Cooper and Goodman London UK - Help with info

[jackenfield]

Hello gentlemen,
I am looking for info about gunmaker COOPER & GOODMAN located in London UK.
Based on Birmingham proofmarks, this black powder 12 cal. shotgun would be dated 1870 to 1904.
Condition is pretty remarkable as regards the bore brightness, tight action, plus screws and pins showing
this shotgun has likely never been taken apart.
A few characteristcs: double set of triggers, external hammers, standard ejector, walnut wood with checkerings, case hardened receiver, and what appears to be damascus twist barrel.
No date of manufacture, and no serial number.
Since I could not find any info on the web regarding this COOPER & GOODMAN, I am wondering about the relative scarcity of this shotgun.
It came with a large leathered wood box with many accessories, including a cleaning stick made of ebony.
Your info and comments would be appreciated.
Jacques

 

[jackenfield]

More pictures

 

[Pinfire]

Cooper & Goodman, Gun and Pistol Maker, Birmingham 1857-1886/87

In business from 1857 to 1865 at 77 Bagot Street and 32 Woodcock Street, Birmingham. Then, from 1871 to 1877 at 32 Woodcock Street, and finally from 1880 to 1886/87 at 32 Woodcock Street and Excelsior Wharf, Holt Street, Birmingham. Cooper & Goodman took over the patents of Joseph Rock Cooper (of pepperbox fame) after 1863.

Joseph Rock Cooper was born in 1813 in Birmingham. He was recorded in business as Joseph Rock Cooper & Co in 1838 at 24 Legge Street. In 1853 he opened additional premises at 32 Woodcock Street and in 1854 closed the Legge Street premises. Although Cooper continued to trade under his own name until 1863, in 1857 he and the prominent Birmingham businessman, John Dent Goodman (later chairman of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade and the Birmingham Small Arms Co), formed a new partnership, Cooper & Goodman at 32 Woodcock Street. This partnership was reportedly formed in order to compete with the setting-up of the New Ordnance factory at Enfield for the production of military arms. In 1859 the firm took additional premises at 77 Bagot Street. In 1876 Cooper & Goodman appointed Heintzman & Rochussen of 23 Abchurch Lane, as their London agents, this arrangement ceased in 1880 when Heintzman & Rochussen closed. In about 1870 the 77 Baggot Street premises were given up, and in 1871 Cooper and Goodman became involved with others in the partnership which formed Abingdon Works (Ltd), a joint manufacturing facility modelled on the lines of the BSA factory. While their intent was to get lucrative military contracts, they also built sporting guns. In 1886/87 Cooper & Goodman closed and Charles Henry Cooper (Joseph Rock Cooper's younger brother) started trading under his own name from the Woodcock Street and Excelsior Wharf addresses. By 1891 CH Cooper had retired.

Abington Works advertisement, 1876

For additional information on Goodman and Abington Works, see my earlier post in the SxS picture thread, titled "A very interesting hardware-store gun", at https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/362527-Let-s-see-some-pic-s-of-your-SxS-s-amp-O-U-s?p=16919270&highlight=Scholefield#post16919270.

John Dent Goodman

Rather than go to the cost of opening premises in London, it was not unusual for Birmingham makers to hire an agent in London to sell their wares. Such agents were often jewellers, silversmiths, or re-sellers of second-hand guns ('gun repositories'). William Wellington Greener used Edward Whistler, Westley Richards used the jeweller William Bishop (AKA 'the Bishop of Bond St.'). More on this at: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/362527-Let-s-see-some-pic-s-of-your-SxS-s-amp-O-U-s?p=16835954&highlight=whistler#post16835954.

This allowed Birmingham makers to add the prestigious word 'London' to their guns. Westley Richards did this to great effect. More on that at: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/362527-Let-s-see-some-pic-s-of-your-SxS-s-amp-O-U-s?p=16923070&highlight=bond#post16923070.

Your gun has a 'Deeley & Edge Fastener' on the fore-end, which was first patented in 1873. At the very least this gives an age range for your gun at between 1873 and 1886/87. Are there any initials on the barrel under-rib?

Hopefully, this gives you something to start your research!

 

[jackenfield]

Thank you very much for your reply very interesting and intructive i will read with the outmost interest

thanks
Jacques

 

[Pinfire]

Thank you very much for your reply very interesting and intructive i will read with the outmost interest

thanks
Jacques

You’re welcome. It was interesting to me to see Goodman’s name appear on a gun, you learn something new every day when it comes to British gunmaking. I can’t quite make out if on the barrel underrib there is a small stamp “C&G’ ? The second letter is not wholly clear. It might indicate the gun was made by Cooper & Goodman’s own business, and not by ‘the trade’ or any of the Abington Works partners. An interesting find, to be sure. A shame that the case is lacking the label, that could have provided more information. Whereas the inside of the case is a mess, the gun still looks to have its original case colours and varnish, suggesting it has seen little use.

Pinfire

 

[Ashcroft]

This has been a very nice gun with nice wood, very elaborate game scene engraving and a nicely shaped action. At present it's somewhat of a project because the firing pins appear to be missing and would need to be made by a gunsmith and it looks like someone used a file on the barrels at the breech end, maybe in an aborted attempt to remove rust pitting. This also could be properly refinished by a skilled gunsmith and if the gun locks up tight, has good bores and the locks function properly might be worth the expense. It would then become a much better than average English hammer gun for black powder shooting or quite a stunning display piece. The case is also a good candidate for restoration. The repairs including barrel rebrowning will knock a big hole in $1000 but it might be worth it to someone.

 

[jackenfield]

thanks for the interest the firing pin are fonctional mabe the picture did not show them
i tried them this morning with some primer fonction is perfect
thanks
Jacques

 

[Ashcroft]

Thanks Jacques, with the firing pins shown out of sight I thought they might be gone. In this forward ( fired) position when not held there it would suggest non retractable firing pins, pretty much superceded by rebounding hammers and retracting firing pins by the mid 1870's, especially on higher grade guns such as this one.

 

[jackenfield]

your right their non retractable

have a good day
Jacques