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Argo44, Nigel Brown's British Gunmakers Vol. 2, lists a Samuel Breedon, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, 1859-1865. The IGC database lists this name as a 'Gun, Rifle & Pistol Maker'. Perhaps this alternate spelling might turn up some census data or other information.

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How did one become a gun maker? There have been a small number of self-taught gunmakers, persons with an affinity towards guns and shooting, and who were inventive and skilled with tools, but these self-taught makers were the exception. In any case, these "gunmakers" might have been more concerned with the business side of things, rather than the actual making of guns or gun parts. Guns were generally built of parts made by specialist craftsmen, and assembled and finished by different specialists. These skills had to be learned, and this was usually done through apprenticeships.

A typical apprenticeship to learn a trade was for seven years, though in some cases could be longer. Such apprenticeships were bought and paid in advance, a welcome source of money for the master. Pay was minimal and might only be in the latter years of the training, a sum less than that for a journeyman (daily paid worker) [Note: a journeyman was a craftsman who although had successfully completed an apprenticeship, could not employ other workers; they were often called jack or knave, and this is where the expression "jack of all trades master of none" comes from]. Masters would be obliged to provide room and board, which is why so many gunmakers had an apprentice living with them at their work address. A typical age to start an apprenticeship was 14, but could be younger depending on the trade. During the 7-year period the apprenticeship could not gamble, or go to the theatre or a public house, and certainly could not marry. Some kept apprenticeships very much in the family, and in the gunmaking business, training their sons who were expected to learn and continue the business. There were other incentives for completing the apprenticeship, for instance an apprentice who had not completed his term would not legally be able to work in his trade for another master.

The first years would involve tedious, repetitive work until a sufficient level of skill was achieved. An apprentice would not be let anywhere near finished parts or a complete gun, lest he make a mistake that would require parts being discarded or work re-done! An apprentice would typically start by making the tools they would be using throughout their working lives. After completing an apprenticeship, the worker would usually continue as a journeyman for four or five years or more. They could then become a Master in their own right by applying to the Guild (The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, a livery company of the City of London established by Royal Charter in 1637), a process involving a fee and the presentation of a "masterpiece" to be judged by the Guild (now you know where the word "masterpiece" came from).

The inter-linkage of master and apprentice, and apprentices becoming masters, means that the educational lineage of gunmakers can be traced through the apprenticeships they went through, and the apprentices they in turn trained. It can be said that British gunmaking as we know it started with Joseph and John Manton, in their style and pursuit of performance and quality. Apprentices of Joseph Manton include such names as James Purdey, Charles Lancaster, Joseph Lang, William Greener, and Thomas Boss. They in turn trained the next generation, and so on. When a former apprentice finally made it on their own, who they had trained under was proof of credentials and often emphasized in their advertising, and on the guns themselves. For instance, when James Purdey started out marking his guns with his name, he added "From Manton".

Frederick Gates was born in 1838. He was apprenticed to Harris J. Holland (of Holland & Holland fame) in about 1852. After his apprenticeship he continued working for Holland, and in the 1861 census Harris J. Holland and his wife Eliza were recorded living at 6 Harlesden Cottage, Willesden, London, and Frederick Gates lived next door at Rose Cottage. In 1863 Gates moved from London and bought the business of Orlando Smith at 14 London Street, in Derby. All of this follows the general practice described earlier, a 7-year apprenticeship, followed by a period of work under the Master, then setting out on their own. In 1868 the business moved to 4 Market Head. An advertisement in the Derby Ram dated October 10th 1868 stated "Frederick Gates, Gun and Rifle Manufacturer, 4 Market Head, Derby, (Late Mr Steel, Jeweller), begs to announce that he has removed his business to more convenient premises as above, where by attention to all orders entrusted to him, he hopes to continue to receive the support which has hitherto been so kindly accorded to him. Breech Loaders from £9 to £35. Every description of sporting apparatus". Shortly after the business was sold to R Dobson, who continued the business under the name Frederick Gates. In 1877 Charles Rosson joined as a partner and the firm became known as Dobson & Rosson. Frederick Gates meanwhile had emigrated to California, where he established a business at 37 Sutter Street, San Francisco. In 1878 he moved his business to Monterey, closing in about 1900.

