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#1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
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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 |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
Posts: 108
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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.
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#3 |
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Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
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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 |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
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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 |
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#5 |
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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. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
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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 |
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Black Forest, Germany
Posts: 1,192
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corrado26 |
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#8 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 123
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House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online.
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