NUMBERS STAMPED ON IRISH GUNS

kahnjar1 · 20th January 2015, 02:08 AM

Seeing the two threads by Ken Maddock, with both guns showing Irish numbers reminded me that the Irish Law (see here http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/cp/ireland ) under "Marking and Tracing", requires, and has for many years required that ALL guns including antiques be stamped with individual registration numbers. These numbers do not relate in any way to makers numbers.
Over the years I have seen several similar stampings on ex Irish owned antique guns which had eventually found their way to this country.
Stu

JamesKelly · 25th January 2015, 08:40 PM

I have what I understand is an Irish blunderbuss, single bridled lock marked Thomas. Bore at least .80 cal (20mm +), 14-7/16" (367mm) barrel. I was told the markings MF 2878 were irish registration marks, and I had thought them from a time when Englishmen were not so keen on Irish men owning weapons. They are made with an older style of stamp.

kahnjar1 · 26th January 2015, 04:35 AM

Without an initial, it would be hard to establish exactly which "Thomas" we are talking about. There are several listed in lists of Gunmakers of the era. Your blunderbus however bears English Proof Marks similar to that posted here at post #5 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19534.. The marks in question were in use from 1750 to 1800.
MF2878 is an Irish registration number per their current Laws
Stu

corrado26 · 29th January 2015, 10:50 AM

I have in my collection a flintlock pistol with a calibre of 20mm, which is made by John RIGBY of Dublin. It shows no proofmarks and no Irish control numbers, so that I think it was made during the Irish revolution and the shut down of the proofhouse in the Dublin Castle during the years between 1798 and 1801
corrado26

kahnjar1 · 29th January 2015, 05:08 PM

The Irish Registration numbers appear ONLY on guns OWNED in Ireland, irrespective of where they are actually made. Your Rigby....VERY NICE PIECE....would not have been OWNED in Ireland.

JamesKelly · 31st January 2015, 08:45 PM

Ken Maddock noted A-N 7421 Irish registration mark would have been for county Antrim, and that each county had its own mark.

So do any of you gentlemen know what county the MF 2878 on my gun would represent?

I suppose I must sadly conclude it was probably not from County Cork, home of the late Willy Brennan

corrado26 · 2nd February 2015, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

The Irish Registration numbers appear ONLY on guns OWNED in Ireland, irrespective of where they are actually made. Your Rigby....VERY NICE PIECE....would not have been OWNED in Ireland.

Thanks to cutlassCollector we now know that the Registration Act was published in 1843, so I think that my pistol is not marked because it was built long before the act of 1843
corrado26

james birch · 5th November 2021, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesKelly

I have what I understand is an Irish blunderbuss, single bridled lock marked Thomas. Bore at least .80 cal (20mm +), 14-7/16" (367mm) barrel. I was told the markings MF 2878 were irish registration marks, and I had thought them from a time when Englishmen were not so keen on Irish men owning weapons. They are made with an older style of stamp.

has anyone managed to find a reference source for Irish registration
numbers

adrian · 6th November 2021, 08:21 PM

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online.

20th January 2015, 02:08 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,772	NUMBERS STAMPED ON IRISH GUNS Seeing the two threads by Ken Maddock, with both guns showing Irish numbers reminded me that the Irish Law (see here http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/cp/ireland ) under "Marking and Tracing", requires, and has for many years required that ALL guns including antiques be stamped with individual registration numbers. These numbers do not relate in any way to makers numbers. Over the years I have seen several similar stampings on ex Irish owned antique guns which had eventually found their way to this country. Stu

25th January 2015, 08:40 PM	#2
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	I have what I understand is an Irish blunderbuss, single bridled lock marked Thomas. Bore at least .80 cal (20mm +), 14-7/16" (367mm) barrel. I was told the markings MF 2878 were irish registration marks, and I had thought them from a time when Englishmen were not so keen on Irish men owning weapons. They are made with an older style of stamp. Attached Images

29th January 2015, 10:50 AM	#4
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,216	I have in my collection a flintlock pistol with a calibre of 20mm, which is made by John RIGBY of Dublin. It shows no proofmarks and no Irish control numbers, so that I think it was made during the Irish revolution and the shut down of the proofhouse in the Dublin Castle during the years between 1798 and 1801 corrado26 Attached Images

26th January 2015, 04:35 AM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,772	Without an initial, it would be hard to establish exactly which "Thomas" we are talking about. There are several listed in lists of Gunmakers of the era. Your blunderbus however bears English Proof Marks similar to that posted here at post #5 http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19534.. The marks in question were in use from 1750 to 1800. MF2878 is an Irish registration number per their current Laws Stu

29th January 2015, 05:08 PM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,772	The Irish Registration numbers appear ONLY on guns OWNED in Ireland, irrespective of where they are actually made. Your Rigby....VERY NICE PIECE....would not have been OWNED in Ireland. Last edited by kahnjar1; 29th January 2015 at 05:31 PM.

31st January 2015, 08:45 PM	#6
JamesKelly Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Michigan, U.S.A. Posts: 108	Ken Maddock noted A-N 7421 Irish registration mark would have been for county Antrim, and that each county had its own mark. So do any of you gentlemen know what county the MF 2878 on my gun would represent? I suppose I must sadly conclude it was probably not from County Cork, home of the late Willy Brennan

6th November 2021, 08:21 PM	#9
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 128	House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online.