The85th LondonAntique ArmsFair - Antique Arms Fairs

Hotel Ibis London Earls Court47 Lillie Road, London, SW6 1UD

Friday 24 SeptemberSaturday 25 September

COMPOSITE FIELD ARMOUR INTHE GOTHIC STYLE. GERMANC.1480. THE CUISSES ANDPOLEYNS ARE STRUCK WITH THE

MARK OF THE ARMOURERKLAUS WAGNER OF INNSBRUCK.COLLECTION NUMBER: II.1© BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFTHE ARMOURIES

The 85thLondon AntiqueArms Fair

Autumn 2010

H E R M A N N H I S T O R I C A

Hermann Historica oHG Linprunstr. 16 D-80335 Munich Phone +49-89-54726490Fax +49-89-547264999 E-mail: [email protected]

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N E X T AU C T I O N :

October 11th- 15th, 20104 CATALOGUES

of military and historical interest

Antiquities including pieces from The Axel Guttmann Collection

––––––––– –––––––––

Fine Antique and Modern Firearms––––––––– –––––––––

Antique Arms & Armour,Works of Art, Orders and Militaria

All catalogues online available by mid-September at:

www.hermann-historica.com

Illyrian type helmets of the 6th cent. B.C.

A Germanhand-pavise,

late 15th/early16th century

and a sword from the battle of

Castillon 1453

Powder flasks of the 17th century from Kota/India, Schwäbisch Gmünd/Germany and Vienna/Austria

A gold inlaid helmet from the Chinese Imperial Family,

Qing Dynasty, 18th century

Sultan Abdul Hamid I(r. 1774-1789) – a presen tation kilij set with diamonds and emeralds

An Ottoman Kilij set with corals

and turquoise, mid-19th century

An Italian/SouthGerman rondel

dagger, 16th century

A German breat-plate, circa 1470-1490

United Kingdom Representative (by appointment)Nicholas McCulloughNo. 5 Hardham Mill Business Park Hardham, Pulborough West Sussex, RH20 1LA United KingdomTel.+44-(0)17 98 87 24 00 Mob.+44-(0)776-934 [email protected]

www.bonhams.com

2010 Sale DatesThursday 29 AprilAntique Arms and Armour including items from the Per T. Norheim Collection

Wednesday 21 JulyClosing date for entries: Friday 4 June

Wednesday 24 NovemberClosing date for entries: Friday 8 October

EnquiriesDavid Williams, Director, Antique Arms and Armour Department+44 (0) 20 7393 3807+44 (0) 7768 823 711 mobile+44(0) 20 7393 3932 [email protected]

Amina Ali-Shah, Administrator+44 (0) 20 7393 3947+44 (0) 20 7393 3932 fax

1. An extremely rare cased pair of flintlock duelling pistols, by James Purdey, Princes Street, Leicester Square, London, no. 794 for 1825Sold for £54,000 as part of the W. Keith Neal Collection, sold for a total of £1.673m

2. An exceptionally rare Nordenfelt ten-barrelled centre-fire mechanical gun, no. 163, circa 1884Sold for £72,000

3. A rare German composite ‘Maximilian’ full armour, comprehensively circa 1515-25 Sold for £66,000 as part of the Henk L. Visser Collection

4. An exceptional cased Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund Trafalgar sword and belt of £100 value to Charles Tyler Esq., Captain of H.M.S. Tonnant, dated 21st October 1805Sold for £179,200

BonhamsMontpelier StreetLondon SW7 1HHwww.bonhams.com/arms

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Britain’s Leading Auctioneer of Antique Arms and Armour

Master GunmakerRestorer of Artillery

Antique Arms

PO Box 355 • Hereford • HR2 9YETel: 07775 643762

E-mail: [email protected] www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk

Cased pair of D/B Percussion Officers Pistols by John Manton.

Cased Percussion Pepperbox Revolver by Parker of London.

Cased pair of PercussionDueling Pistols by Samuel Nock.

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[email protected]

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oflondon.co.ukndon.co.uk


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5THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE

C O N T E N T S

The London Antique Arms Fair

is promoted by Arms Fairs Ltd.

Chairman: John Slough

Secretary: Adam Slough.

Arms Fairs Ltd., PO Box 355,

Hereford HR2 9YE

Tel: 01432 355416

Fax: 01432 371767

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk

Editors: John Slough and Adam Slough

The London Antique Arms Fair guideis published on behalf of Arms Fairs Ltd

by John Good.

© Arms Fairs Ltd., 2010.

Printed in England.

All material contained within is strictly

copyright and all rights are reserved. The

opinions expressed are not necessarily those

of the publishers. Every care is taken in

compiling the publication, but the publishers

can bear no responsibility for effects arising

therefrom or from the advertisements

contained herein.

All information correct at time of printing.

The London AntiqueArms Fairs 2010

A welcome from the Chairman 7

‘The Finest Sword a Man Never Received’ by Paul Wilcock 11

Index of advertisers 23

Index of exhibitors 24

Table plan for the fair 26

Return of a Woolwich ‘Infant’ by John Slough 28

William Parker and Parker Field Gunmakers by F Wilkinson 37

‘Pax in Bello’ ‘Peace in War’ by Pete Holder 45

6 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE6 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE

Ralph ParrLANCASTER

TELEPHONE 01524 811808FAX 01524 811445

7

A W E L C O M E F R O M T H E C H A I R M A N

A warm welcome to theLondon Antique Arms Fairs 2010

John SloughChairman

Before I welcome you all to the 2010 London Antique Arms Fairs I would like to take this opportunity tothank all our exhibitors for their kind help and assistance at last September's fair. As you mayknow, most inconveniently, on the day before we were due to travel to London and set it all up, I wasrushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack. Adam had to return home at short notice to see totheir baby Sam because Caroline was struck down with flu overnight and so it was left to my wife,Margaret and the indomitable Sue to take control and, with the help of a few old friends, see to it thatthe show went ahead as planned. Your co-operation on the day was much appreciated and I wouldlike to thank everyone for their concern and good wishes for my health. So, now recovered, I am happyto be able to focus my attention on the fair.

We were sorry to learn of the death of Claude Blair, he was the author of many books and articles onantique arms and armour and was formerly the Keeper of Metalwork at the Victoria and AlbertMuseum, Vice-President of the Arms and Armour Society and past President of the Meyrick Society.

There appears to have been a steady rise in auction prices throughout Europe and around the worldand we have seen a rise in people investing money in antique arms. This inevitably has led to a shortageof antique arms across the board. It seems sometimes that we are victims of our own success. Needlessto say, I will be up bright and early on Friday morning on a mission to find the elusive items that would fitright into my collection and to see where there is a good deal to be done.

I would like to ask if any of our exhibitors or visitors would like to contribute to the Arms Fair Guide inthe way of articles possibly based on interesting items in their collections. If so, please make contactwith Adam at the fair.

Leading on from this, and taking onboard what goes on at fairs in the US and Europe, there may beserious collectors out there who would be willing to put on display part of their collections so thatothers can enjoy them. It is sad when so many beautiful and unique pieces are destined to be hiddenaway from view and do not receive the appreciation and admiration they deserve.This year, I shall be showing part of my Manton collection in the form of both duelling and coachingpistols and also the Duke of Wellington's over-and-under rifle, which has been locked away from viewfor the past 40 years. If anyone is interested in taking part in this initiative, please contact me at the fair.

So, a warm welcome to all old customers as well as new and I hope you enjoy what is on show andwhat is on offer at the 2010 London Antique Arms Fairs.

Without further ado,’let’s get to the game’.

THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE


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38 & 39 DUKE STREET, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1Y 6DFTELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 7839 5666 FAX: +44 (0)20 7839 5777 E-MAIL: [email protected]

www.peterfiner.com

We are interested in purchasing single items or completecollections of antique guns, pistols, swords, armour and cannon in any

quantity. We travel the world in our search for fine examples.

Our ninth catalogue will be published next year.

All the items will be illustrated in colour and described by acknowledgedexperts in their field.

Please contact us if you would like to order a copy.

We still have a limited number of our last catalogue

Peter FinerSPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS, ARMOUR AND RELATED OBJECTS


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A RARE COMPOSITE NORTH ITALIAN HALF-ARMOUR, MILANESE, circa 1590

SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR EST.1983

A selection of British Military Longarms in stock

ARANTIQUESPECIALISTS IN .1983ESTARMOURRMS &

tish Miln oectioA sele ckms in stongy Loita ogy



We sell on commission

If you are thinking of selling any British antique weapons, we offer a service that

email us at our Dorking shop or see our

on commission for over 20 years, from


10 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE


T H E F I N E S T S W O R D A M A N N E V E R R E C E I V E D

Paul WilcockResearch Fellow and Head of Arms and Armour Research Group

University of Huddersfield UK

In the year of the 200th anniversary of the death of one of Britain’s greatest naval commanders it

seemed appropriate to take the opportunity to celebrate his life, and draw to the attention of a wider

audience what might be regarded as one of the most sumptuous presentation swords ever awarded.

‘The Finest Sword a ManNever Received’

The Presentation Sword of Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood

The true tragedy rests in the fact that ViceAdmiral Cuthbert Collingwood, a hero ofTrafalgar, was never to bask in the glory ofhaving the fabulous sword presented tohim by the Corporation of the City ofLondon. It is now on display at the RoyalArmouries in Leeds1 as an enduringmemorial to the esteem in whichCollingwood was held.

Cuthbert Collingwood was born on the26th September 1748 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was the eldest son of hisparents Milcah and Cuthbert, his fatherbeing a merchant in Newcastle and amember of an old Westmoreland family.Cuthbert had seven older sisters,perhaps reflecting upon which he felt thata life aboard ship was a significant chancefor him to escape! He was educated atthe Royal Free Grammar School inNewcastle upon Tyne; in his honour oneof their four houses now carries hisname.2 While a bright boy, his ambitionwas to join the navy and at the age of 12this was realised when he was allowed,along with his younger brother Wilfred, tojoin the Shannon as a volunteer, underthe watchful eye of his mother’s cousin,Captain Richard Brathwaite. After servinghis ‘naval apprenticeship’ under

Brathwaite on the Shannon he eventuallyjoined the 74-gun guard-ship the Lenox,commanded by fellow Northumbrian,Captain (later Admiral) Roddam.

Collingwood was soon to gain his firstexperience of a significant militaryengagement. Vice Admiral SamuelGraves had been charged with patrollingthe coastline of the Royal Navy’s NorthAmerican Station with a view to policingthe wide range of revenue and tradeconcessions in force there. Over athousand miles of coastline and only 26ships made it an almost impossible task;indeed, Graves’s entry in the Dictionaryof National Biography describes it aptly as“perhaps the most ungracious duty thathas ever fallen to the lot of a navalofficer”.3 It was into this situation thatCuthbert Collingwood found himselfthrust, and he was not a man to shy awayfrom his duties. In June 1775, the Navyhad the task of ferrying troops to theCharleston Peninsula while providing firesupport to the army’s engagement at theBattle of Bunker Hill, as a result of whichCollingwood was promoted to Lieutenanton 17th June of that year, as a directresult of the action in which he hadsuccessfully landed with a supply party.

Cuthbert had passed his examinations tobe a Lieutenant in 1772, however, in thedays when patronage was almost morevital than ability; he had a significantsupply of the latter but lacked the former.One of Collingwood’s most unpleasantexperiences was under a Captain Haswellon the sloop Hornet. Haswell’s brutalitywas well known and Collingwood found itabhorrent. They clashed frequently andeventually Haswell had Collingwoodcourt-martialled for ‘breach of Captain’sinstructions’. Collingwood was acquittedbut it was a steep learning curve and wasa formative experience which led him tooppose flogging whenever possible, andto strive to improve conditions for sailorswhen onboard ship. While a general viewprevails that Collingwood and Nelson firstmet in 1777 when they served togetheron the Lowestoffe, there is nowsignificant evidence that they were wellacquainted from a much earlier date. In aletter held in the British Library4 and firstmade public in 19665, it is clear thatCollingwood even then held Nelson inhigh regard, despite the fact that he wasten years his junior and 13 years junior tohim in naval service. Lamenting Nelson’sdeath, Collingwood writes:

© Board of Trustees of the Armouries

12 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE12 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE


“I have indeed had a severe loss in thedeath of my excellentfriend Lord Nelson…since the year ’73we have been on termsof the greatest intimacy; chance hasthrown us very much togetherin service and on many occasions wehave acted in concert; thereis scarce a naval subject that has notbeen the subject of our discussion.”6

Precisely when the two men first metremains unclear; however, Nelsonreturned from taking part in anunsuccessful attempt to discover theNorth West passage in late 1773 and it isnot inconceivable that he and

Collingwood made each other’sacquaintance in the period beforeCollingwood left for Boston with Graves.

