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SOLD SOLD (04/05) **MINT BORE** Cased C1870’s Irish W. Kavanagh & Son Dublin Webley Bentley Pattern 80 Bore Five Shot Double Action Only Percussion Revolver With Spurless Hammer, Octagonal Barrel & Accessories. Sn 18990 - 18990 William Kavanagh & Sons; Wm & Jas Kavanagh; William Kavanagh & Son, Dublin, Ireland was a Gun, Pistol & Rifle Maker, Gunpowder Merchant from 1796-1928
Although established in 1796, William Kavanagh was first recorded in 1817 at 6 Anderson's Court, Greek Street, Dublin. In 1822 he made his sons (William and James) partners in the business. While he moved to 4 Upper Ormond Quay to trade as William Kavanagh, his sons traded at 11 Dame Street as William Kavanagh & Sons.
By 1840 William Kavanagh was trading at 4 Upper Ormond Quay as a gunpowder merchant. In 1847 William Kavanagh & Sons took additional premises at 12 Dame Street into which they moved relinquishing 11 Dame Street later that year.
In 1849, James Kavanagh was recorded trading on his own as a gunmaker at 4 Upper Ormond Quay. William Kavanagh (& Son?) was recorded at 12 Dame Street. William II appears to have managed the business. In 1853 William Snr retired or died and William and James took over to trade as Wm & James Kavanagh, gun makers and gunpowder merchants. They exhibited at the Dublin exhibition in that year. In 1872 it appears that James retired or died because William continued at 12 Dame Street with a factory in Dame Lane. It may have been at this time that William (II) made his son a partner and that the business became William Kavanagh & Son, Gun Makers and Gunpowder Merchants, in 1881 they were recorded as such. Joseph Bentley held the patent for a double action revolver which he allowed to lapse in 1861. Thereafter the English & Irish Gun Trades made them in various forms. This is an excellent, original, cased Webley Bentley Pattern .80 Bore Five shot percussion revolver. Made C1870’s it has English black powder proof marks on the barrel and cylinder. The top barrel flat is signed ‘W. Kavanagh & Son Dublin’. The double action only firing mechanism works as it should. It has the correct loading lever and has a spurless hammer. The pistol has a 5” octagonal barrel (10 ¾” overall). The barrel’s bore is near mint clean & bright with crisp rifling. It has a brass post fore sight and ‘v’ notch plate on frame rear sight. The metal has even patina and much original blue finish to the barrel and cylinder. The pistol’s frame is marked ‘London Patent No 39948. Its chequered walnut grip is undamaged. It is contained in its fitted wood case. The case is lined in green felt and has compartments which snugly fit the weapon and its accessories. The accessory compartments contain an original brass and copper black powder flask by C&JW Hawksley (Sheffield), steel bullet mould marked ‘54’, a number of moulded lead bullets and balls, an empty E.Joyce & Co London labelled percussion cap tin, a C&JW Hawksley white metal oil bottle with screw off lid which has an integral oil applicator/ tool and a number of tools. The inside of the lid has a clean William Kavanagh & Son Dublin trade label (all illustrated). The lid of the case has an inlaid void brass plaque and it has a lock with key. The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique percussion revolver no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 18990
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