It may have been at this time that William (II) made his son a partner and that the business became William Kavanagh & Son, Gun Makers and Gunpowder Merchants, in 1881 they were recorded as such.
By 1890 the firm operated a 120 foot long shooting gallery.
W Kavanagh & Son designed a vertical barrelled (O/U) gun but they do not appear to have patented it, it is thought one or two were made for them by the Fenian Gun Co. One example bears the name P V Kavanagh & Sons (see P V Kavanagh & Sons).
The firm was not recorded after 1928. See P V Kavanagh.
Other Info
As W Kavanagh & Son the firm sold cartridges under the names "The Schultze Cartridge", "The Mirus" and "The Ideal".
Courtesy of
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