In 1777, Collingwood served with Nelsonwhen both held positions aboard theLowestoffe, enjoying the mentoring andguiding hand of the commander-in-chief,Admiral Sir Peter Parker. Two years later,Collingwood succeeded Nelson ascommander of the brig Badger, and thenext year he again succeeded Nelson asPost-Captain of a small frigate theHinchinbroke. Parker, recognisingCollingwood’s talent, gave him his firstcommand upon the brig Badger,interestingly once again succeeding

Nelson. After Nelson had beenunsuccessful in attempting to navigate apassage from the Atlantic to the Pacificacross Central America, he was takenseriously ill, and it fell to his friendCollingwood to provide support, duringwhich time he succeeded again infollowing in Nelson’s footsteps bycommanding the Hinchinbroke andbringing the remaining units of theexpedition back to Jamaica. Diseasecaused huge losses of life among thecrew, and once again this experienceinformed Collingwood’s thinking in strivingto ensure a healthier environment aboardhis ships. His next command was thePelican; however, disaster struck in August1781 when the ship was wrecked atMorant Keys, necessitating their rescue bythe Diamond.

In 1783, Collingwood was appointed tothe Mediator and posted to the WestIndies, taking part in the operations tocurtail the activities of American vesselstrading in the area. As it transpired, it wasa family posting because his youngerbrother Wilfred also held a commandthere, and both were highly enthusiastic intheir pursuit of what the Britishgovernment considered illegal trade. Ataround the same time, Nelson was also inthe West Indies undertaking the sameduties and had been accused ofwrongfully seizing American trade ships.Tragedy followed however when, in 1787,Collingwood’s brother Wilfred died, of aseries of illnesses contracted locally, whilecommanding the Rattler. Having returnedto England in 1791, Collingwood met andsubsequently married Sarah Blackett.Sarah was the granddaughter of RobertRoddam of Hethpoole and Caldburne,the namesake (and often mistaken for) hisold mentor and senior officer AdmiralRoddam. Collingwood was appointed tothe command of the Prince in 1793 and,by 1794, Collingwood was givencommand of the Barfleur and took part inthe Battle of the Glorious First of June.The encounter was, in effect, the first andmost significant clash between the BritishNavy and the newly reformed FrenchRevolutionary Navy. The battle was hardfought with significant losses on bothsides, with both sides claiming victory;however, Collingwood was one of the fewcommanders who acquitted himself andillustrated his capacity for independentcommand. His commanding officer RearAdmiral Bowyer lost his leg during theaction and Collingwood not only

©BoardofTrusteesoftheArmouries



commanded his own ship, but tookstrategic control over Bowyer’s squadron.It was therefore a crushing blow forCollingwood when he was passed overfor the award of a gold medal for his partin the action. His next command was theHector, followed quickly by theExcellent, in which again he provedhimself to be a superb tactician, earningcommendation for his part in the victoryat the Battle of Cape St Vincent where,along with Nelson, he was recognised byAdmiral Jervis (the future Earl St Vincent),as two of the most promising rising starsof the British Navy. Nelson earned both aknighthood and, rapidly following,advancement to Rear Admiral. Goldmedals were presented to thecommanding officers; however,Collingwood initially refused his, claimingthat by accepting he would also beaccepting the fact that he had beenlegitimately passed over for his action on‘the Glorious First of June’. Admiral Jerviswas determined, and aftercorrespondence with the admiralty,Collingwood received the gold medaland, along with a degree ofembarrassment, a pathetic letter fromLord Spencer excusing the oversightbecause of a lack of ability to safelyconvey the award!7

In the portrait illustrated in the NationalPortrait Gallery a careful observer cansee that Collingwood is wearing all threefor his coveted awards.8

Collingwood was soon to receive thelong-awaited recognition he deservedand on 14th February 1799, the LondonGazette records his promotion to RearAdmiral.9 In his new ship the Triumph, heengaged in blockading the French forcesin the Mediterranean until the first Peaceof Amiens. The treaty, however, wasshort-lived and despite Collingwood andNelson being apart during some ofNelson’s most dramatic engagements atthe Nile and Copenhagen, theyeventually resumed their associationwhile pursuing the French commanderAdmiral Villeneuve. Indeed, Collingwoodhad a close encounter of his own withVilleneuve, when the French commanderran across Collingwood’s squadron,outnumbering them almost six to one.Impressive tactical manoeuvring byCollingwood, including the use of falsesignals to make his force appear largerthan it was, saved the day and hisblockade of Cadiz continued.

The final meeting between Collingwood,and his old friend was to take place offCadiz. Nelson had written toCollingwood, who was at the time aboardthe Dreadnought, advising him to takethe Royal Sovereign instead, which hadrecently been refurbished with a newcopper hull covering. Nelson arrived onthe 28th September and, no doubt in aresumption of their discussions of yearsearlier, considered the tactics forattacking the French fleet, taking theunusual step of attacking in two columns.The accounts of Trafalgar are well-rehearsed and will not be improved uponhere. As the two columns attacked,Collingwood’s zeal once again came tothe fore, sailing significantly ahead of therest of his column to engage the SantaAna in a two-hour duel, assailing her withsuch withering fire that she struck hercolours shortly afterwards. As the battleproceeded Collingwood received awound to his leg but continuedundeterred. His suffering became far

more profound on discovering that hiscompatriot and friend Nelson had fallen,and had subsequently died.

While there is no doubt that Nelson wasthe hero of the nation, Collingwood toowas feted, not least by the Prince Regenthimself. He was made a peer, becomingBaron Collingwood of Caldburne andHethpoole, and was granted an annualannuity of £2,000. It was intended as atribute when he was made commanderof the Mediterranean Fleet, but in realityit was a burden. Collingwood’s health hadbeen failing for many years and both theinjury he received at Trafalgar and theloss of Nelson did not help matters.

Despite repeated requests to be allowedto return home, the commander whosurvived Trafalgar was regarded with goodcause, as an effective diplomat and hisambassadorial skills in the Mediterraneanwere highly prized. In his role ascommander–in-chief, he effectively held

©NationalPortraitGallery,London.



the diplomatic brief for the oversight ofBritish interests from Constantinople toCadiz. He succeeded in encouraging theSpanish to rebel against Napoleon in 1808and was finally to witness further success,when more than a dozen French shipswere destroyed outside Toulon in 1810.He died onboard the Ville de Paris on 7thMarch 1810. His body was taken toGreenwich where it lay in state, afterwhich he was buried on the 11th of Maybeside his comrade Nelson in St Paul’s,their old mentor Admiral Sir Peter Parker,who had been one of the chief mournersat Nelson’s funeral, surviving to witnessthe demise of the second of his rising starsbefore his own death the following year.

One of the finest tributes presented toCuthbert Collingwood fails to warrant amention in most of the accounts of hislife, namely the sword presented to himby the Corporation of the City of Londondated 26th November 1805. The smallsword (illustrated) is one of the finestexamples of its kind. While the blade,quite unusually, is completely plain, andhollow ground of triangular section, thehilt is a stunning combination of gold,enamel and diamonds. The hilt andscabbard fittings are by Ray andMontague, of which more will bediscussed presently, and the sword wasretailed by Thomas Harper.

The hilt is created in a single colour ofgold and chased with floral wreaths andtrophies. The sword’s grip is set on eitherside with enamel plaques bearing thearms of Lord Collingwood and theCorporation of the City of Londonrespectively. Each of the plaques is set ina border of 24 diamonds. The pommelcarries an enamel plaque on each sidewith trophies in colour. Perhaps the mostimpressive feature, however, is the guard.This carries two inscriptions one on eachface, set into dark blue enamel with thelettering picked out in diamonds. Oneface carries the inscription “TRAFALGAR”;the other carries the soubriquet“ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TODO HIS DUTY”. It does not require ascholar of naval history to point out thatthis is, of course, an incorrect rendition ofNelson’s famous signal at Trafalgar. Hisoriginal intention had been to send thesignal “ENGLAND CONFIDES THATEVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY”;however, the signal officer John Pascoepointed out to Nelson that were he to usethe word “CONFIDES” it would need tobe spelled out letter by letter - a time-consuming process at a point in theconflict when there was at least one moresignal needing to be sent post haste. As aresult, Nelson agreed to Pascoe’s slightvariation and the most famous signal in thehistory of the Royal Navy was sent:“ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN

WILL DO HIS DUTY”. Why the swordcarries an incorrect inscription is lost in themists of time. Indeed, whether themanufacturers ever knew is debatable.Without doubt, had the sword beenreceived by Cuthbert Collingwood inperson he would have spotted itimmediately, but sadly it was not. Theerror, however, does not detract from thebeauty and elegance of the sword itself.The guard is a single piece of solid oval ingold and is inscribed:

PRESENTED BY THECorporation of the City of Londonpursuant to a Vote of Common

Council Passed the 26th Novr. 1805The Right Hon’able James ShawMayor to Vice Admiral LORD

COLLINGWOOD for the brilliant &decisive Victory obtained by his

Majesty’s Fleet under his Command(upon whom it devolved upon theever to be lamented Death of ViceAdmiral Lord Viscount Nelson) overthe combined Fleets of France andSpain off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21stOctober 1805 Thereby affording the

World at large An additional andlasting proof Of British Valour


15THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 15THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 15THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE


The scabbard is shagreen covered withgold mounts, the top mount beinginscribed with the retailer’s details: “Thos.Harper 207 Fleet St. LONDON”10 Thescabbard was damaged, indeed broken intwo at some point after the return of thesword from the exhibition at the Kremlin in1997–8, and has since been repaired.11 Thegold work on the sword is well hallmarked,carrying on the quillon, the duty mark, theLondon manufacture mark and the dateletter of ‘L’ in a square shield, which is theLondon date letter for 1806/7. It alsobears a crown and ‘18’ indicating the 18carat gold standard. On the guard at theblade side are feint markings, some ofwhich are no longer visible but areprobably the town and date marks. Inaddition are the initials ‘IR’ and ‘IM’ in arectangle, identifying the manufacturers asJohn Ray and James Montague. Thecrown and 18 carat marks also appear onthe top of the grip and on the twoscabbard mountings. The mark for Rayand Montague also appears on the topmount or locket.

The overall length of the sword is 40 inches;the blade 33.2 inches and the scabbard33.5 inches. The sword weighs 13 ounces,the scabbard only 3 ounces. Overall, as thepictures illustrate, there is no doubt that itconstitutes one of the most impressivepresentation swords ever issued by theCorporation of the City of London. Thefinal account from Harper prices it at£211.1s.0d There can also be no doubt thathad Cuthbert Collingwood lived to receiveit, he would have been immensely proud.

While these swords are not unusual,particularly during this period, they areeach unique examples of the goldsmithand swordsmith’s art. Commissioned bybodies such as the Corporation of theCity of London, Lloyds of London or theHonourable East India Company, theywere intended as statements of esteem,reflecting the achievements of therecipients. As such, there is merit inlooking more closely, not only at therecipient, but also those with the task ofcreating such a work of art.

The men responsible for this work of arthad learned their trade at the feet of amaster. John Ray and James Montagueappear in the records of 1800 at 22Denmark Street, Soho.12 Theirindependent tenure there began after thedeath of their mentor James Morisset(1738–1815).13 Morisset is regarded by

some as the finest goldsmith of his age,gaining a reputation for creating works ofart including swords, freedom boxes andsnuff boxes. Morisset worked initially as apartner to Louis Touissant who wasprobably his mentor, having married hissister Anne Rachel, and provided supportto the young and talented James.Touissant was himself a gifted goldsmithand provided the environment for Jamesto develop his considerable skills. Morissetis recorded as beginning his work in 1764but he was almost certainly still inpartnership with Touissant at that point.After a literally glittering career, he retiredin 1800 and died 15 years later, stillcarrying a reputation for absoluteexcellence in design and execution.

