By Larry B. Schuknecht
This web page is a collection of photographs supplied to Edward Eich, Jerry Swinney and Dr. Russ Gilmore for use in the books which eventually were published as the five volumes of the New York State Firearms Trade by H. J. Swinney and compiled by Tom Rowe. They were not used in the books so they are being made public here with a little background information as to their sources, many of whom have already passed away.
Wyllys Avery- Salisbury, N.Y. & Amasa Belknap- Cherry Valley, N.Y.
In 2001 Mr. Willis (Skip) Barshied of Palatine Bridge, N.Y. sent the following images and information to Mr. Russ Gilmore about the guns from his collection. The pictures were taken by Clarke Blair of Fonda, N.Y.
The first image contains four rifles made by Amasa Belknap, the top one a Pill Lock ignition.
The next three images are of three rifles made by Wyllys Avery. They all have the distinctive Avery outside mechanism Locks.
William Billinghurst- Rochester, N.Y.
Mr. Edward L. Eich of Auburn, N.Y. was a tireless researcher of the Rochester, N.Y. Gun Makers and a friend and colleague of Jerry Swinney. In 1964 he wrote to Mr. Walter F. Grote of Canton, Ohio asking for pictures of Mr. Grote’s Billinghurst rifles. The following pictures were sent to him by Mr. Grote.
The first is a Ladies Target Rifle, 32 caliber weighing 7 pounds with a Gold lined Breech, False Muzzle and a Gold Monogram plate
The Second is a Billinghurst Slug Rifle, 52 caliber weighing 37 pounds, Gold inlaid Breech, False Muzzle in Mint Condition.
The last picture from Mr. Grote is a Billinghurst Buggy Rifle, 32 caliber weighing 5 1/2 pounds, dated 1870 with Gold bands at the Breech and a Gold inly on the bottom of the pistol grip.
The following images were taken in 1968 by H. J. (Jerry) Swinney and the Billinghurst’s were from his collection. He did not record any details about them.
On May 15, 1985 the Bourne Auction Gallery sold the following Billinghurst Pocket Rifle, Lot no. 543 for $3600. Presently no details about it are known until a Catalog of that sale surfaces.
The following two images came from Swinney’s archive and were simply labeled-“Roger Austin’s unmarked combination gun” which can be attributed to Billinghurst.
Following are images of an original .32 caliber Billinghurst Pocket or Buggy Rifle in it’s case with a full set of accessories. Also there are two sketches of the details of the gun for those who may be interested.
