Henry Nock
Henry Nock, (1741-1804), gun maker.
Henry Nock was one of the finest and most influential arms makers of his time.
Henry Nock learned his trade as a gunsmith in Birmingham
At the age of 27 he made his way to London
1768 opened a gunsmith shop.
1770 Nock submitted a “new pattern musket”, with a lock of his own design, to the Ordnance Department for evaluation. The design was rejected, primarily because of deficiencies in his lock design. Nock was not deterred and continued to make locks, with his name initially appearing in Board of Ordnance contracts for locks circa 1771.
1772 Henry Nock opened a shop in Ludgate Street, where he quickly established a growing name as a maker of fine weapons.
1775 Nock patented a new lock design, described as a “concealed lock”, which would become the basis for his “screwless lock” design. At the same time, he also patented what was his version of the “hooked breech”, a method by which the barrel(s) attached to the gun by means of hooked studs that locked into a fixed breech piece. This meant that after removing the pins or wedges, the barrel could be lifted up at an angle from the stock and removed, rather than having to unscrew the breech pin that passed through the tang. This design concept would become standard on muzzle-loading shotguns throughout the 19th century, as well as on many fine sporting arms of the period. As he was not a Master gunsmith and could not receive a firearms patent and trade under his own name, Nock joined forces with well-known London gunmaker William Jover and another partner John Green to manufacture arms utilizing this lock under the name of Nock, Jover and Green.
By 1777 he had obtained four workshops in which he employed many apprentices, possibly the most famous being James Wilkinson and Ezekiel Baker.[1]
He gained many patents on innovations in gun making but this was not Nock’s only business. He knew that diversification was necessary, the first recording of his manufacture of edged-weapons appears in the Board of Ordnance records for December 20th 1777 when he was advanced £200 to provide bayonets, which suggests a rather large order.
1784 Nock became a Freeman of the Gunmakers Company.
1788 Advert: 'BY HIS MAJESTY'S AUTHORITY.
PATENT GUNS.
HENRY NOCK, Ludgate-street, London, GUN-MAKER, having, after great trouble and expence, brought to perfection a new invented BREECHING for GUNS, and other FIRE ARMS, which is found a very great improvement, has obtained his MAJESTY's ROYAL LETTERS PATENT, to secure to himself the benefit of his discovery. The nature and advantages of this invention are as follow:- By a singular, though simple construction of the breech-pin, which is so contrived so as to become a part of the barrel, the powder, by means of a kind of anti-chamber, takes the fire from the very center of the bottom of the barrel, and not from the side, according to the usual mode. The advantages arising from this contrivance are; that the shot are thrown in a move perfect direction, and with greater velocity; that the barrel is much less subject to become partially foul; that Guns upon this new principle, after having been fired twenty or thirty times, lose very little of their force, in comparison with those of the old construction: that they are safer, and go off more instantaneously. Moreover, at the extremity of the breeching, is a screw, which may be taken out by a common turn-screw; so that the state of the barrel may be seen at any time without the least difficulty. But any gentleman desirous of more particular information than can be conveyed in an advertisement, by applying at NOCK's, may examine the whole contrivance.
N. B. The additional expence of a new Gun, with the patent breeching, will be one guinea, the same breeching may also be put to old Guns, of any maker, for two guineas, with a gold touch-hole, three guineas; provided the barrels are well constructed, and will stand the proof.'[2]
1789 Appointed as one of the Gunsmiths to King George III ,, in place of Mr. James Whissell, deceased[3], largely as a result of his patented breech for hunting guns and other inventions.
1802 Nock became Master of the Gunmakers Company. He made weapons covering the whole field from pistols to muskets.
One of the last contracts awarded to Henry Nock by the Board of Ordnance was to replace all of the Nock screwless locks in the Duke of Richmond pattern muskets in inventory with conventional locks. This seems to indicate that the exigencies of war and the need for some level of standardization were more important than the superiority of Nock’s lock design.
1804 Death notice: Died on 26 November, at Sutton, Surrey, Henry Nock, late of Ludgate Street, Gun-maker to His Majesty.[4]
The business, by bequest, was transferred to James Wilkinson, under whose guidance it went from strength to strength.
1805 Advert: 'GUN MAKER'S STOCK and IMPLEMENTS
By Messrs. WINSTANLEY and SON, On the Premises, No. 10, LUDGATE-STREET, on MON-DAY, the 22d Instant, and Two following days, at Eleven, ALL the valuable Finished and Unfinished Stock in Trade, curious Tools and Utensils, of the late ingenious Mr. Henry Nock, Gunsmith, deceased; comprising a large quantity of the best double and single barrel fowling pieces, rifle muskets; duelling, military, and pocket-pistols in cases, powder magazines, patent shot chargers, lock tools, cutting punches, cleaning rods, worms, Best fine unfinished gun and pistol locks, forged and filed barrels of various sorts, lock forging, and forging of other descriptions, near 2000 best gun and pistol stocks, and about 30,000 best flints; a very capital double bar iron lathe and apparatus, several others, an extensive assortment of boring benches and tools, vices, anvils, and choice tools of every other description used in the above trade: likewise a capital eight-day turret clock, a double barrel air pump, a hand mill, and a bolting machine.
The whole to be viewed on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and mornings of sale, when Catalogues may be had on the Premises, and of Messrs. Winstanley and Son, Paternoster-row, at 6d. each, which will be returned to Purchasers.[5]
1805 Advert: 'TO GUN-MAKERS and OTHERS, requiring EXTENSIVE WORK SHOPS and PREMISES, STEAM-ENGINE of eight horses power, &c.
By Messrs WINSTANLEY and SON, AT GARRAWAY's COFFEE-HOUSE, CORNHILL,
On THURSDAY August 8 at Twelve, by order-maker, situated in Castle-alley, Whitechapel, opposite to the Swan Inn; comprising several work shops, warehouses, and foreman's dwelling adjoining; held for a long term of years at low ground-rents; together with a very complete steam Engine of eight horse power, erected on the most approved construction, by Mr. Adam Heslop. Also in a separate Lot, the Smith's Warehouse, &c. opposite the above; and in a very short time, all his very valuable and curious lathes, machinery, tools, and implements, due notice of which will be given.
The Premises may be viewed, and Particulars had by applying as above. Printed Particulars may also be had at Garraway's; and of Messrs. Winstanley and Son, Paternoster-row.'[6]
The business became James Wilkinson, then Wilkinson and Son, and later Wilkinson Sword.
See here [7] for references to Henry Nock's work in connection with the standardisation and interchangeable manufacturing of musket locks.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ The Tatler - Wednesday 15 September 1965
- ↑ Hereford Journal - Thursday 20 March 1788
- ↑ London Gazette 17 February 1789
- ↑ Morning Post - Wednesday 28 November 1804
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Friday 5 April 1805
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - Wednesday 24 July 1805
- ↑ [1] ‘A lock so tallying in all its parts, that any part of one lock may fit another’: exploring the standardisation and interchangeable manufacturing of New Land Pattern Musket Locks' by David Williams, Emeritus Professor, Loughborough University, and Honorary Historical Consultant, Royal Armouries; Philip Abbott, Archives and Records Manager, Royal Armouries; David Harding, Independent Researcher, London, 2021