So when Ray and Montague took over hispremises they had a significant reputation tolive up to. Morisset had created some of themost impressive swords ever presented.There is little doubt that Ray and Montaguetook at least the inspiration for Collingwood’ssword from the example created for AdmiralJohn Jervis, later Earl St Vincent, by Morissetin 1796–7.14 The similarities are clear, withthe enamelled pommel and the enamelledplaque in the centre of the grip surroundedby diamonds. Indeed, a similar style swordalso by Ray and Montague was sold atSotheby’s in December 1994, originallypresented to the third in command atTrafalgar, Admiral Northesk.15 Ray andMontague registered their joint mark in1800 on Morisset’s retirement, and at thesame time took over the premises atDenmark Street. Presentation swords totwo other naval captains bear Ray andMontague’s mark and the date letterplacing their manufacture in May 1800.

The retailer, Thomas Harper, led a variedexistence: born in Bristol, he emigrated toCharleston, South Carolina, where heestablished himself as a goldsmith. Hemarried Miss Elizabeth Edwards in 1776but, on refusing to take the oath ofallegiance to the new regime, moved tothe Dutch West Indies. Despite the newgovernment, Elizabeth persuaded him toreturn to Charleston; however, his sojournthere was short-lived and he returned inpermanent exile to London, establishingpremises at 207 Fleet St in 1783. Harperwas active in the Turners Company, risingto be its master in 1798. By 1799, he hadbeen elected to the Council of theCorporation of London, which may gosome way to understanding how he cameto be the retailer of Collingwood’s

presentation sword. He was recorded at207 Fleet St. for the last time in 1824before moving to Holborn, where he diedon 25th April 1832 aged 88.

Cuthbert Collingwood’s sword was neverpresented to him. His death in 1810prevented him from expressing hisundoubted pride on receiving the gift.The sword was presented to his widowSarah on 27th June 1810. Sarah ownedthe sword until her death in 1819 thoughinterestingly it was not specificallymentioned in the terms of her will, and itpassed as part of her estate to herdaughter (also Sarah), who, in 1816, hadmarried George Lewis Newnham. Theyretained the sword until Sarah’s death in1851; however, in her will there is specificmention not only of the Corporation ofthe City of London sword but also of fiveothers, the details of which areunknown.16 The sword was again left intrust for her daughter with instructionsthat it should eventually be passed toCollingwood Denny, the son of AnthonyDenny and Admiral Collingwood’syounger daughter Mary.

Records show that the sword was loanedby Denny to the Royal Naval Exhibition in1891, after which its history becomes lessclear. Initially, it is believed to haveremained with Denny, but there areunsubstantiated claims that he requesteda loan from his aunt of £1,000 and,should she refuse, Denny would sell all sixswords! It seems the lady was resolute inher refusal, as there is a subsequentrecord of the swords being sold atChristie’s in London on 13th July 1899.The Corporation of the City of Londonsword was sold for the sum of £240 andpurchased by Lady Meux. It seems sheretained the sword until the privations ofthe First World War caused her,presumably in an act of charity, to sell thesword at a Red Cross sale! The precisedate of the sale is not recorded. Thesword was bequeathed to the Tower ofLondon in the Will of Sir Bernard Ecksteinin 194817, along with two boy’s armours,18

a sword belonging to NapoleonBonaparte19 and the telescope describedas having been used by Wellington atWaterloo20. The definite whereabouts ofthe sword during the period between thewar and Eckstein’s death is not known,neither is it known; whether it wasEckstein himself who purchased the swordat the Red Cross sale.


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MUSEUM RESTORATION SERVICEP.O. Box 70 Alexandria Bay, NY U.S.A. 13607-0070

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The London Gun Trade 1850-1920: A Checklist ofTradesmen compiled by Joyce E. Gooding & Peter A.Scott-Edeson. This title is intended to help fill the gap be-tween 1850 when Howard Blackmore�s LondonGunmakers 1350-1850 and its Supplement end, and theyears following World War One. It records the names,addresses and dates for gun & pistol makers, and 15 re-lated trades. 48. pp., ill., softcover. $8.95+ post

HISTORICAL ARMS NEW SERIESNo. 1 The Queen Anne Pistol, 1660-1780 by John W.Burgoyne: 10x7 inches, 120 pp., 182 ill., hardcover, ISBN0-88855-015-6. $35.00 +post

The purpose of this book is to fill a gap in the armsliterature and to trace the development of the design anddecoration of a uniquely English type of pistol known col-loquially as the Queen Anne, or more correctly, as theturn-off pistol. This distinctive breech-loading arm wasdeveloped in the middle years of the 17th century butfound popularity during the reign of the monarch (1702-1714) by whose name it is known. It continued to bemade until about 1780. With a comprehensive text andalmost 200 illustrations, the styles and decoration fromthe mid 17th century through the baroque and rococodesigns imported from France that were adapted by En-glish gunmakers to produce a particularly accurate anddistinctive pistol are traced and illustrated.

No. 2. Trade Guns of the Hudson�s Bay Company,1670-1970 by S. James Gooding. Historical Arms NewSeries No. 2: 10x7 inches, 160 pp., 140+ ill., hardcover,ISBN 0-88855-014-6. US$40.00+ post.

This new study provides a detailed history of the de-sign and development from the earliest Hudson�s BayCompany trade guns through 300 years of history. Basedon archaeological evidence from the first Fort Albany con-structed about 1674 and destroyed by the French in 1686,the early history can be documented and described. Theextensive archives of the HBC have been called upon fordescriptive text with hundreds of selected references tocover who made the guns, how they can be identified,when changes were introduced, how they were used, andwhat ammunition, accessories and equipment will be en-countered. This important book will be of inestimablevalue to historians, artists, archaeologists, re-enactors,and collectors.

Trade Guns of the HBC received the 2002-2005�Justus Lipsius Award� from the International Council ofMuseums, Arms and Military Museums Section.

Gunmakers of London 1350-1850 Gunmakers of London Supplement 1350-1850

by Howard L. Blackmore2 Volumes in slipcase � only $135.00 + post

(Approximately £89 postpaid airmail. With the purchaseof this set, any or all of the other titles may be included

with no additional postage cost)By 1986, the late Howard Blackmore had compiled hismonumental record of London gunmakers. It was pub-lished in England under the title A Dictionary of LondonGunmakers 1350-1850 and in America with the titleGunmakers of London 1350-1850. 222 pp., 11x8½ inches,122 ill. + 260 makers� marks,

His Supplement published in 1999, begins with anew introductory chapter on the �Foreign� Londongunmakers followed by records of all of the new informa-tion found about previously unidentified armorers,gunmakers, gunsmiths and related trades. Where newinformation had been located about those who appearedin the Dictionary, they too were included in an updatedentry. 160 pp., 11x8½ inches, 100 new ill. + 299 makers�marks, hardcover en suite with the original edition. Only79 copies of the original edition are available.

The Gunmakers of London Supplementmay be purchased separately: $60.00 plus post.



Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood left anindelible mark on the history of the BritishNavy. While in many ways overshadowedby Nelson, and following him on severaloccasions in command of various ships, henone the less had been a close friend, anddoubtless Collingwood’s wisdom andmaturity had been valued by his comrade,younger in years but senior in rank. Aninteresting final legacy appears in the formof the Collingwood medal. Issued in bothbronze and silver, the medal has the imageof Collingwood on one side and the twolines of opposing ships at Trafalgar on theother. It was issued as a commemorativemedal in 1805 and an example is held atthe Royal Armouries in Leeds.21

Collingwood was indeed a superb navalcommander and, along with Nelson andSir Edward Berry, was unique in receivingthree gold medals for his courageousactions. As an officer he was resolute andhad a reputation for fairness and a single-minded approach to his work. He workedtirelessly, particularly after his appointmentas commander-in-chief in theMediterranean, and the lack of a chief-of-staff during those final years meant muchof the administrative burden of his rolewas handled personally. There is littledoubt that his energetic work rate was acontributing factor in his failing health. InAugust 1808, Collingwood seems to haverecognised that his health wasdeteriorating to the point that recoverywas becoming less likely. He wrote againto the Admiralty, asking to be relieved andallowed to return home, and though theirresponse reminded him of hisindispensability to them, it failed torecognise his mortality. It is now almostcertain that he died of stomach cancer,though, even from his letters, it is not clearat what point he recognised the severityof his condition. No doubt one of hisgreatest regrets during this period was thathe would never see the hills aroundMorpeth again. In those all too briefperiods spent at home, he enjoyednothing more than walking in the hills withhis devoted dog Bounce (who wastragically washed overboard during astorm in 1809), and pursuing the habit ofplanting acorns to ensure there wouldalways be oak available to supply the navywith ships.

Collingwood is commemorated in manyplaces including his old school, St Paul’sCathedral, and Newcastle Cathedral, aswell as having the Royal Naval

establishment at Fareham named afterhim. But perhaps the most impressive isthe wonderful statue of him which standsoverlooking the river Tyne with cannonfrom the Royal Sovereign at its foot. Thestatue ensures he will always beremembered; particularly in this, the yearof the 200th anniversary of his death, weare reminded of one of Britain’s greatestnaval commanders.

Paul Wilcock

3rd March 2010

AcknowledgementsThe author would like to thank PhilipAbbott, Head of Collections at the RoyalArmouries in Leeds, for his assistance inresearching this article.

1 At the time of writing, the sword isdisplayed in the War Gallery, RoyalArmouries, Leeds IX.909

2 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood Vol. XIIpp.670-675

3 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Admiral Samuel Graves Vol. XXIII pp.397-398

4 London, British Library Add. MSS 527805 Warner O., History Today vol. XVI number12 1966

6 London, British Library Add.MSS:527807 3rd April 1797, NMM, COL/148 NPG 1496, © National Portrait Gallery, London.9 London Gazette 14th February 1799 p.14810 Southwick L. 2001, London Silver Hilted

Swords: Their Makers, Suppliers and alliedTraders p.133, Leeds

11 Collingwood’s sword was part of anexhibition at the Kremlin in Russia fromDecember 1997 to May 1998 entitled‘Treasures from the Tower in the Kremlin’

12 Ibid. p.20413 Ibid. p.18214 Southwick L., The Journal of the Arms and

Armour Society Vol. XV, number 6September 1997 p.339

15 Sotheby’s London, 13th December 1994lot 35

16 The Last Will and Testament of SarahNewnham (she had subsequently changed hername to Collingwood) dated 12th May 1846

17 The Last Will and Testament of Sir BernardFriedrich Eckstein, 29th June 1948. Ecksteindied in St Mary’s hospital London on 10thMay 1948.

18 Royal Armouries II.160 and II.16119 Wilcock P.T., Arms and Armour Vol. 5number 2, 2008 Maney Publishing, Leeds.Royal Armouries XI.908

20 Royal Armouries XVI.7421 Royal Armouries XVIII.464. Medal of AdmiralLord Collingwood, English, dated 1805,Commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar.