Today's gun is a 12-bore double-bite screw grip rotary under-lever pinfire sporting gun by Frederick Gates of Derby, and it has no serial number. I am presuming it was sold in the latter years of Gates's business, made by him or the Birmingham trade, but it could also be a gun made or retailed by Dobson. Output could have been small enough that no serial numbers were assigned. The 30" damascus barrels have Birmingham proofs, and an indistinct maker's mark "M&P". The barrels are stamped "roses patent No. 20", so this is another set of machine-forged barrels coming from the Rose Brothers's Hales-Owen Mills & Forge. The top rib is indistinctly signed "F. Gates Derby," and the back-action locks signed "F. Gates". The foliate scroll engraving is quite worn, as is the chequering. From the advertisement information I would guess this would be a £9 gun, and not a more expensive offering. For a provincial gunmaker, a £35 gun would be of 'best' quality, not the standard trade gun like this one. The gun has been heavily used and the bores are quite pitted. It weighs a hefty 7 lb 9 oz.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Steve Nash; 02/04/21 05:26 PM.
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Here is info on the above Samuel Breeden, alt. spelling Breedon - from a few hours of research - internet is a great thing:

Edited - there are several Samuel Breeden/on's in Birmingham at this time....believe we've got the right one now:
Born in 4 May 1813. Saltey Washwood, Aston area of Birmingham, Warwickshire where lived his whole life.Believe his Father was William Breeden and Mother Mary Breeden
-- 17 Aug 1834 - Married Charlotte Lynol
-- 1849 listed in Birmingham Directory in Saltey Washwood as a Gun Furniture Manufactuer
-- 1851 Census born in Shifnal, Shropshire, England, Saltley Washwood. Married to Charlottte. Son William, Daughter Charlotte, Emma. Occupation listed as gun furniture maker; trigger maker.

-- 1853 notice that Samuel Breedon of Washwood Heath, gun furniture and revolving pistol maker took on an apprentice named Thomas Spencer (the younger) of Washwood Heath.

-- 1855 listed in Birmingham Directory in Saltey Washwood as a pistol and rifle sight maker
-- 1861 Census. Living in Saltey Washwood area. Wife Charlotte. 3 daughters Emma, Charlotte, Luisa. Occupation listed as Breech Loading action manufacturer and master employing 8 men

-- 1862 listed in Birmingham directory as a Gun Furniture maker located at Washwood heath

-- 1862 listed in Birmingham directory as living on Washwood heath
-- 1862 listed in Slaters Royal National Commercial Directory under Gun, Rifle and Pistol Makers as Breech loading located on Washwood heath.
-- 2 July 1865 Samuel Breeden died. William Hill of Birchfield (gun maker) and John Dennison of Birmingham (Confectioner) were executers of the will. His effects were worth under 100. He was buried on 9 Jul 1865.

So as of the 1861 census (in April) he was making breech loading actions. I still think the Reilly was most likely made around this time rather than March 1858. I'll post this on the Reilly line. Thanks for the help,.

Edit: Help needed:
My opinion: This serial numbered Reilly was not made by him...and is the exception to the rule that Reilly did not SN guns he didn't make (double negative - 2nd take - "Reilly only serial numbered guns he made" - clearer).
-- The Barrels are proofed in Birmingham
-- The action is from a Birmingham action maker.
I believe he engraved the gun (very familiar style), and stocked it (very familiar wood used). I also think it is an early pin-fire but not from March 1858 which the serial number would date it to. I would put it to 1860 or 1861... that would explain it having "E.M. Reilly & Co." (It would help to have more information on when exactly Breeden began to make breech-loader pin-fire actions. 1861 Census is the earliest hard evidence available).
-- If anyone has more information on the introduction of breech-loading action manufacturing in Birmingham and dates - help would be appreciated.


Last edited by Argo44; 08/08/20 09:35 PM.

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Originally Posted By: Argo44
Here is info on the above Samuel Breeden, alt. spelling Breedon:

Born in 1813. Saltey Washwood, Aston area of Birmingham, Warwickshire where lived his whole life.Believe his Father was Samuel Breeden and Mother Mary Breeden
-- 17 Aug 1834 - Married Charlotte Lynol
-- 1841 Census living with his Father Samuel (age 60) buckle maker and mother Mary (age 50) and brothers and sisters
-- 1846 listed in Birmingham Directory in Saltey Washwood as a pistol and rifle sight maker
-- 1849 listed in Birmingham Directory in Saltey Washwood as a Gun Furniture Manufactuer
-- 1851 Census born in Shifnal, Shropshire, England, Saltley Washwood. Married to Charlottte. Son William, Daughter Charlotte, Emma. Occupation listed as gun furniture maker; trigger maker.
-- 1853 notice that Samuel Breedon of Washwood Heath, gun furniture and revolving pistol maker took on an apprentice named Thomas Spencer (the younger) of Washwood Heath.
-- 1861 Census. Living in Saltey Washwood area. Wife Charlotte. 3 daughters Emma, Charlotte, Luisa. Occupation listed as Breech Loading action manufacturer and master employing 8 men
-- 1862 listed in Birmingham directory as a Gun Furniture maker located at Washwood heath
-- 1862 listed in Birmingham directory as living on Washwood heath
-- 1862 listed in Slaters Royal National Commercial Directory under Gun, Rifle and Pistol Makers as Breech loading located on Washwood heath.
-- 2 July 1865 Samuel Breeden died. William Hill of Birchfield (gun maker) and John Dennison of Birmingham (Confectioner) were executers of the will. His effects were worth under 100. He was buried on 9 Jul 1865.

