The Gun Makers of Birmingham, 1660-1960

Tracing the history and development of gun-making in Birmingham, England--for many years a center of the world's firearms industry--this book covers innovations in design and manufacture of both military and sporting arms from 1660 through 1960. The city is perhaps best known for mass-producing some of the most battle-tested weapons in history, including the Brown Bess musket, the Webley revolver and the Lee-Enfield rifle. Yet Birmingham's gun-makers have carried on a centuries-long tradition of crafting high quality hand-made sporting guns.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1.¿The Early Years

2.¿A Period of Transition

3.¿The Triumph of the Birmingham ­Gun Makers

4.¿Two World Wars

5.¿Postwar Decline

6.¿The Gun Makers of Birmingham, 1660-1960

7.¿Black Country Gun Workers

Appendix I: "Brown Bess" by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Appendix II: Birmingham Gun Firms at the Great Exhibition, 1851

Appendix III: Chronological Location of Manufacturers in the Gun Quarter, 1777-1957

Appendix IV: Displacement of Gun Making Firms and Subsidiaries, Owing to the Cutting of the Inner Ring Road

Chapter Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the author

Joseph McKenna is a retired local studies librarian, with over 30 years' experience working in the Central Library in Birmingham, England. He formerly sat on the City Council's Conservation Advisory Areas Committee.

Summary

Tracing the history and development of gun-making in Birmingham, England - for many years a center of the world's firearms industry - this book covers innovations in design and manufacture of both military and sporting arms from 1660 through 1960.

Product details

• Authors: Joseph McKenna, McKenna Joseph
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 18
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2022
• EAN: 9781476683782
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-8378-2
• No. of pages: 258
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 13 mm
• Weight: 345 g
• Illustrations: Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Business > Miscellaneous; European History, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Birmingham (UK), BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Industries / Manufacturing, ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES / Firearms & Weapons, British & Irish history, Manufacturing industries, Militaria, arms & armour, Militaria, arms and armour