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A Fine Maple Cased Factory Engraved Colt London ‘Model 1849’ Percussion Pocket Revolver . Serial No. 2091 . Circa 1854£2,500–3,500

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Name Page NoName Page No

Holt’s 19

John Slough of London 4 and 33

Magazin Royal 34

Parr, Ralph 6

Pete Holder Antique American Firearms 44

Project Hougoumont Ltd 34

Rock Island Auction Company 21

Thomas Del Mar Ltd 52

Vincent, Garth 35

Wallis & Wallis 22

West Street Antiques 10

Antique & Classic Arms Fairs 23

Arbour Antiques 34

Arms Collecting 16

Arms Fairs Ltd 36

Bonhams 3

Combat Stress 32

Christie’s 20

Finer, Peter 8-9

Gwilliam, E.A.F 51

Henry Krank 18

Hermann Historica 2


I N D E X O F A D V E R T I S E R S

Index of advertisers

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I N D E X O F E X H I B I TO R S

Index of exhibitorsName Address and contact numbers Table No(s)

Akaal Arms (Runjeet Singh) PO Box 11143, Birmingham B13 0WR Mob. 07866 424803

www.akaalarms.com [email protected] 137 - 138

Antique & Classic Arms Fairs (Cliff Fuller) Mob. 07850 373197

www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk [email protected] 61 - 62

Appleby, Michael Wimbledon, London SW20 Tel. 0208 946 2495 40 - 41

Arbour Antiques Reindeer Antiques, Watling Street, Potterspury, NN12 7QD

(George Yannaghas) Tel. 0845 6038709 Fax. 01844 278790

www.arbourantiques.co.uk [email protected] 144 - 146

Arian Trading 1 The Monkery, Church Road, Gt Milton, Oxon OX44 7PB

(George Yannaghas) Tel. 01844 278139 Fax. 01844 278790 www.ariantrading.com [email protected] 147

Arms and Armour Research Group www.hud.ac.uk/armsandarmour

University of Huddersfield/Royal Armouries [email protected]

(Paul Wilcock) 109

Arms & Armour Society (A. Dove) PO Box 10232, London SW19 2ZD 119

Ashoka Arts Tel. 01903 814413 www.ashokaarts.com [email protected] 35

Asian Arms (Tony Paul) Tel: 07973 822 996 www.asianarms.com [email protected] 116

Battle Proms Concerts PO Box 355, Hereford HR2 9YE

(Adam Slough) Tel. 01432 355416 www.battleproms.com [email protected] 12 - 14

Beadle, Alan 88 - 89

Bonhams Antique Arms and Armour Department, Montpelier St, London SW7 1HH

Tel. +44 (0)207 393 3807 Fax. +44 (0)207 393 3932 Mob:07768 823711

www.bonhams.com [email protected] 83

Bottomley, A. S. The Coach House, Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Yorks HD9 3JJ

Tel. 01484 685234 Mob:07770 398 270 [email protected] 96 - 98

Cartlidge, Michael Tel: 07810 766755 [email protected] 127

Cook, A. S. 132 Rydens Rd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 3DU,

Tel. 01932 228328 Fax. 01932 243126

www.antiquearms.co.uk [email protected] 71 - 72

Craddock, Richard Tel: 07747 117472 124

Downing, A. R. 39 High St, Arundel, W. Sussex BN18 9AG Tel. 01903 882077 Mob 07798 050609 36

Dyson, P & Son Ltd 3 Cuckoo Lane, Honley, Holmfirth, W Yorks, HD9 6AS Tel. 01484 661062

Fax. 01484 663709 www.peterdyson.co.uk [email protected] 16

English Arms & Armour Mellanoweth House, Back Lane, Angarrack, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 5JE

(Terry English) Tel: 01736 75344 92

Flintlocks at War (Richard Smith) Taunton Antiques Market, Silver St, Taunton, TA1 3DH

Tel: 01803 605405 Mob 07969 599 076

www.flintlocksatwar.com [email protected] 114

Garth Vincent Antique Arms & Armour The Old Manor House, Allington, Nr Grantham, Lincs NG32 2DH Mob: 07785 352151

Tel. 01400 281358 Fax. 01400 282658 www.garthvincent.com [email protected] 104 - 106

Gunmakers’ Company The Proof House, 48-50 Commercial Rd,

Charitable Trust, The London E1 1LP Tel. 020 7481 2695 Fax. 020 7480 5102 93

Gwilliam, E. A. F. Candletree House, Cricklade, nr Swindon SN6 6AX

Tel. 01793 750241 Fax. 01793 750359 Mob. 07836 613632 [email protected] 7 - 9

H.B.S.A. BCM HBSA, London, WC1N 3XX

Tel. 07703 218 639 www.hbsa-uk.org [email protected] 131

Hamilton, Robert 8 Charlton Place, Islington, London N1 8AJ

Mob: 07795 382174 130

Hartford Antique Arms (Rex Pope) Reading Tel. 0118 969 1826 107

Hatford Antiques (P. Smith) Hatford Cottage, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8JF Tel. 01367 710241 Mob. 07836 375931 152

Henry Krank & Co. Ltd 100-104 Lowtown, Pudsey, W. Yorks LS28 9AY

(Z. Nikacevic) Tel. 0113 256 5167 Fax. 0113 257 4692, www.henrykrank.com [email protected] 75 - 79

Hobson, G. J. Daccombe Mill, Coffinswell, Devon TQ12 4SY

Tel. 01803 873121 [email protected] Mob. 07812 133 149 37

Holt’s Auctioneers Church Farm Barns, Wolferton, Norfolk PE31 6HA Tel: 01485 542822 Fax: 01485 544463

(Robert Morgan) www.holtandcompany.co.uk [email protected] 154

Huw Williams Antiques The Antique Shop, Madoc St, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NL Tel. 01766 514741

Fax. 01766 514741 Mob. 07785 747561 [email protected] www.antiquegunswales.co.uk 42

Iosson, Andrew 211 Ringinglow Road, Bents Green, Sheffield S11 7PT Tel. 0114 2366360 Mob. 07979 648663

www.finesportingcollectablesltd.co.uk [email protected] 43

Japanese Gallery (Eddy Wertheim) 66E Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BY

[email protected] 28 - 29

John Slough of London PO Box 355, Hereford HR2 9YE Tel. 01981 550145 Fax. 01432 371767

www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk [email protected] 1 - 6

John Wilson Antiques Mob. 07941 477043 [email protected] 112 - 113

Jonathan Barrett Limited The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, Lewes BN7 2JA

Tel. 01273 486501 Mob.07717 743 061 Fax. 01273 486501

www.jonathanbarrett.com [email protected] 33 - 34

Ken Trotman Ltd PO Box 505, Huntingdon, PE29 2XW Tel. 01480 454292 Fax. 01480 384651

(Richard Brown) www.kentrotman.com [email protected] 84 - 86

Les Martin Fine Antiques Arms & Militaria PO Box 4290 Rugely WS15 9AA

Mob. 07976 152411 [email protected] lesmartinmilitaria.co.uk 148

Lord, D. R. Cotswold Cottage, 89a Lushington Hill, Wootton Bridge, Wootton, Isle of Wight PO33 4NR

Tel/Fax. 01983 882638 [email protected] 81

M. L. A. G. B. (Ken Hocking) PO Box 340, Sevenoaks, Kent Tel. 01732 463214 66

Magazin Royal 65 Steenstraat, B1800, Vilvoorde, Belgium Tel. 0032 475492450 Fax. 0032 22677537

(Gilbert Putterie) [email protected] www.magazinroyal.be 117 - 118

Martin Giles Antiques Barnet, Herts Tel.020 8441 3380 Mob.07860 782 286 Fax. 020 8441 3432

www.mgantiques.co.uk [email protected] 155

Michael D. Long Ltd 86 Ireton Rd, Leicester LE4 9ET Tel. +44 (0) 845 260 1910 Mob. +44 (0)7970 161701

(Bob Hedger) Fax. +44 (0)871 250 1910 www.michaeldlong.com [email protected] 47 - 50

Millais Antiques PO Box 545, Crawley, RH10 6FG Tel. 01293 552655 Fax. 01293 520077

(Dr G Dexter) Mob. 07710 259465 www.millaisantiques.co.uk [email protected] 73 - 74

Nobre, Eduardo Rua des Chagas 17c, 1200 Lisbon, Portugal [email protected] 100

Northern Arms Fairs PO Box 277, Harrogate, HG3 4XZ Tel. 01423 780759

(Alan Tidswell) Mob. 07989 779996 [email protected] 64

Oriental Arms P O Box 55293, Haifa, Israel 34580 Tel: 00972 50 7587101 Fax: 00972 50 8251380

(Artzi Yarom) www.oriental-arms.com [email protected] 139

Parr, Ralph Sidegarth, Aughton, Lancaster LA2 6PG Tel. 01524 811808 Fax. 01524 811445 10





Table plan for the fair


Pete Holder Antique American FirearmsPO Box 138, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8WE Tel. 01483 277788Fax. 01483 277784 Mob. 07778 008 008 www.peteholder.com [email protected] 57 - 60

Petty, David2 The Grange, Green Lane, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EN Tel. 01628 605519 67 - 68

Phoenix Antique Arms (P Reason)17 Darracot Close, Deal, Kent, CT14 9PU Tel: 01304 372651 Fax. 01304 372651Mob. 07941 141096 www.oldguns.co.uk [email protected] 52 - 56

Ramrod Antiques (David Stroud)15 Market Vaults, St Helens Square, Scarborough YO11 1EU Tel. 01723 376070Mob. 07818 470123 www.ramrodantiques.co.uk [email protected] 63Regimentals Ltd (Malcolm Fisher)PO Box 130, Hitchin, Herts SG5 3FE Tel. 01462 713294 Mob: 07801 010797www.regimentals.co.uk [email protected] 134 - 135

Rod Akeroyd & Son20 Ribblesdale Place, Preston, Lancs PR1 3NA Tel. 01772 203845 Fax. 01772 203855Mob. 07765 251532 www.firearmscollector.com [email protected] 18 - 22

Savine, ETel. 0121 422 4243 128

Seidler, Christopher. FP O Box 59979, London SW16 9AZ Tel: 0845 644 3674www.antique-militaria.co.uk [email protected] 136

Spoils of War (David Hughes)Hop Hill Cottage, Aubourn, Lincoln, LN5 9DZ Tel. 01522 788807Mob. 07784 002826 www.spoils-of-war.co.uk [email protected] 111

Stand of Arms (Chris Berry)Southgate, London N14 Tel. 0208 886 4730 Fax: 0208 482 2204Mob. 07790 806364 www.militariamart.co.uk [email protected] 44 - 46

Strømberg Antiques (Steen Strømberg)Store Kongensgade 10, DK1264, Copenhagen, Denmark Tel. 0045 3332 4205Fax. 0045 3332 4205 Mob. 0045 2046 2801 www.stromberg.dk [email protected] 83

Wallis & Wallis (Roy Butler)West Street Auction Galleries, 7-9 West St, Lewes, Sussex BN7 2NJTel. 01273 480208 Fax. 01273 476562 23 - 27

waterloomilitaria.com Ltd(Gary Lawrence) 27 Merlin Rd, Romford, Essex RMS 3YH Tel. 01708 500994 Mob. 07935324562 www.waterloomilitaria.com [email protected] 13West Street Antiques (Jon Spooner)63 West St., Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BS Tel. 01306 883487 Fax. 01306 883487Mob: 07855 519934 www.antiquearmsandarmour.com [email protected] 101 - 103

Wigington, JamesMob. 07909 525782 [email protected] 90

Wilkes, Eric 120 - 123

Wilson, Peter 141 - 143

Winks, DavidGreen Gables, 40 Abbey Crescent, Thorpe le Soken, EssexCO16 0LH Tel: 01255 862683 Fax:01255 861623 95

World Wide Arms LtdPO Box 5, Eccleshall, Stafford, ST21 6SN Tel. 01785 851515 Fax. 01785 850035www.worldwidearms.com [email protected] 38 - 39

Yorke, P.‘Quills’, Bagshot Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8DE Tel. 01276 857576 69 - 70



R E T U R N O F A W O O LW I C H ‘ I N F A N T ’

It is very rare to find an RML on its original carriage and platform, but such a gun has just been found.

Return of a Woolwich ‘Infant’

It is a 64pdr Mk III of 64 cwt RML (RifledMuzzle Loader). It came to light when itwas offered to antique arms dealer AlanCook by a collector of cannon, EdwardSloan Jr of South Carolina, USA He is aformer member of CHAOS (CannonHunters' Association of Seattle), which wasin existence from the 1950s to the 70s.

In the mid-1960s Mr Sloan wentto Ascension Island with his workforceand equipment to fulfil his contract forNASA to build one of the firstsatellite tracking stations; it was to trackthe Earlybird satellite and he was also toenlarge the runway at the airfield,Wideawake Field, to accommodatemodern USAF aircraft.

When this job was complete Mr Sloanhad some materials left over and since hehad all his crew and his kit there on site,he was able to carry out some significantimprovements to the roads for thecommunity of Ascension. In order toexpress the gratitude of the people, theAdministrator of the island presented himwith this gun and carriage in 1965. Whenhis work was complete he was able tobring the gun and carriage back to theUSA with him and install it in his backgarden, where it has remained for thelast 45 years.

Little did Ed Sloan know at the time whatan important part he and his companywere to play in world history when, just13 years later, the existence ofWideawake Airfield was a key factorenabling British forces to retake theFalkland Islands after the

infamous Argentinean invasion. In April1982, for just a few days, it was the busiestairport in the world, handlingtroops from Britain and air-to-air missilesfrom the USA to supply the taskforce. Wideawake Airfield is still in regularuse by the RAF and is also an emergencylanding site for the space shuttle.

