What would appear to be one of the greatest secrets to the Irish nation is the fact that their heritage in gunmaking is both vast and highly respected writes David Stroud.
Some 800 gunmakers are listed across the whole of Ireland for the period covering the late 16th Century through to the turn of the 20th century and this does not account for the array of associated trades such as stockers, stock suppliers, lock filers, barrel makers, engravers etc., who supported this important industry which played a major contribution to the Irish economy.
According to the Dublin Almanac Registry of 1770 the first firearm to enter Dublin was in 1489, this being a gift from Germany to the then Chief Governor of Ireland , The Earl of Kildare. What type of gun we know not but no doubt a wheelock of high quality associated with the German. Even then they could boast ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’! although this advertising slogan was created much later in 1982 for the automotive trade.
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Trade label for Farrell Mc Dermott, Patent Gun and Pistol Manufactory, 1 Abbey Street, Dublin. ( 1811-1827)[/caption]
In Ireland, Dublin was the centre of gunmaking followed by Cork, Belfast and Limerick. However, the provincial guntrade was well represented and would have been serviced through either a blacksmith, ironmonger or merchant offering firearms and shooting accoutrements. The Irish guntrade did originally take the lead from the mainland gunmakers, however during the 18th and 19th centuries the quality of firearms produced by the indigenous makers not only matched those supplied via London and Birmingham but in many cases surpassed them for quality and ingenuity.
A gunmaker’s trade card for Farrell McDermott can be seen above , this label for the period ( 1811-1827) , while Mc Dermott traded from No 1 Abbey Street, Dublin. These cards/labels were sometimes found loose in pistol boxes but later pasted to the inner lid, laid on the baize. If you were to have a gun produced by a given gunmaker and later repaired by another they would invariably transfer their trade card/label in the hope of attracting further trade. These labels, especially for the Irish gunmakers, are extremely rare and highly sought after by gun collectors today. They add exponentially to the value of a cased set of pistols in today’s very buoyant arms and armour market and for the students of this subject can contain most valuable information.
Therefore, as can be seen the social history concerning the guntrade in Ireland is quite well documented, yet, so many other snippets of information and detail can be found within these trade cards and labels that the author would be pleased to hear from anyone who has any in their possession, either within a cased set or loose. Confidentiality assured. Contact: David Stroud.
www.ramrodantiques.co.uk or via email davejwstroud@hotmail.com 0044- (0) 7818 470123.]]>
