12a10
Active Member
St Patrick's Day is upon us so I thought I would start a thread on Irish guns. I only have three so feel free to add to this thread. This post heavily relies on photos and I hope I can import and attach properly.
My earliest gun is a 1760-era 69 cal Dragoon pistol. Not a museum piece but all there. Faintly marked LORD on lock. Clearly marked with the 1843 Irish Firearms Registry mark (R1294) on barrel and butt cap. This was one of the first government attempts at gun registration (and eventual confiscation) and virtually all Irish catholics would lose their firearms to the brits through the years. The mark identifies this as registered in Roscannon. There is a coat of arms on the thumbpiece but I can't decipher the monogram --anyone help?
Bought in 1978 from a Brit auction house when we lived a few miles North of London . Paid 40 pounds (then $60)
Next is a Tower marked third model Brown Bess with the mark of the County Sligo Militia. Sligo Militia was formed in 1798 and fought in Spain during Napoleanic Wars in 1803. Bought this in London at Royal Lancaster Show in 1977 with help of the late Turner Kirkland, Founder of Dixie Gun Works who was on a buying trip--I paid $190 in US dollars...
Last is a dirt common SMLE #1Mk111, Enfield 1918. That is marked with RUC on buttstock indicating Royal Ulster Constabulary. Had to smear in some poster paint to make stamping show--it is very light and crude. Bought this in 1967 from Interarms retail store on Prince St Alexandria in 1967. They had about 50 of them stacked on a table. Your choice $10.95.
I also have a Royal Irish Constabulary short barrel 455 Webley but is currently misplaced.
My earliest gun is a 1760-era 69 cal Dragoon pistol. Not a museum piece but all there. Faintly marked LORD on lock. Clearly marked with the 1843 Irish Firearms Registry mark (R1294) on barrel and butt cap. This was one of the first government attempts at gun registration (and eventual confiscation) and virtually all Irish catholics would lose their firearms to the brits through the years. The mark identifies this as registered in Roscannon. There is a coat of arms on the thumbpiece but I can't decipher the monogram --anyone help?
Bought in 1978 from a Brit auction house when we lived a few miles North of London . Paid 40 pounds (then $60)
Next is a Tower marked third model Brown Bess with the mark of the County Sligo Militia. Sligo Militia was formed in 1798 and fought in Spain during Napoleanic Wars in 1803. Bought this in London at Royal Lancaster Show in 1977 with help of the late Turner Kirkland, Founder of Dixie Gun Works who was on a buying trip--I paid $190 in US dollars...
Last is a dirt common SMLE #1Mk111, Enfield 1918. That is marked with RUC on buttstock indicating Royal Ulster Constabulary. Had to smear in some poster paint to make stamping show--it is very light and crude. Bought this in 1967 from Interarms retail store on Prince St Alexandria in 1967. They had about 50 of them stacked on a table. Your choice $10.95.
I also have a Royal Irish Constabulary short barrel 455 Webley but is currently misplaced.
