Fenian gun, apologies if posted before

slipperyox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHVaglXg3XI

kunekunesika

New to me.

Love the exposed belts, no glasses and ties , just for added ways to get hurt.

Grizzly 45

The Govt needs to get that proof house re opened,as there is now an EU requirement for such.

Croohur1

The Gun Shop did a quick video on the Fenian a while back ..https://youtu.be/pg8CYPFLM80

The infamous Oliver J Flanagan made some fairly serious allegations about this company in the Dail. It ceased trading in 1970 I think.

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1973-11-21/31/

Anyone shed any light on this, was it just OJF stirring?

slipperyox

would love to see a "Hands" version of it.. Also, wonder where all that equipment went?

Grizzly 45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232054#Comment_118232054

Be interesting to see how that ol antisemite came up with this statement alright. Irishman who has lived abroad for many years returns home to make guns= British agent!... There is some conclusion jumping there, or some interesting back story.

Had a nosey on the Irish Newspaper Archives, it seems there is some whiff off the story alright.

Kavanagh was a gunsmith in Cheltenham, then came over in 1968 to set up the factory. One article quoted a former employee saying he recalled selling just a single gun in his time there. Another suspected Kavanagh of gunrunning to the North.

Ian Paisley was involved in a court case in Cornwall with Kavanagh where several odd allegations were thrown about; a cattle dehorner invented by Kavanagh that could double as a terrorist weapon, and a potential order for 15,000 of same!

It is easy to see how stories could develop around all of this, and there may even be something in what Flanagan said.

I must admit, though I have read an awful lot about the Troubles, I never came across this story before. Maybe it has been written about, will do a bit more rooting.

sheesh

from the Dail record

"Regarding Deputy Flanagan's supplementary, I have no information as to the Fenian gunrunning club."

a slip of the tongue?

It appears Mr Kavanagh claimed to be a British agent himself, although a judge in the Cornwall case described him as a bit of a Walter Mitty character.

The Sunday Press, 18 November 1973 apparently has a piece/interview with him, but it is only accessible through the National Library as far as I can see.

I'd say there would be a good book in this story for a half decent journalist.

kunekunesika

Anyone got one of these? Or even seen one of them?

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118241005#Comment_118241005

Nope, did a quick search and found bugger all photos either.

Best ones seemed to be from this auction for a 16 gauge:

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/p-v-kavanagh-sons-a-rare-16-bore-the-fenian-doubl-1632-c-5954a52ba9

Sika98k

I’ve seen one in the late Pat O’Briens premises in Bray. Ghastly looking thing in the flesh. But with my penchant for small caliber side by sides I would regard it as an invention of the Devil.

useurowname

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118248724#Comment_118248724

May I say sir you sound just like a gentle man with a “penchant” for small bore side by side. Someone as yourself would hardly have anything so “ghastly” as this Fenian Gun, or I might speculate anything so uncouth as a synthetic semi-automatic in your cabinet? 😆

Great stories though, thanks for posting.

deeksofdoom

It looks like a fiddly, heavy donkey of a yoke. Don't like the idea of the barrels sliding forward either, what happens if the catch for locking the gun shut fails while firing...… a 'ghastly' abomination...

Grizzly 45

Its apparent design fault is that both the locking lug recesses and the guide rails weren't hardened properly so it starts to gap and the locking lugs start going out of shape.Maybe that was the idea for the adjustable firing pins? Certainly hasn't got the lines of a French Darne sliding breech SXS,or the Breton pull apart OU.

Sika98k

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118249582#Comment_118249582

I will confess to having owned a Browning B1, double trigger for a few years. Perish the very thought of a synthetic stocked semiautomatic in my gun room.😂

Zxthinger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118248724#Comment_118248724

Is pat Obrine's still open for business or was this before he passed.. Its a shame he gone. When did he pass..

bmmb88

@ Zxthinger.

He died 5/6 weeks ago. As far as I know business is gone. He was a very nice man.

Dufflecoat Fanny

My Grandfather worked in that proofing house in the 60s. Ill ask my father about it.

Dufflecoat Fanny

Ya my Grandfather worked there and used to go shooting with Kavanagh. He said the guns were extremely tough and could fire anything.