Ed Sloan has remained a friendof Ascension Island through the‘Ascension Island Heritage Society’, as wellas sending them a wealth of informationand photographs from his time there, healso offered to return the RML to them ifthey wanted it back. This was not to be asthey could see no way of physically gettingit back to the island. If there had beena historical reason for the gun to be therein the first place an effort might have beenmade to achieve this, and so, in October2009, with their blessing and good wishes,he sold the coveted Woolwich Infant andits carriage to yours truly.

To move 12 ton of gun and carriage fromsomeone's back garden in South Carolinawas no mean feat. With the services ofEd Bennet, a local contractor with heavytransport and lifting gear, we were able tolift it clear of trees which had grown up allaround it over the years and get all thecomponents onto a low loader. Itwas transported to Ed Bennet's yard andexpertly packed into a container forshipping to our workshops in Hereford,where its arrival was heralded threeweeks later.

Back in Hereford, we stripped it down toits components and began the task ofmaking the missing parts. We will bemachining the trucks from solid billets ofsteel; the truck supports will be cast iniron along with the elevationcomponents, but first we must makewooden patterns. To get the rightdimensions, we co-opted the servicesof an engineer, Brett la-Hook, in NewZealand, to go to Albert Park in Aucklandwhere there is one of the only otherthree on original carriage and platform stillin existence, and take photos andmeasurements so that theauthentic restoration process can begin.

by John Slough

ID Plate

Lifting the infant out of the cradle

Leaving South Carolina



The 64pdr RML of 64 cwt was one ofArmstrong's most successful guns ofmedium size, designed at Woolwich andmanufactured at both the ElswickOrdnance Company and the Royal GunFactory with its distinctive three-grooverifling. Woolwich rifling of cannon was amodification using three grooves insteadof the usual six grooves, a conceptgenerally attributed to a Frenchman,M Truille de Beaulieu.

Armstrong's greatest achievement in theworld of armaments was his method ofmaking cannon barrels. At his factory inElswick, Northumberland, he perfectedthis art by means of first rifling a wroughtiron tube, then later a steel tube,machining it accurately on the outside toenable the shrinking of wrought ironsleeves over the outside machinedsurface and then screwing a breech piece(cascable) into the breech. The

trunnions were made as a separate piece,consisting of a ring of iron to which thetrunnions were attached. The result wasto produce a gun very much stronger thanthe old method of casting, because all theproblems associated with porosity forminginternally are avoided and the scrappagerate is significantly reduced. It is fair to saythat this method was the first step alongthe road towards the machined barrels ofour modern artillery pieces. Always withan eye to maximise profit, Armstrongunderstood the potential of nolonger having to make a new pattern forevery single gun cast.

In 1859, William Armstrong became SirWilliam and was appointed to the post ofEngineer of Rifled Ordnance at Woolwich.He set about revolutionising the workingpractices at the Royal Gun Factory: heintroduced a range of new machinery andput in place the methods of gunmaking hehad perfected at Elswick.

The construction of the Mk I began with abarrel of coiled iron (A tube), a forgedbreech piece (B tube) with a muzzle piecefor the swell, four external thin coils, atrunnion ring of forged iron and a cascablescrewed into the breech to support acopper cup, which closes the end of thebore. On the earlier guns there was no gasescape; this was only introduced after anumber had been made, and then it wasplaced under the cascable. The guns areboth centre and side-sighted, with an

Unloading the container in Hereford

A 64pdr Mk III in New Zealand



angle of correction of drift of 2.16degrees. The rifling, at first the ‘shunt’system, had a uniform twist of one turn in40 calibres. This form of groove wasapplied to all marks of the 64pdr gun.

In 1870, a decision was made to abolishthe shunt system and the ‘plain’ groovewas adapted instead; this is simply thedeep portion of the shunt and thealteration did not affect theprojectiles then in use. It was ordered thatthis change be made in all existing 64pdrguns on being repaired with a new barrel,so the original shunt system graduallybecame extinct.

The Mk II was only made in 1866; itdiffered from the Mk I in that it wasconstructed using fewer parts and itsexterior shape was modified in that thebreech end of the barrel was closed by awrought iron plug, with a copper discintervening between the plug and thecascable screw. The swell at the muzzlewas done away with and the chase wasformed by the barrel itself, which is madedouble thickness and then reinforced by acoil. The gun is cylindrical from the breechto the trunnions and the trunnion ring iswelded to the breech coil to givelongitudinal strength. Hook joints wereintroduced for the same reason whereverthe sections overlapped one another.These guns were marked with the letter‘B’ on the left trunnion. The rifling, sightsand ammunition were exactly the same inboth the Mk I and Mk II.

The manufacture of the Mk III began in1867, following experiments at Woolwich.The upgrade consisted of the adoption ofa jacket of Fraser construction (with atriple coil over the breech), whichconsisted of nearly all the exterior metalof the gun and covers three fifths of thelength of the barrel. When we look atthese guns today, now that theyhave weathered for more than 150 years,we can clearly see the shape of the coils.The external appearance of the Mk IIIresembles the Mk II with the soleexception of the breech, which isrounded off because there are no layersin the thickness of the metal, as it is allwelded into one solid mass. The angle ofsighting was increased to 2.5 degrees.

The SightsThe gun has six sights: two tangent, onecentre hind, three foresights. The bar of

the tangent sight fits into a gunmetalsocket and has a movable clamp. It isgraduated on the rear face to 15 degreeswith intervals of .10 and is fitted on themuzzle face with a removable range strip,graduated in yards for a full charge. Thecentre hindsight of gun-metal ishexagonal in form and drops into asocket fitted with a clamping screw. It isgraduated to five degrees and furnishedwith yard and fuse scales. The foresightsare of the drop pattern with a hog-backleaf.

The Carriage Medium no 9This carriage was made for overseas use;its method of construction and elevationgear were somewhat simpler than forhome defence and therefore cheaper tomake, with less components making themeasier to repair and maintain. It was builtto fire over a 5ft 6in parapet, composedof two brackets which are iron plates 3/4inch thick, a bottom plate, and twotransoms. It has front and rear rollers, thelatter on an eccentric shaft. The bracketsstand on the bottom plate to which theyare attached by angle iron bars on theoutside. Angle irons are riveted aroundthe trunnion holes to give sufficientbearing for the trunnions, with angle ironguides riveted under the bottom plate.Recesses for the front rollers are formedby iron flanges riveted outside the bracketplate, the axles being held in metaleccentric bearings in the flange and plate.The rear rollers are worked by an eccentricshaft, which is held in metal flanges boltedto the brackets to form recesses for therollers, the bracket plates being slotted tofit over the shaft. Sockets for iron-pointedlevers are fitted on the ends of the shaftand stops to prevent the rollers cominginto action on recoil of the gun. The

elevation gear is fitted to the right side; itis worked by a hand wheel on the spindleof which, inside the bracket is a pinion,this pinion gears into a large spur wheeland on the spindle of this latter is anotherpinion, which gears into an arc attached tothe gun with four large screws.

The Platform Medium no 9The platform was made to carry themedium no 9 carriage. It consists of twosides of girder iron curved round at thefront and held together by a plate boltedto them on the inside; the rear ends areconnected by a transom. The truckbrackets are of malleable cast steel andare bolted on the undersidesand connected in front and rear by truckand vertical plates. The trucks are held inflanged feet of malleable cast steel; theflanges are secured to the truck bracketsby their spindles passing through thelatter to which they are fastened by nuts.There is a feather on each flanged foot,which fits into any of four notches in thetruck plate so that the trucks can bealtered by loosening the nuts to fit thedifferent pivots then in use. A pivot plateis attached by angle irons to the verticalplate connecting the front truck bracketsand is bolted to truck plates in the rearholes for the pivot; plugs are drilled in itcorresponding to the position of thepivots. A bollard on a wrought ironspindle is bolted in the rear of thetransom. The hydraulic buffer, whichhas a wrought iron cap at each end, issupported on plates attached to the sidesof the slide. The run-off cock is in theunderside of the cylinder in rear of thefront supporting plate. The internaldiameter of the buffer is 6in and willadmit a recoil of 5ft 6in. A loading derrickwith a bearer is fixed on the left side nearthe front. The projectile is lifted into, andadjusted in, the bearer by hand and thederrick is swung round to the muzzle ofthe gun when the gun is run back anddepressed for loading. The pivot block(no 3) is 3ft 5in in height; it should befixed to the emplacement so that 1ft6.375in is above the top of the racers.The sponge is fitted with a wire ropestave 8ft 5in long; the rammer is on astave made from three pieces; theplatform is fitted with a sponge tank andbrackets for the sidearms and there is astep on each side of the platform. Eachside of the hydraulic cylinder is a lengthof hardwood, which forms a step for thegunner to sight the gun.

The List of Changes 1882



ShellsThe common shell is of iron cast withoutbands and is three calibres long. Thehead is ogival, struck with a radius of oneand a half diameters, and the point istruncated, screwed and fitted with agunmetal bush tapped to accommodatea GS fuse. The bursting charge iscontained in a dowlas bag. There arethree extractor holes in the head; threerings of copper studs are pressed intoholes cut into the body of the shell. Theshrapnel shell is of iron cast withoutbands; it has a tin cup, wrought irondiaphragm, gas pipe and gunmetalsocket. Three extractor holes are bored inthe head, lined with tin to excludedamp. It contains 234 bullets of 14 gaugewith a bursting charge of 9oz FGgunpowder. Case shot consists of atinned iron cylinder filled with 50 x 8ozsandshot packed in powdered clay andsand. Paper shot is a cylinder made ofpapier mâché with a lacquered finish. Thetotal weight of the shot is brought up tothat of the service projectile by beingweighted up to 67pdrs with no 5 smallshot and sawdust in proportion of four toone by measure. As the cylinder breaksup on firing the small shot only travelsabout 200 yards, while the effect forpurposes of testing recoil is the same asthat obtained with the service projectile.

Taking into account the serial numbers ofexisting guns, there were probably 1000made of all three marks, of which Mk III

made up about half. There was no Mk IV;the Mk III had the improved toughenedmild steel ‘A’ tube designed at Woolwich.

It was used by the navy before beingtransferred for fortification of coastaldefence positions, both at home andthroughout the British Empire. The gun,with its overall length of 9ft 10in, a boresize of 6.3in and a bore length of 97.5in,was capable of firing its 64-poundcommon studed shell spiralling down itsthree grooves, using copper studstravelling at 1,390 feet per second at anaccurate distance of up to 5,000 yards.

During this period, the gunmakers at theRoyal Gun Factory began the tradition ofchristening the RML guns they madeas 'Woolwich Infants'. The yard wherethese finished babies were kept wasknown as the Nursery. Indeed, oppositethe old front gate of the factory inPlumstead Road there stands a pub usedby the gunmakers still called the'Woolwich Infant', with its picture of anRML as its pub sign.

It is true to say that 64pdrs of 64cwt arevery rare guns.

There is only one Mk I and one Mk IIsurviving, both located in Fort George,Inverness, Scotland.

Only 20 Mk III guns remain: one in FortGeorge, on a wooden traversing carriage;two in Australia, one of which is on a verygood reproduction siege carriage, theother on a concrete plinth; one in HongKong on a reproduction number 9wrought iron carriage and platform; oneat Fort Brockhurst, Hampshire on awooden traversing carriage; four inSingapore, two of which are mounted onconcrete imitation traversing carriagesand two on concrete plinths; two atPendennis Castle, Cornwall, on woodenstanding carriages; four are being used asbollards at Fort St Angelo in Malta; theonly other three known are in NewZealand, one in Albert Park and twoat Taiaroa Head, all mounted on originalwrought iron no 9 carriages andplatforms.

This gun's elevation gear is missing; thefour screws that should attach the arcbracket are not there; in their place arefour capping screws, which preventdamage to the internal threads in

transport; they were fitted at Woolwich in1878 when the gun was reconditioned forcolonial service. The screws are stampedRGF (Royal Gun Factory) and dated 1878,this is a sure sign that it was never mountedas it could not physically be installedwithout the arc being present, so it followsthat it was never in service onAscension. There are no Fort Recordbooks at the National Archive or onAscension to give any indication of why itwas ever there. It remains a mystery why itwas abandoned complete with its centrepivot and left lying on the ground halfwayup a hill on an island in the middle of theAtlantic Ocean.

