Field Rifle Company Birmingham England

Matt Buckley · 02-21-2016, 03:36 PM

I'm posting to see if anybody on this forum has any information about the Field Rifle Co of Birmingham England. I came across a beautiful little 28 gauge hammer gun with damascus barrels at a gun show recently built by this company. I have not found out much information on the internet about this company. I'm wondering if anybody has any of the English Gun Maker books that might have some info. I have found out the makers name is William Field and that the company was around from 1885-98. The person selling the gun said the company mainly built double rifles and military guns but also built a few shotguns. The person selling the gun is away on vacation but is going to email me some pics when he gets back and I'll post some then so you can take a look.

Bob Brown · 02-21-2016, 04:31 PM

I can't add much, Matt, but they were at 2 King Alfred's Place, Broad Street from 1885-1896,then 2 Cambridge Street, 1897-1898. Mostly rifles built on Field's patents for a drop down barrel action and later a Martini style action. Looks like late in the company's life it was owned or being managed by C.B. Engels, though Field was still filing patents the company was using in 1898. He filed or jointly filed a half dozen patents, 5 on single shot rifles and the last was for a rifle magazine.

Kensal Rise · 02-21-2016, 04:37 PM

Mr. Buckley:
In British Gunmakers Vol. 2, Nigel Brown lists a William Field at 118 Unett St. , B'ham around 1881. Also a Wm. Field Armsmaker at 16 New Bldgs., Price St. from 1913 - 17. And a Wm. Field Gun and Riflemaker at 30 Staniforth St. in 1838.

One of these may be your Field Rifle Co. Most likely one of the first two...

Bob Brown · 02-21-2016, 05:34 PM

I'm pretty sure the dates and addresses I posted above are correct. They were directly attributed to the Field Rifle Company which was managed by William Field. If you want to look up the patents they are 1,927 of 1877; 2,646 of 1883; 7,502 of 1888; 4,704 of 1898; and 11,468 of 1898. 7502 was a joint patent with C.H. Laubenburg whose C.H. Laubenburg and Co, also made Field's patent rifles and operated out of the same 2 King Alfred's Place from 1885-1892. This from the book "English Gunmakers, The Birmingham and Provincial Gun Trade in the 18th ad 19th Century"by De Witt Bailey and Douglas A. Nie.

john pulis · 02-22-2016, 06:53 AM

there is a Field gun, a 16, I think, on the Vintage Doubles web site.

Dean Romig · 02-22-2016, 08:05 AM

A Damascus 28 bore by any maker is a pretty rare item, especially a hammer gun. If I were you I would act very quickly and BUY THAT GUN.

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George "Scott" Davis · 02-22-2016, 11:58 AM

Fields single shot actions were used by various English company's to build rifles. Saw a beautiful Holland & Holland on the Fields action at this years antique show in Las Vegas. I own a 450 1/4 BPE build on a Fields action and it's a lot of fun to shoot.

Matt Buckley · 02-22-2016, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the information every one has provided. Don't worry Dean, I'm not letting the gun get away.

Dean Romig · 02-22-2016, 07:47 PM

Good!

I hope you post pictures when you get it.

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Matt Buckley · 12-06-2020, 08:03 PM

Well Dean it took me short of 5 years but I am finally in possession of this nice 28 gauge and here are the promised pictures. The gun sports a 29 1/2" barrel choked .001 and .004 and nitro proofed for 2 3/4" shells and 950 Bar. The gun weights 5lb 6oz. Well worth the wait.