16ga.com ~ View topic - Joseph Lang & Sons, London.? anybody know their history?

Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Does anyone know the history or time frame of this maker. I have a nice 16 by them but know nothing of the makers. Any information would be appreciated.
-thanks for the help
-G-

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

A very old outfit, even for a British gunmaker, dating back to 1821. Merged with Grant in 1925, still in business as Atkin, Grant and Lang.

Member Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 398 Location: S Fl

As Larry said Land is one of the grand old names in English gunmaking.
There's about 2 pages of historical material plus a page of serial numbers in Nigel Brown's British Gunmakers Vol 1. So, it would help if you had a specific question or serial number you wanted to know about.
Can say that marked "Jos Lang & Son" dates it as 1875-1898 or 1901-1925.
If you want a letter on the gun, the records are currently with Atkin, Grant and Lang Ltd.

Pete

Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

thanks for the info. the guns s/n is #167xx. A great looking double. Ill be triing to get a letter. thanks again for the help
-G-

As foursquare says Nigel Browns wonderful book ,London Gunmakers Vol 1 gives a detailed account of their history.
The late Don Masters wrote a book called Atkins Grant and Lang -A Detailed History of Enduring Gunmakers. I cannot give a review on this book at the moment as I havent yet recieved it .The wife has it hidden somewhere.Birthday present,and that is on Tuesday the 15th so give me a few days to read it.If it is like his previous book(The House of Churchill) it will be great reading.
good shooting
sbs470

*Last edited by scotgun on Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:23 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Agree, both are excellent books. As mentioned on the "English 16'", I recently acquired a Lang 16 bore made circa 1877. Damascus barrels had been proved for 2 3/4" nitro. I am not keen about the underlever and the extractors are taking a bit of getting used to and I definately struggle a bit with cocking the hammers, but the fun of shooting her mades it all worth while. Of course I had the stock lengthened about 3". All I have shot so far is sporting clays, but plans are in place for driven pheasants in Scotland this coming November.(With 2 1/2" cartridges and assuming the airlines are still flying)
scotgun

Update: Just returned from Scotland. Shot the Atkins 16 Bore (not a Lang) as stated above for one day. Quite a struggle, particularly dealing with the extractors in the rain and wearing gloves. BUT- the results were comparable to the top lever Dickson round action with ejectors. Perhaps I was much more selective in shots teken since the reloading sequence was so much slower. At any rate I will be shooting it again next year.
Scotgun

Member Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 398 Location: S Fl