It must be said that this is one of the mostimportant guns, complete with itsoriginal carriage, ever to be saved forposterity. Welcome home WoolwichInfant - RML 64pdr of 64cwt Mk III Ser No414 - born Woolwich, England 1868. Wecan only hope it remains here in Englandand is not lost to the nation by being sentaway overseas once again.

John Slough

Master Gunmaker

AcknowledgmentsAlan CookElizabeth Talbot-Rice (Historical Research)Edward Sloan JnrEddie Bennett (Heavy Lifting Gear)Brett La-Hook (New Zealand Researcher)The Ascension Island Historical SocietyList of Changes 1882Handbook of the 64-PR. RML Gun of 64CWT (Marks I,II, III.), Land Service, 1893."Treatise on Military Carriages 1888",HMSO, London, 1888.Ian V Hogg

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Antique Arms, Armour, Sporting Guns & MilitariaThe oldest and most prestigious antique arms fair in the country

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The 86th London Antique Arms Fair

A GERMAN WHEELLOCK PISTOL C.1580. COLLECTION NUMBER: XII.1069© BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ARMOURIES

SPRING 201122 & 23 April

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W I L L I A M PA R K E R A N D PA R K E R F I E L D G U N M A K E R S

Collectors of late 18th-century and early19th-century arms will, sooner or later,encounter products bearing one or twosimilar names - William Parker and ParkerField. This London firm, for in effect theywere part of the same group,manufactured a wide range of materialfrom the late 18th-century until the laterpart of the 19th-century. Pistols, muskets,rifles, revolvers, bayonets, swords andpolice equipment can all be foundbearing these names. Some items will befound with the name Field or Field &Sons, and they are from the same makerand sometimes carry Holborn as well. Thenames will also be found on trade labelsaffixed to cased pistols and gun cases.

These makers’ products, even theircheaper items, were of reasonablequality, but Parker especially was quitecompetent to supply top-quality piecessuch as duelling pistols and at least onecontemporary sports writer, ThomasJohnson, rated him among the topgunmakers. Despite the quantity of armsmanufactured by the firm, neither seemsto have acquired a contemporaryreputation comparable with somegunmakers of the period such as Egg,Wogdon, Manton, Mortimer and others,who were all very highly regarded.

The firm of William Parker was based at233 Holborn, sometimes given as HighHolborn, which is the address to be foundon most of the firm’s products. Holbornwas a busy main road leading from the Cityof London to Oxford Street and on to thewest. The Parker house was well situatedto allow its people to watch the periodicprocessions of condemned criminals asthey passed by on the road from NewgatePrison to be hanged at the gallows atTyburn (presently sited at Marble Arch).The house was not very far away from anotorious area of London, the Rookery,near the church of St Giles. This was anarea of semi-derelict houses, frequentedby all manner of thieves and villains andavoided by most people. Parker must haveknown the area well for he served as a

William Parker andParker Field Gunmakers

member of the vestry, and he attendedservices and meetings at the church andcertainly counted the vicar as a friend.

The Holborn premises do not appear tohave been very large and are depicted ina later view of the street compiled by anengraver John Tallis, and dating from the1840s1. It is one of a line of mixed shopson the south side of the street and islisted in the official records as a house,although it obviously served as a shopand possibly a work shop as well. It hasthe frontage of a two-storey building witha central doorway and mullion windowson either side. There appears to besome decoration or heraldic emblemabove the central doorway. Aphotograph in the Camden local history

Detail from Tallis map of Holborncirca 1840 with 233 next to LittleTurnstile alley

1903 photograph 233 Holborn



collection at Holborn library2 dating fromaround 1903, shows virtually the sameview. The building was demolished in the1930s to be replaced by an office block,which still stands.

Contemporary local directories are a greatsource of information when researchingbut they are not totally reliable. It isimpossible to know how carefully thedetails were checked or how often entrieswere updated. Generally, far more reliableare local parish records, especially the ratebooks. Local government in the 18thcentury was centred on the vestries -elected bodies associated with the church.They were responsible for lighting, rubbishcollection, poor relief and the local watchor similar services. The costs of theseservices were funded from a type of localtax known as the rates. Each house in theparish was assessed and given a taxablevalue and the occupants were obliged topay an annual sum based on that figure.Local officials appointed by the vestriescollected the cash and each kept theirown record book. The rates werecollected quarterly and any alterations ofoccupancy were duly recorded and, asthe collectors were held personallyresponsible for the cash, the records wereusually accurate and up-to-date.

Between them, the rate books of Holbornand contemporary London directoriesprovide evidence of William Parker’sarrival at 233 High Holborn. In 1789,various directories list the premises asoccupied by silversmiths named as Fieldand Clarke, but in the following year theylist only John Field, silversmith. A directoryfor 1792 lists the address as being used byField & Co Goldsmiths and Gunsmiths. Inthe directories for 1793 and 1794 theentry reverts to Field & Clarke Silversmithsand in 1794 and 1795 the entry lists Fieldand Parker Goldsmiths and Gunsmiths andin 1797 it reads William Parker Gunmaker.It is of interest to note the association ofthe Field and Parker families from an earlydate. Despite the fact that the directoriesdeclare them to be goldsmiths orsilversmiths, neither Field nor Parkerappear to have had an official assay markregistered in their names with theGoldsmiths Company. Lacking such officialrecognition, they would not have beenallowed to manufacture and sell objects inprecious metals. This suggests that Field,Clarke and Parker were most probablymerchants rather than makers3.

Parker’s house was in the Parish of SaintGiles in the Fields of Bloomsbury,Holborn, also linked with the Parish of StGeorge, Bloomsbury, and, fortunately,many of the contemporary records of thisarea have survived. According to the ratebooks in 1783, John Field is listed at 233Holborn and he is recorded as paying until1790. The entry for 1791 still lists John Fieldbut now the name John is underlined bythe collector and the wordWidw inserted,suggesting that John Field had died duringthe year. The entry for 1792 is recorded asWidow Field but this, in turn, has beenamended and Widow is underlined and, inpencil, William Parker is substituted.Written on an interleafing sheet of blottingpaper is the phrase William Parker paid£1-6-3. The rateable value of the housewas set at £42, requiring a payment of £2-12-6 (two pounds twelve shillings andsixpence or £2.62 in current terms), whichmeans that Parker was paying for half ayear, suggesting that Field died in the firsthalf of 1792. The evidence clearly showsthat from 1792, William Parker wasestablished at 233 Holborn. William Parkermarried Field’s widow at the same time ashe took over the premises.

The house is adjacent to a narrow roadnamed Little Turnstile, still extant, whichleads into Lincoln Inn Fields, and theHorwood’s London Map of 1790confirms the numbering of the house.The family’s long-term occupancy of thepremises is confirmed by a deed of theproperty4 in Holborn Local StudiesCentre, dated 26th March 1866, whichcontains the following schedule:

“First A messuage or tenement situate (sic)on the south side of High Holborn number233 now in the occupation of WilliamParker or his undertenant under a leasefor a term of years which will expire atMichaelmass one thousand eight hundredand fifty seven at the rent of £100 payablequarterly (£4,300 equivalent)5.Rate of insurance against fire £800.(£34,000 equivalent)”

Parker’s business expanded over the yearsand this is supported by entries in variousLondon directories.In 1798, he is listed just as Goldsmith in theLondon and Kents Directories.The following year 1799, he is listed asGunmaker.1800 Kents Directory now has him asGunsmith and Sword Cutler but in the

same year the New Annual Directorymerely says Goldsmith.The Kents Directory for 1801 saysGunsmith and Sword Cutler.By 1802, he has made his mark on thetrade for his entry in Holden’s TriennialDirectory: he claims to be Gunmaker toHis Royal Highness the Duke of Kent.Between 1802 and 1818, variousdirectories list him as Gunsmith orGunmaker.In 1819, the Robson’s New LondonDirectory claims a more distinguishedclient and his entry reads Gunmaker to HisMajesty and this must refer to George III,who died in 1820.1819 He is back to Goldsmith again in thePost Office Annual Directory.1820–1829 the entries state he isGunmaker and Sword Cutler.In 1829, The Post Office LondonDirectory has upgraded him to Gunmakerto his Majesty, which would have beenWilliam IV.From 1824–1828, the same Directory listshim as Gunmaker to his Majesty, the HonBoard of Ordnance and the Hon East IndiaCompany.1839 Armourer to the Police is added tothe list.

Whilst this address appears to be thehome and possibly workshop, thebusiness expanded to occupy otherproperties. The details are recorded inpolicies of the Sun Insurance Companyand the valuations of the premises andproperty increase over the years. Apolicy of October 1800 mentions onlythe dwelling house at 233 Holborn andassesses the total value of householdgoods and stock at £1,700 (£54,950).Another policy of December 1806 givesan address of 233 Holborn and also listsgoods etcetera in a workshop behind no22 Chambers, Goodmans Fields at £200,with £150 in an open yard and £300 inworkshop opposite Rear, total value£650 (£36,420).

By November 1814, the Sun policy listshousehold goods and personal items at£400 (£13,500) with nails and stock goodsin trust at £1,100 (£37,300) for 233Holborn, pictures and reglazed prints at£50, china and glass £50. Utensils andstock in trust in leased shop from Stinton,presumably John Stinton (a gunmaker) inChambers St in Goodmans Fields, £500and similar in workshop in Glasshouse Yard£20. Total assets: £2,300 (£78,100).



In January 1820, the policy retains figurefor household goods at £400, butupgrades utensils and stock in trust to£1,600 (£67,000) and some inworkshops of a carpenter of 60Theobalds Rd at £500, pictures and prints(framed and reglazed) at £50 and chinaand glass £50 a total of £2,600(£109,000). Theobalds Road is not farfrom High Holborn but the otheraddresses, Goodmans Fields andChambers Street, are some distance awayin the Whitechapel area, known as theMinories that housed a number oftradesman associated with themanufacture of arms, the Tower ofLondon and the Board of Ordnance.Judging from these figures it seemsreasonable to suggest that the businesshad prospered.6

High Holborn was, and still is, a main road,and William was but one of a group ofgunmakers situated in the area. There wasWilliam Mills, once Parker’s apprentice, at120 Holborn; Henry Charles Beckwith wasin Red Lion Square just across the road,and James Stevens was at 43 Holborn. In1841, out of a listed total of 38 gunmakersin London, there were no less than sevenwith addresses in Holborn7. Samuel Coltvisited London in 1835 and was recordedas staying near Ludgate Circus, not too farfrom Holborn, and he states that he founda shop of a Mr Palmer at 233 Holbornwhere he had his pistol polished, bluedand engraved.8 Colt’s memory may havelet him down, for the address is that ofWilliam Parker.

William Parker was an active member ofthe local vestry and played a prominentpart in local affairs. The vestry records of StGiles church show him as being a memberof various committees. In 1828, he waselected as a vestryman and served on thePaving Committee, charged with keepingthe streets of the Parish in good order andrepair. He was also active in supervising theaffairs of the church and in January 1835 isrecorded as being ready to receivedonations towards clearing some debtsincurred by the church. He gave 30shillings, the equivalent of about 75pounds in today’s values.

His service to the church ended in June1841 when he died; a note in the parishrecords proposed a new man as trustee ofthe New Burial Ground in place of WParker deceased. As a good, practical

business man Parker had prepared a detailed will which was proved on 25th August 1841,setting out his various bequests. He made generous provisions for his son-in-law John Fieldand his wife, as well as remembering the various nieces and nephews, all of whomincorporate William Parker as part of their names. The rector, vicar and curate of thechurch were all left something and Parker remembered his workmen and lists five of them9.

The will includes the clause which reads as I declare that it is my particular wish and desireand intention that as early as possible after my decease my said executors shall for theirmutual benefit engage in, carry on and continue my said business of Gun Maker underthe name, style or firm of W Parker Field and Sons.

