G C Lewis

[Daniel G Rainey]

A friend and I were visiting Steve Barnett Shop last week and handled a G C Lewis 12 bore that fit me like a glove. Seemed to be a nice English boxlock with nice engraving that handled well. I do know much about G C Lewis only that they made rifles for the Confederate Army, My friend said it was damn shame they did not make automatics. All joking aside, are Lewis's good guns ?

[Garry L Gordon]

A friend and I were visiting Steve Barnett Shop last week and handled a G C Lewis 12 bore that fit me like a glove. Seemed to be a nice English boxlock with nice engraving that handled well. I do know much about G C Lewis only that they made rifles for the Confederate Army, My friend said it was damn shame they did not make automatics. All joking aside, are Lewis's good guns ?

A reputable maker. Just not one of the "bigger" and more well known ones. Guns that fit "off the shelf" don't show up all that often.

[Daniel G Rainey]

Thanks. Just considering this gun, What do I need with another 2 1/2 inch 12 bore birdgun ? Am aware that want and need are not the same and I do not own an English shotgun.

[John Campbell]

...I do not own an English shotgun.

That alone is reason enough to acquire the Lewis. And as you've already discovered, an English gun has magic in its nature!

[Garry L Gordon]

Daniel, my references are for G. E. Lewis. There was an E. C. Lewis, but I assume the gun in question is by G. E. Lewis.

From Nigel Brown's "British Gunmakers:" George Edward Lewis began work as an engraver around 1850 and began making guns under his name in 1859. His shop was located in Birmingham at first, but apparently he had "agencies" in London. In 1989 the firm relocated to Price Street in Birmingham, and it moved again in 1996 to West Midlands (so you can get a ballpark date by the address on the gun). G.E. died in 1917 and left the firm for his sons to carry on. The firm was sold in 2003.

There are serial number records in the Brown book dating from 1871 to 2000.

Again, a reputable gunmaker.

[Daniel G Rainey]

The gun is a G.E. Lewis. The serial number is 10,000 range.and the sleeved barrels have Birmingham address.

[Garry L Gordon]

The gun is a G.E. Lewis. The serial number is 10,000 range.and the sleeved barrels have Birmingham address.

Daniel, The 10,000 range runs from about 1897-98 to 1903-04. If you have a more specific number, that can be narrowed down a bit more as Brown lists the number range by year. If the Birmingham address is specific, that might narrow the sleeving down some (assuming the rib is new, but it might not be), and I assume the re-proof marks can help establish the year of the sleeving.

[davidboyles]

I owned A game scene engraved Lewis and it was beautiful 20 gauge. Sold to a good friend who just had to have. Yes they are very well made and a beauty to operate. Sleeved means that it should be nitro proof. Ck proof marks to see what load it will handle could be you might shoot bismuth for ducks. These English guns are wonderful on doves. Good luck. I have my eye on a Lewis 16 Hammergun ..

[Eric Eis]

That alone is reason enough to acquire the Lewis. And as you've already discovered, an English gun has magic in its nature!

Careful John took me down this path, and it's way more expensive then you would think ! But I'm glad I went down that "path"................

[Rick Riddell]

From Charlton Hall Auctions

George Edward Lewis was born in Birmingham in 1829. He was apprenticed in the gun trade, and established himself in 1850 in Bath Street, Birmingham as a gun engraver. In 1851 census he was described as a gun finisher employing 5 men. In 1859 the firm occupied a large factory at 32-33 Lower Loveday Street. In 1862 the firm exhibited their guns in London and in 1867 they exhibited in Paris. Initially, the firm was a trade manufacturer which also did repair work, re-barrelling etc., but typical of major Birmingham manufacturers they exported guns to the Confederate army in the US Civil War (1861-1865) and developed export markets in the USA, India and Australia. They also built military rifles for the French during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). In 1871 the firm began to sell direct to the public as well as to the trade. They exhibited in Vienna in 1873, and in Paris in 1878, where they introduced their "Gun of the Period"; a high quality gun made in hammer and hammerless versions. G E Lewis introduced a type of recess choke boring, and popularised magnum small bores (12 and 20 bores with 2 3/4" chambers). From about 1873 until 1905 the firm had two showrooms in London and they exhibited in Sydney in 1879/80, Melbourne in 1880/81, and Calcutta in 1884. In the 1901 census G E Lewis was recorded as a widower aged 72 living at 2 Cambridge Crescent, Edgbaston, with G E Lewis (II) and E C Lewis, and three of his daughters and in 1909 the name of the firm changed to George E Lewis & Sons. G E Lewis (the founder), died on 17 January 1917 and the sons inherited the firm. G E Lewis (his son), handled the management of the firm until his death in 1988, when the business was sold to John Harris who stocked guns for the firm. In December 2003 the name, goodwill and records of G E Lewis were sold at auction in London to Grant Dempsey of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.