Charles Gourlay was one of four brothers who moved to Glasgow from St Andrews.
He became a burgess and guild brother by purchase on 6 August 1818. On 28 August 1818 he was admitted as a gunsmith. He was recorded in that year at 115 Nelson Street.
In 1822 the firm became C & J Gourlay when John Brown Gourlay, his brother, joined as a partner. On 21 May 1825 J B Gourlay became a hammerman burgess by purchase and on 26 August he was admitted to the Incorporation as a gun maker.
The firm moved in 1825 to 88 Argyll Street and in 1826 to 179 Argyll Street. They reportedly closed in 1836, but Charles Gourlay died only in 1863 and John died only in 1878.
A pair of percussion pistols by Gourlay are in the collection of the Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries in Kelvingrove, Glasgow, a flintlock pistol by Gourlay was displayed at the Glasgow Exhibition in 1911, and other guns bearing the Gourlay name are known to exist. See Samuel Gourlay of Edinburgh who may have been related.