From 1841, it is easier to establish the details of the occupancy of 233 Holborn, for inthat year the first national census of the population was held and it was repeated everyten years. The 1841 list (107/673/5) records the occupants as William Parker, aged 65,Gunmaker and not born in the county. From this date one may deduce that he was bornin 1776, in which case, when he took on his current premises, he was only 16, whichwould seem to be extremely young.10 However, the census return seems to show that theages of most males appear to be rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 years and, if so,Parker could have been between, perhaps, 63 or 67.

For the next few years,it is difficult to decidewhich of the Fieldfamily was in charge asthere were fathers andsons with the samenames, but this isunimportant, as thefirm was always ParkerField & Sons. The 1851census lists a John W PField as head of thehousehold, aged 34,making his birth in1817, and his wifeFrances, Parker’sdaughter, aged 32 as being born in 1819. The house must been rather crowded, for thecensus lists five relatives. A cook and two servants are in residence.

The 1861 census ages Field as 46, two years older than he should have been, since thecensus was held every ten years. However, his wife is correctly listed as 42, he nowhas a son aged only two months and there is only one servant aged 30. However, theentries are slightly suspect since, apart from age discrepancies, the address is given as234 Holborn.

Trade label, from gun case post dating 1837

Trade label from cased percussion pistol also post dating 1837


Pair of William Parker’s flintlock pocket pistols purchased by Police Office Worship Street circa 1803.These differ from most Police Office pistols in having a long barrel than most.

Police connection.During much of the 18th century, Londonhad no official police force, but in 1792,Parliament passed the Justices ofMiddlesex Act and established severalpolice or public offices spaced aroundcentral London. Each was manned by twofull-time magistrates, a small office staffand around eight or ten constables. Tostart with these constables were unarmedbut the Napoleonic Wars changed this. In1802, a peace treaty was agreed betweenEngland and France, but it was very fragileand both France and England failed tokeep the conditions; despite a brief butconsiderable cross-channel tourist traffic,hostilities soon recommenced.

Napoleon set afoot an ambitious plan toinvade England with some very unusualideas for transporting his troops across theChannel, including a Eurostar-type tunnel,and soon there was a large French armycamped in the Boulogne area. The Britishgovernment took the threat seriously andbegan counter-invasion planning. One

step was to issue an order to the policeoffices of London to arm their constables,and Parker became one of the primesuppliers of weapons. As the officeswere, to a degree, independent, themagistrates were able to order suchweapons as each saw fit. Most settled fora boxlock, flintlock pocket pistol, althoughdecoration and barrel lengths varied. Afew police office pistols, such as thosepurchased by the Marylebone Office,were a little better quality with hatchedbutts and folding triggers, but most weretypical plain, reliable pistols, mostly with athree-inch barrel. Some of thosepurchased had a five-inch barrel and thebutts of most were slab-sided. Their otherchoice of weapons was a short-sword ofhanger type but all known examples carryParker’s name and often the Holbornaddress, as well as the name of the policeoffice. The hangers fall into two groupsand the earlier pattern appears to have astirrup-shaped knuckle bow whilst thelater ones have the D-shaped guard.Parker supplied many other buyers with

The 1871 census gives the head of thehousehold an age of 56 and he is listed asJohn William P Field. This is the last timethat he appears at this address and, at theage of 66, he may have decided toreduce his commitment. The familybusiness at 233 Holborn appears toterminate in 1877 when a note in the poorrate book at Michaelmas has the entry:

Field John Will Parker with a pencil notesaying Left at Michl Last 6/10/77.

Although the connection with theHolborn address has apparently ended,items bearing the name of Parker Fieldappear bearing the addresses of 122Leman St, 59 Leman St, 58 Mansell St andTavistock St, until about 188111. The firmsupplied all types of arms ranging fromflintlock pocket pistols, through duellingpistols, long Enfield rifles, pepper boxes,bayonets, swords and, from early in the19th century, became one of the chiefsuppliers of rattles, handcuffs and otherpolice equipment.




this type of sword including prisons andprivate law enforcement agencies aroundthe country. These hangers were suppliedin leather scabbards with brass or ironfurniture. Parker’s reputation was highand, in 1822, a Parliamentary Committeewas told by a witness that his prices wereunder what they might be.

Parker continued to deal with several ofthe police offices until they became police

Typical hanger as supplied to Police Offices, prisons and law enforcement groups . It has the later D shaped knuckle bow andblade etched Borstal Prison.

courts in 1829, and not only suppliedreplacement and new weapons but alsobecame more or less the official armourer,carrying out repairs on damaged pistols.Having entered this market, Parker alsosupplied truncheons and tipstaves, allusually stamped on the base with his name.

The trade with the police offices ended in1829 but for Parker their place was takenby London’s New Police. Created in 1829

under the direction of Robert Peel, thisnew larger force had to be equipped andtenders to supply the material were dulyinvited. Although basically the force wasto be unarmed, the men were to be givena wooden truncheon and Parker was ableto meet this new demand. Swords were tobe kept as a last resort; some wereordered and Parker was lucky enough tostep in here, although, strangely enough,the tender of another dealer was

Bill for truncheons sold by Parker to Brighton Police in 1838



accepted but seems never to have beentaken up.

The inaugural parade of the New Policewas held in September 1829 in thegrounds of the Foundling Orphanage,Corams Fields, in Holborn, and policeorders stated that Parker would be inattendance. Various accounts seem tosuggest that this parade was hardlyauspicious, since a number of the officerswere drunk and some carried umbrellas12.

Having established a link with theMetropolitan Police, it was not surprisingthat after Parker’s death, Parker Fieldcontinued to supply the force. He wasaware of the need to expand anddevelop the business and it is no surpriseto see that the firm mounted a display oftheir goods at the Great Exhibition held inHyde Park, London, in 1851. On theirstand number 224 were displayed:

Double-barrelled fowling and rifle gunsin cases complete.Inlaid and ornamental pistols.Air-gun in case, complete.New spring belt for carryingshot cartridges.

Percussion musket and bayonet, asemployed in the Hon. East IndiaCompany’s service.Percussion fusil.Sapper and Miner’s carbine.Cavalry carbine and pistol.Flint and steel single gun, used by theHudson’s Bay Company as a trade gun.Truncheons, rattles, spring handcuffs,leglocks, and spring-hilted cutlass, usedby the Metropolitan and City ofLondon Police.Brass pocket staff and pistol used bythe inspectors and superintendentsChain, with wrist shackles and lock,used at prisons for removing prisoners.The manufacture of shackles is carriedon principally at Birmingham. A recentaccount states that 4,000 pairs areannually manufactured at that town ofwhich one-half are for foreign andcolonial purposes. Large numbers areexported to the southern states ofAmerica for slaves. Manacles forfelons are light and highly polished.

Despite the quality of his products,William Parker was probably lessprogressive than his successors whodeveloped some new ideas. In June 1852,

a spring-operated T-shaped rammer to bemounted on the side of a percussionrevolver was registered to John Field andthis is often found fitted on Langpercussion revolvers.13

John Field patented a special case for theMetropolitan constable’s truncheon.Suspended from a belt was a tubularleather holder, at the bottom of whichwas a spring. As the truncheon waspushed into the tube, it compressed thespring and a top flap was then foldeddown and secured in place. Thetruncheon was now under pressure and ifthe top flap was undone, the springpushed the truncheon up and out of thecase, making it a quick draw device.

In 1868, a new pattern sword was adoptedby the Metropolitan Police and Fieldsupplied two models, one with a lockingspring catch on the hilt for issue toconstables and one lacking the catch forinspectors. John W Parker Field was quiteheavily involved with the volunteermovement around the middle of thecentury and Long Enfield Rifles and yataghanbayonets were supplied by the firm, as wellas the newly adopted Snider Rifle14.

Design for Parker Field’s folding side rammer



The combined service of the two familieslasted from 1792 to c1877, and theircombined output was not only varied andconsiderable but generally of a highstandard. Many collectors are quite happyto include pieces in their collection.

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to members of the staffof the Camden Local Studies andArchive Centre, Holborn Library, fortheir kind and friendly assistance andpermission to reproduce thephotograph of Parker’s premises.

Thanks are also due to Thomas Del Marfor permission to reproduce thephotographs of examples of thesegunmakers’ products.

1 John Tallis’s London Street Views1835–1840 ed Peter Jackson LondonTopographical Society 2002.

2 Neg 2183 N5421.3 The reference books Jackson’s Gold & Silver

Marks edit I Pickford 1989 and LondonGoldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks and LivesA Grimwade 1982 list one WP mark andqueries whether it might be William Parker.

4 Deed number M24121.5 The modern equivalent monetary valuesare based on figures from the NationalArchives Currency Converter.

6 Details of the various policies and someother details were kindly supplied by DrDewitt Bailey.

7 Extracted from Tallis (op.cit).8 Edwards, W The Story of Colt’s Revolver 1937.9 One mentioned by name, David Lock,appears in Holborn Leet Court Minutes asresiding at 25 Eagle Street( close by Parker)in April 1828 and is a gunmaker and infirmand lost one eye. Industrial accident ??

Cased Lang percussion revolver fitted with the side mounted rammer.

10 See London Silver-Hilted Swords by LeslieSouthwick, Royal Armouries 2001, for amore detailed account of the Parker/Fieldfamily. Southwick suggests Parker was olderthan indicated taking 68 as accurate, butthis still makes Parker only 19 or 20 whenhe takes over in Holborn.

11 See Blackmore, H, A Dictionary of LondonGunmakers 1350-1850 London 1986.

12 For a fuller account of the Police Officesand their weapons see Wilkinson F ThoseEntrusted With Arms and London Arms FairGuide for April 2007

13 See The Revolver 1818–1865 by ATaylerson, R Andrews, J Frith

14 Adopted by the British Army in September1866 as their first breech loading rifle.

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email: [email protected]: www.peteholder.co.uk

Beautiful Nimschke-style engraved Smith & Wesson Second Model Americansingle action revolver serial number 17837 with eight inch barrel and two-piece

ivory grips manufactured circa 1873


‘ P A X I N B E L L O ’ ‘ P E A C E I N WA R ’

This is the story of one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of rarities in the world of collecting Colt firearms and the gentleman, soldier,magistrate and businessman from Leeds in Yorkshire, England who acquired this magnificent cased set circa 1860.

The set in question is a deluxe brassbound mahogany case inscribed on the lid ‘Robert John Hudson Esqre Roundhay, near Leeds’showing the family shield and crest. The case contains a Gustave Young-engraved British-proofed, Colt Model 1851 Navy percussionrevolver serial number 91995/. manufactured circa 1859 and inscribed ‘RJ Hudson Esqre /Leeds’ on the silver-plated iron back-strap.Cased ensuite with this fabulous revolver and accessories is its original silver-plated and engraved matching attachable third modelcanteen shoulder-stock numbered to the gun. The carbine stock bears the double inscription of ‘Pax in Bello’, which translates fromLatin into English as ‘Peace in War’.

by Pete Holder

Lieutenant Robert John Hudson of the 7th Yorkshire, West Riding, Rifle Volunteers Corps known as

the Leeds Rifles and his inscribed, Deluxe Brass-bound Cased and Gustave Young Engraved British-

Proofed Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver serial number 91995/. Case Inscribed ‘Robert

John Hudson Esqre. Roundhay, near Leeds’, Revolver inscribed ‘R.J. Hudson Esqre / Leeds’ and

Matching Attachable Canteen Shoulder-Stock with Double Inscription ‘Pax in Bello’.

‘Pax in Bello’ ‘Peace in War’



The story of the owner, Robert JohnHudson, and his magnificent cased pistol-carbine relates as follows.

The Hudson family were a very prominentbusiness family in the Leeds area ofYorkshire throughout the IndustrialRevolution of the 19th century in GreatBritain. They owned businesses employinghundreds of workers. In 1815, Robert John’sgrandfather Edward, purchased Leeds Millfor £32,000. In the Directories of 1822,Edward is listed as owning his owncompany named Edward Hudson & Co,which was described as ‘Cornfactors, OilMillers and Malsters’ at Kingsmill inYorkshire. In 1828, the business descriptionof Edward Hudson & Co was changed to‘Corn and Oil Merchants Millers &Malsters’ and based at Kingsmill, Swinegateand the Corn Exchange in Leeds.

