The Story of William Powell - Six Generations of Gunmaking

In the 19th Century, the home of British gunmaking was Birmingham, with a production twice that of London, and exceeding the combined total of France’s 10 government arsenals. It was in the dawn of that century, in 1802, that William Powell and Joseph Simmons established a partnership which would last 10 years. It was just over a decade later that Powell lobbied for a Birmingham Proof House, which was established in 1813 – surprising, given that the independent testing of gun barrels started in London as early as 1637. At the peak of the Birmingham gun trade, in 1862, more than one million barrels were tested. The family connection to the Proof house is unbroken, and is continued to this day by William Powell’s great-great grandson, Peter Powell. 

Carrs Lane Frontage

In around 1844, Powell was joined by his son, also William, and the firm had achieved such quality and renown that it became known as the “Purdey of Birmingham”. William Powell senior died in 1848, having overseen the production of around 1,000 guns. Technology in gunmaking was changing fast, and in 1864, William Powell was awarded a patent for a snap-action lift-up lever design, the basis for “Powell’s No.1 Patent”, approximately 2,000 of which were made. A testimony to the elegant simplicity and robustness of these guns is the fact that many survive to this day.  

In 1875, the appearance of the Anson & Deeley boxlock action sounded the death knell of the hammer gun. Two years later, Powell adapted the lifter latch to an A&D gun. A decade later, ejectors appeared on and shortly thereafter came the first sidelock built on the lifter patent. The modern game gun had reached its highest evolutionary stage. The most significant difference between a late 19th and an early 21st century Powell gun is that production has moved abroad.

Original Carrs Lane Sign 

In 1902, as William Powell & Son celebrated its centenary, William Powell Jnr died and was replaced by his son, William Leith Powell. More than 11,000 serial numbers had been assigned in those first 100 years. The Great War changed everything. After 1914 it became increasingly difficult to get gunmaking materials. In 1916, William Leith Powell died and the business, against the odds, survived, under the direction of his two brothers, Arthur and G. Victor. The war had forced some of the Britain’s best known gunmakers to close or merge.

In 1923, the fourth generation, Bernard Victor, son of G. Victor, joined the firm. Just as had happened a generation earlier, most if not all Birmingham gunmakers switched over to military production during WWII. Powell made gauges for airplanes, armoured cars and other military vehicles.  In the hope that at least one of them might survive the war, George V. Powell, “distributed” his five sons among the armed services.  Thankfully all returned.

Banbury Gunroom

In 1955, Bernard Victor Powell’s son David joined the company, and five years later the purchase of Westley Richards’ fishing business saw an expansion in the retail side of the company, while in 1965, a mail-order shooting business was launched, probably the first of its kind in the UK. The ‘60s and ‘70s saw hard times for the British gun trade, and much of Birmingham’s historic and famous gun quarter was demolished, making way for a new inner ring road. 

In 1973, Bernard Powell retired after 50 years. His sons, David and Peter, replaced him as managing and works director respectively. The era saw a move to produce British guns abroad – in Eibar, Spain, and Gardone, Italy, where the quality and price of production could not be matched by UK gunmakers. 

19th Century Powell Gun

In 2008, the firm was sold to Mark and Christine Osborne of J.M. Osborne & Co., the leading sporting-land management company in the UK. Mark and Christine were formerly partners in Churchill Gunmakers, and with their own Sporting Agency were ideally placed to develop the Powell brand. Powell’s operation moved to a new purpose-built facility in Banbury. Peter remained with the firm, drawing on 45 years of gunmaking experience, and oversaw the development of a new generation of Powell guns, made by Batista Rizzini & Co in Italy. 

More than two centuries after its foundation, William Powell continues to flourish, and in the past decade has received the award for Best UK Gunshop as well as recognition for its website at the Time Inc. Shooting Industry Awards. 

For more information, visit William Powell.