The earliest record of Scottish gunmakers dates from the first quarter of the 16^th century and we find them making "dags" or pistols and "hagbuts" or long guns. The gunmakers of Scotland made firearms of a distinct and unusual character and this individuality persisted into the age of modern sporting guns.

Later, pistol making was also an important industry in the village of Doune, north of Stirling. The manufacture of sporting guns and rifles grew in importance with the invention of the percussion principle by a Scottish cleric, the Rev Alex Forsyth.

James Innes of Edinburgh ushered in the new era in Scotland following his advertisement of the 6^th May 1809 in the "Edinburgh Evening Courant":

"Forsyth’s Patent Gun Lock, Innes, gunmaker to his Majesty, being appointed sole manufacturer for Scotland, begs leave to inform the nobility and gentlemen who have done him the honour of making inquiry after this important discover, he has now completed an assortment of double and single guns on this construction, which he can recommend with confidence, several sportsmen having used them last season, and found them infinitely superior to guns with the flint lock."

In 1795 Innes has been in partnership with James Wallace, but this had been a brief arrangement for by1803 Innes was in business on his own account. Following the break with Innes, Wallace is establilshed in the historic old High Street, under the walls of Edinburgh Castle, where in 1806 John Dickson is "booked apprentice".

We are fortunate that the indentures of John Dickson have survived. They are dated 13^th October 1806, and confirm that the indenture is entered into:

"between James Wallace Gunmaker, on the one part and John Dickson, son of John Dickson, Porter, Edinburh on the other part."

We are fortunate that many of the guns made by the Edinburgh gunmakers during the second half of the 19^th century have survived, they demonstrate the high standard of workmanship attained by the gunmakers of the capital which induced Forsyth to appoint Innes his gunmaker in Scotland, since the Forsyth "detonator" demanded workmanship of the very highest quality if the gun were to perform well, or indeed, at all!

If we moved forward in time to 1900, to the golden age of gunmaking we find there are now new makers listed in the directories whose names are to ring out through the next century although, sadly all too often their businesses do not survive the second world war.

One of the important gunmakers of this period is Daniel Fraser. The eldest sone of a coachmaker, born in Inverness in 1845. The family moved to Edinburgh where, about 1860, he set up on his own at 22 Greenside Place, moving to Leith Walk in the following year. In 1878 he had moved to 4 Leith Terrace and the style had changed to D & J Fraser. He is perhaps best known for his falling block rifle which he patented in 1880. Daniel Fraser died in 1902 and the firm was continued by his two sons until the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

One of the most famous of all the Edinburgh gunmakers was without doubt, Alexander Henry. He was born in 1828 and served his time with T E Mortimer, becoming foreman of the factory before he set up on his own in 1853. Although Henry made shotguns his name is always associated with rifles, both muzzling loading and breech loading. It is part of history that his name, linked with that of Martini, is known as being the name of the first true breech loader in the British service, the Martini-Henry.

Another famous Edinburgh gunmaker, whose fame extends far outwith the bounds of Scotland, is James MacNaughton. Little is known about MacNaughton. He is first listed in the directories at 33 George Street, in 1864. Some five years later the firm had moved to 26 Hanover Street. His first falling block rifle action was patented with A R Duncan in 1872 and this was followed by another falling block action which he patented in 1879.

Of greater importance is the trigger plate action which also forms part of this patent. This was to become the famous "Edinburgh Action" which initially was lever cocking. Later, the design was altered so that the gun was cocked by the fall of the barrels. The whole of the mechanism, instead of being mounted on side plates is mounted on a widened trigger plate. This gives an action which is slim and extremely attractive. To the best of my knowledge no other gunmaker has copied this action, unlike the Dickson Round Action which has been made by several other gunmakers in the course of the past century.

The Dickson bears a superficial similarity to the MacNaughton, in the both are trigger plate actions. However, the Dickson was patented by Dickson and Murray three years later in 1882. The patent refers to three barrel guns, with the axis of the barrels in line. The patent also allows for one of the barrels to be placed either above or below the other two. The action can be cocked either by the fall of the barrels or by a rotary under lever. I have seen one Dickson double rifle with under lever cocking and Alex Henry patented and made guns with side locks cocked by a rotary under lever. Some Dickson Round Action guns will be found with side levers which are often found on guns with wood-covered actions.

Gunmaking was not confined to the east coast. Glasgow, by this time the second city of the Empire, supported a number of important gunmakers. James Dalzell Dougall with his invention of the "Lockfast" action built shotguns and rifles noted for their strength, the founder also had interest south of the border in the manufacture of sporting gunpowders.

In 1836 yet another famous Glasgow gunmaker founded his business, and by 1855 Charles Ingram is recorded as being a cast steel barrel maker and his target rifles were highly regarded. The firm of Ingram survived until 1945.

Founded in Paisley in 1835 the firm of Alex Martin moved to Glasgow and by 1844 they were established in Exchange Square where they remained until taken over by John Dickson. Martin’s were famous for their target rifles and for their unusual "Ribless" shotguns.

Although greatly reduced from its former Victorian splendour, gunmaking in Scotland has not only survived but has in the second half of the 20^th century exhibited a remarkable vitality.

The traditions of the past have been upheld and enhanced by David McKay Brown. At Bothwell, near Glasgow, David builds the famous Round Action today with the aid of a highly skilled team of craftsmen and perhaps of greater importance, an "over and under" shotgun of his design, noted for its elegance and beauty.

Gunmaking in Scotland is certainly in safe hands and steadily gaining in importance on a world scale.