Robert John Hudson was born in Burleynear Leeds in 1838. He was the secondson born to Robert Hudson and his wifeElizabeth of Rounday near Leeds. RobertJohn was one of five sons and a daughter.They included Edward born in 1834,Robert John in 1838, Albert in 1841,Charles Herbert in 1846 and the youngestson, Ernest, who was born in 1858. Hissister, Fanny Elizabeth, was the eldestchild born in 1828.

In 1843, Robert John’s grandfather Edwardformed a new company in the name ofGadeson and Hudson to take overcollieries in Stanley near Wakefield. Theyalso owned lime and coke kilns in thesurrounding area. By 1841, grandfatherEdward and Robert John’s father, alsonamed Robert, along with his wifeElizabeth and their families, had movedtheir homes to Roundhay near Leeds. By1853, the business was called ‘Edward &Robert Hudson, Oil Merchants’.

1859 was a very turbulent year in Britishhistory following the Crimean War and theIndian Mutiny. There was much unrest inEurope, with wars in Italy and Austria atwar with France over the Kingdom ofSardinia. Also, Germany was worried thatFrance might attack the Rhineland. On the17th November 1859, the 7th Yorkshire,West Riding (Leeds) Rifle VolunteersCorps were formed. Known as the LeedsRifles, they were part of the LeedsVolunteer Rifle Corps, which had beenformed, founded against the perceivedthreat of invasion from France.

Robert John Hudson joined the following year on 3rd September as a 22-year-old youngman. In those days it was the eldest son who was most likely to run the family business,with the siblings (he was the second in line) joining the army or taking up religious studies.Many of the companies were raised by prominent local businesses and the Hudsonfactories probably formed their own company from their workforce.

Hudson enlisted as an ensign (the lowest rank of a commissioned officer), but within daysof enlisting was promoted to Lieutenant. In the Leeds Mercury newspaper on Tuesday18th September 1860, it stated the following: “Yorkshire Volunteer Commissions - LastFriday night the London Gazette contains the following commission - 7th West Riding ofYorkshire Rifle Volunteers (Leeds) - Ensign Robert John Hudson to be Lieutenant.”

With their barracks next to the town hall, the unit grew quickly, soon reaching 1000recruits. It produced an elite volunteer infantry unit, which also played a central part inthe social life of the city of Leeds.

Newspaper report ‘promotion to Lieutenant’ Leeds Mercury, 18 September 1860


Newspaper report ‘sweepstake for Lieut Hudson’s revolver


During the following six weeks to the end of October 1860, the Leeds Mercury gave agood account of the 7th Rifles. These included shooting competitions for prizes thatincluded a challenge cup, medals, ensign rifle and Colt revolvers. It was reported withinthat period that Lieutenant R J Hudson took part in the competitions at least on twooccasions and also that he presented some of the prizes, which included a silver cupvalued at £10 and a medal for the winner of the Challenge Cup. On the 11th October1860 the Leeds Mercury wrote: “A silver cup, value £10 and medal was presented byLieutenant Hudson for the winner of the challenge cup.” The same was reported in thenewspaper the following week. In the report of the 18th October 1860, R J Hudson tookpart in a competition for a Colt revolver and rifle.

Unfortunately, he scored zero points out of ten. In a competition for the ‘Mr Wilkinson’sCup’, he scored only four points out of ten. With all his military experience he does notappear to have been a great marksman. It was also reported that: “the shootingconcluded with a sweepstakes for Lieutenant Hudson’s revolver, for which there werethirty competitors”.

The distance was 100 yards, two rounds, the winner being Sergeant Little, CaptainRobinson being second’.

As the threat of war with France rapidly abated, the type of corps that Hudson was inbecame gentlemen’s shooting clubs and, for one reason or another and probably becauseof family business, Hudson resigned his commission during the late spring of 1861. OnThursday 27th June 1861, the Leeds Mercury reported: “Her Majesty has been graciouslypleased to accept the resignation of the commissions held by the following officers - 7thWest Riding of Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers: Lieutenant Robert John Hudson.”

Robert, at the age of 23, entered thefamily business and was listed as a ‘CornMerchant & Malster of Swinegate’ inYorkshire. In the census of that year,Robert John’s father at the age of 56 isdescribed as a ‘Justice of the Peace and aSeed Crusher’, employing 77 men. Healso owned a colliery that employed 419men. This totalled 496 workers employedby the Hudson family. By this time, RobertJohn Hudson, at the age of 22, wasmarried to a Miss Jane Hall, aged 23, andthey were living at Barwick-in-Elmet nearRoundhay.

By 1867, at the age of 29, Robert Johnand his wife Jane had moved to Moorville,near Burley-in-Wharfedale. He continuedto work as a merchantman for his father’scompany. In 1875, the area of coalfieldwas expanded with a lease to R J Hudson.By 1881, Robert John Hudson hadbecome a Justice of the Peace for theWest Riding Magistrates, living at Oulton.He was also secretary to the family’slimited company.

Robert John’s colliery venture failed in1882 and by 1889, he and his partner soldthe colliery to the Victoria Coal & CokeCompany Ltd. In 1891, Hudson hadbecome a magistrate, living at GranvilleSquare in Harrowgate. By 1901, at the ageof 62 he had retired to the seaside atRoyal Avenue in Scarborough inYorkshire, returning to Leeds with his wifeJane sometime before 1911. He died at hishome at Cleveland House, York Place,Harrowgate in Yorkshire on the 1stDecember, 1913, from cerebralthrombosis, aged 74. His wife died only35 days after John on the 5th January,1914. They had been married for morethan 50 years.

It can only be speculated how RobertJohn Hudson came to own his cased,engraved and inscribed canteenshoulder-stocked Colt Model 1851 Navypercussion revolver. Maybe it waspresented to him by the officers and menof the 7th West Riding of Yorkshire RifleVolunteers on him receiving hiscommission, or from the Hudson familyon his 21st birthday in 1859. Maybe hebought it himself. A clue might be thedouble inscription of ‘Pax in Bello’, ‘Peacein War’ on the shoulder-stock, which alsofeatures on the altar wall of St John’sChurch at Roundhay in Leeds whereHudson’s father and grandfather are

Newspaper report ‘resignation of Lieut Hudson’s commission’, 27 June 1861



buried. On the altar wall it states: “Pax in Bello in memory of Robert Hudson Esq ofRoundhay...”. The adaption of this motto by the Hudson family was in deference to theDukes of Leeds whose motto it was at that time. My guess is that the cased set was apresent from the Hudson family.

This magnificent set can be traced from its manufacture and embellishment at theHartford factory, Connecticut in 1859 to being shipped to the Colt Agency at 14, PallMall, London, then on to Robert John Hudson circa 1860. It remained in the Hudsonfamily until it was bought out of the family in the 1960s by Ron Dean, the well-known Coltcollector and dealer who formerly lived in the Channel Islands and now resides inPhoenix, Arizona. I bought this wonderful set from Ron in 1998 and it has been the prizepiece in my collection since then.

Let’s get technicalAn in-depth description of this magnificent set would be as follows:

Image of gun and stock in the case

Inscribed, deluxe brass-bound cased and Gustave Young engraved British- proofed 4thModel Colt Belt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver serial numbered 91995/.manufactured circa 1859 with matching silver-plated engraved and inscribed attachablethird model canteen shoulder-stock numbered ensuite to the gun. All serial numbers arematching throughout the set with the dot suffix after the number denoting special finishand engraving.



This 4th Model Navy revolver is in .36 navy calibre with a 7½ inch, octagonal barrel roll-engraved - ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON - . The blued barrel, with the late bevelledcut-out on the right side, has the rare dovetail target foresight often seen on shoulder-stocked examples. The British proof marks are not stamped in the usual place as on mostLondon revolvers but sit in a sensible position on the barrel flat just above the loading lever,so that they do not obscure the beautiful barrel engraving.

The roll-engraved cylinder shows Ormsby’s Naval battle scene with the British proof-marks stamped on the shoulders of the cylinder between the nipple recesses.

The revolver has the rare four-screw frame with two of the screws extended along withthe recoil shield notched on the underside to accept the shoulder-stock. The back-strapis also grooved at the heel to accept the iron catch, which is tightened by the thumbscrew to secure the stock tightly to the revolver.

Dog’s head engraved on barrel lug

Serial numbers with dot, denotingspecial finish and engraving

The frame, barrel, loading lever, wedge and grip-straps are all intricately engraved in theGustave Young deluxe coverage of intertwined foliate style, in what has been describedas unusual Arabesque patterns against a granular punch dot background. Both sides ofthe hammer are engraved with the characteristic wolf’s head motif. There is a large dog’shead beautifully engraved into one of the scrolls on the left side of the barrel lug abovethe loading lever retaining screw and ‘COLT’S/PATENT’ is hand engraved within a kidneyshape on the left side of the frame.

Frame showing hand engraved ‘Colt’sPatent......engraving

The interior is lined in green baize with the makers label for ‘DIRECTIONS FOR LOADINGCOLT’S PISTOLS’ in the lid. Accessories in the case include a Dixon bag-type flask marked‘COLTS NAVY FLASK’, a .36 blued steel bullet mould marked ‘COLTS PATENT’, a nipplekey and screwdriver combination tool, two 500 count Eley Bro cap tins, one of which isunopened, a deluxe KYNOCH & Co small cap tin, pewter oil bottle stamped ‘Dixon &Sons/Sheffield, a ivory-turned screw topped container with many spare nipples marked‘COLTS/PATENT’, wooden cleaning rod with ebony tipped circular knob and brass pull-through screw-on tool plus two additional screw-on accessory cleaning tools. Also a sparenew blued main-spring complements the set.

Pictured in ‘COLONEL COLT, LONDON’ by Joseph G. Rosa on page 175.

Pictured in ‘Colt and Its Collectors’ on page 91.

Exhibited at ‘Colt: the Legacy of a Legend’ at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center at CodyWyoming during 2003. This was the biggest ever exhibition in the history of Colt firearms.

Pete Holder

The barrel and cylinder are blued with the loading lever, frame and hammer case-hardened. The engraved iron back-strap and iron trigger-guard are silver-plated and thefancy deluxe grips are of select burl walnut. The grip-strap is inscribed ‘R J Hudson/Leeds’.

The matching silver-plated and engraved walnut third model canteen shoulder orcarbine-stock is profusely decorated in the Young style, with intricate scrolls to the yokeand butt-plate and serial numbered ensuite to the revolver. The screws, swivel, iron catchand thumb nut are all fire-blue. Canteen stocks are ultra-rare and only a few weremanufactured this way with a metal receptacle to hold water or stronger liquids containedinside the stock. The stock bears an inscription in Latin ‘Pax in Bello’ on the top of thescroll-engraved brass yoke between the hammer cut-out and the pewter stopper, andalso the same inscription is inscribed underneath the yoke between the sling swivel andthe serial number.

The revolver and stock are fitted in a deluxe London-style mahogany case with 12compartments. The brass-bound cornered lid of the case has a central circular brassplaque bearing a shield of Gules on a fess or between three boars’ heads argent threelions rampant sable. The shield has an accompanying crest on top of a lion rampantholding between the forepaws a boar’s head. It is surrounded by a sunken circularcarrying ring inscribed: ‘Robert John Hudson Esq re Roundhay near Leeds’.

Acknowledgements to:David Watson, Photography andProduction, Graphic Solutions, UK.

Mr Keith Miller, Head of Department,Weapons, Equipment and Vehicles,National Army Museum, UK.

Brian Wallis (genealogist), Ossett, WestYorkshire, UK.

Michael Pickard (genealogist)Yorkshire, UK.

Ron Dean, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Phil Boulton, Southampton,United Kingdom.

Paul Wilcock, Arm and Armour ResearchGroup, University of Huddersfield, UK.

Robert Noel, the College of Arms,London, United Kingdom.


Lid inscription with shield and Coat of Arms


EDRED GWILLIAMANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR

CANDLETREE HOUSE, CRICKLADE, WILTSHIRE SN6 6AX

Tel: 01793 750241 Fax: 01793 750359 Mob: 07836 613632E-mail: [email protected]

(visitors strictly by appointment)

CANDLETREE HOUSE, CRICKLADE, WILTSHIRE SN6 6AXCANDLETREE HOUSE, CRICKLADE, WILTSHIRE SN6 6AX

WANTED:I am particularly keen to purchase and

always off er immediate settlement

FOR SALE:Always a comprehensive selection of pistols,

guns, swords and armour available

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