So as of the 1861 census (in April) he was making breech loading actions. I still think the Reilly was most likely made around this time rather than March 1858. I'll post this on the Reilly line. Thanks for the help,.

Wow, great find, Argo44. If Breeden was employing 8 men in 1861 he had quite the business going.

Last edited by Steve Nash; 08/07/20 06:00 PM.
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Courtesy of Lagopus, here are pictures of a Frederick Gates pinfire rook rifle:



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OK, time to keep the thread going.

Gunmaking was not a business conducted in isolation, and it is not surprising that gunmakers often knew each other and knew of each others' work. In the early years of the breech-loader, a prospective maker would learn a lot from examining another's work, and there was certainly a lot of copying in terms of designs and decorative features. Earlier in this thread I wrote about John Blanch and his acquisition of a Beatus Beringer gun, which might have been the inspiration for the earliest lever-over-guard breech-loading guns in Britain. I've also wondered if the underlever fully wrapping around the trigger guard bow (with the interstice filled by an angled projection on the underlever) might relate to the Beringer design and fall into the category of "early" British pinfire forms, like the Lang forward-underlever (though unlike the latter, the former was built into the late 1860s).

Such style of levers appeared first on single-bite actions (with and without the rising stud on the action bar), and on guns with a European influence, like those offered by the Masu Brothers. Argo44 posted a drawing of "Reilly's breech-loader" from 1859, and it appears to have this feature. For those with the patience to scroll backwards, and as a reminder there's a lot to this thread, several guns with the wrap-around underlever (please, does anyone have a better term for this shape of lever-over-guard?) have been shown: a William Moore, page 3; two Harris Hollands, page 5; a Cogswell & Harrison, page 9; a JD Dougall, page 13; Argo44's EM Reilly on page 16, all seeming to take inspiration from Beringer-style guns, such as Tinker's gun shown on page 11. It seems to me that it would be extra work to shape a lever in this way, for a purely aesthetic purpose. Certainly most lever-over-guard levers have a much simpler, and more sinuous shape. Today's gun has this feature, and the maker appears to have a connection to the Blanch family. I wouldn't be surprised if many early builders of breech-loaders were found to have some kind of connection, either professional or social, with Messrs Blanch, Lang or Reilly.

Jabez Bloxham Welch was born in 1786 in Banbury, an Oxfordshire market town located in between Birmingham and London. He was recorded as a gun maker in 1829 in Butchers Row, Banbury. By the 1851 census he was a widower, living with his nephew Thomas Julian Watkins (born 1821 in Leighton Buzzard), also listed as a gun maker. Welch retired in 1852 and Thomas Watkins took over the business. He married Eliza Mortimer (a daughter of one of the famous Mortimer gunmaking families in London), and in 1856 they had a son named Thomas Mortimer Watkins. In 1857 the business moved to 75 High Street.

[Of interest, at the time of the 1861 census Eliza Watkins and her son Thomas Mortimer were recorded visiting with the London gun maker William Blanch (John Blanch's son) and his wife Madaline at 29 Gracechurch Street (the census recorded everyone who happened to be in that household at the time, including visitors); the Blanch gunmaking family was also interconnected with the Mortimer gunmaking family.]

Today's gun is a 12-bore double-bite screw grip rotary under-lever pinfire sporting gun by Thomas Julian Watkins of Banbury, and it has no serial number. The 29 7/8" damascus barrels have London proofs, a maker's mark "Z," and the breech ends have starburst detailing at the pinfire apertures. The back-action locks are signed "T J Watkins" and are decorated with dogs, and the action bar has game scene engraving within ovals on each side, all of which is quite attractive. The fences have raised collars, the hammers are nicely rounded and with flanged noses, the action bar is strengthened with a radius, and, as described earlier, the under-lever fully wraps around the trigger guard bow. Without records it is difficult to date a gun, but by the various features it looks to be mid- to late-1860s in build. This was a quality if plain-actioned gun, a fine offering from a provincial maker known to the London gun making community. The gun is quite worn, the bores have light pitting at the breech, and the gun weighs 7 lb 2 oz.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Steve Nash; 02/04/21 05:28 PM.
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Originally Posted By: Steve Nash
Courtesy of Lagopus, here are pictures of a Frederick Gates pinfire rook rifle:




What an exceptional piece ! Looks in superb condition,bet there aren`t many of these in existance.

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Agreed, and what an exceptional and substantive line. I've reread it all several times and absorbed new things each time. Thanks to Stephen and the others, who are making this a bookmark.

Last edited by Argo44; 08/10/20 10:48 PM.

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The Rook Rifle is fantastic!

I should fit my Purdey 20 bore pinfire double rifle in here between the fine game guns.

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Mr. Nash, have you noticed any time line for the "peninsula" locks with the rear screw located half in and half out of the lockplate like the Watkins above ?

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