Gunmaking has been a long established trade in the UK for over 200 years. The
production of hand made guns was centred around St Chad’s Cathedral. Birmingham
supplied the guns for the Napoleonic Wars when over 3 million gun barrels were
made in Birmingham.
In order to stem imports of guns from abroad which were not often of the same
quality as those made in Birmingham, the ordinance factory at Enfield was
established. This Proof House was responsible for testing the guns and ensuring
their quality and safety and is still present today in Banbury Street.
Birmingham fulfilled its role in the 1st and 2nd world wars as a major
supplier of guns and ammunition for the war effort. The BSA (British Small Arms)
factory which is probably the most well known example was established in 1861.
Birmingham still produces sporting guns and has an excellent and world renowned
name for quality. https://bsaguns.co.uk/
For more than two centuries, Birmingham was one of the world’s most important centres for gunmaking, earning the city the title “The Armoury of Britain.” From the 18th century through to the early 20th century, thousands of workshops across areas such as Digbeth, Aston, Deritend, Small Heath, and the Gun Quarter produced firearms for military, sporting, and export markets.
Unlike London, where gunmaking was dominated by a small number of prestigious firms, Birmingham developed a highly specialised, modular system. Individual craftsmen produced specific components—locks, barrels, stocks, triggers—which were then assembled by master gunmakers. This system allowed Birmingham to manufacture firearms quickly, efficiently, and at scale, particularly during periods of war.
Birmingham-made guns armed British forces during the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, and both World Wars, while sporting guns and pistols were exported worldwide. The industry declined after the Second World War, but its legacy survives in surviving buildings, museums, and collections.
Major Firms and Manufacturers
- Westley Richards (founded 1812) – One of the most famous British gunmakers, still trading today
- W. & C. Scott – Major military and sporting gun manufacturer
- P. Webley & Son / Webley & Scott – Renowned for revolvers and military firearms
- Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) – One of the largest arms manufacturers in the world
- Joseph Lang & Son – High-quality sporting guns
- Greener (W.W. Greener) – Famous for sporting shotguns and technical writings
Specialist and Smaller Makers
- Barnett – Important supplier of military muskets
- Ketland – Major exporter, especially to North America
- Parker Field & Sons
- Tipping & Lawden
- Hollis & Sons
- Osborne
- Edge & Co.
Component and Trade Specialists
- Brazier – Lock makers
- Galton – Barrel makers
- Ashforth – Gun furniture specialists
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