Morten,

Just a cut and paste job here. You could also mail Paul Roberts who owns the name now. He was an extremely helpful man when I wrote an article for India Today Plus in 1998 when he owned Rigby.

www.internetgunclub.com
Name W J Jeffery
Other Names Jeffery & Davies; WJ Jeffery & Co; WJ Jeffery & Co Ltd
Address 1 60 Queen Victoria Street
Address 2 60 Queen Victoria Street (13 King Street, St James's) (1 Rose and Crown Yard)
Address 3 26 Bury Street, St James's
Address 4 9 Golden Square, Regent Street
Address 5 5b Pall Mall
Address 6 23 Conduit Street
Address 7 18 Bruton Street
City/Town London
County
State/Region/Province
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gunmaker
Other Address
Dates 1888-date
Notes
William Jackman Jeffery was born in 1857. He was probably a member of the large Jeffery family who had gun making businesses in a number of towns in southern England.
He may have been apprenticed in one of the family firms, but it is highly likely he was apprenticed at P Webley & Son.

In 1884 he lived at 42 Great Castle Street, Regents Circus (Piccadilly Circus) close to W & C Scott's premises at 10 Great Castle Street, at this stage he may have been working for them.

In 1885 he patented a barrel inspection device (No. 124335).

In 1886 in a patent application with Edgar Harrison he described himself as a gun salesman, he was probably working for Cogswell & Harrison at the time. The patent was for a vernier and windgauge rifle sight.

In 1887 Philip Webley appointed him Manager of Webley's proposed London showroom, and left him to finalise the lease on premises at 60 Queen Victoria Street. For whatever reason, Jeffery had the lease drawn up in his own name rather than the company name but this was only discovered in 1888 after the death of Philip Webley. Thomas William Webley, who was then running the firm, terminated the agreement (presumably a partnership agreement) between Jeffery and the company and abandoned the idea of a London operation.

In 1890 Jeffery formed a partnership with a man by the name of Davies, presumably in order to raise capital, and Jeffery & Davies started trading from 60 Queen Victoria Street. This partnership was short lived and in 1891 the firm was renamed W J Jeffery & Co.

At some time between 1891 and 1914 the firm became a limited company and may have remained so throughout its life(although they may not have put their full and proper name on their gun case labels and elsewhere). Alternatively, they may have given up limited liability at some time (voluntary liquidation for the purpose of restructuring?). There are reports that W J Jeffery first acquired limited liability in 1953 but this obviously wrong, and if they did acquire limited liability in 1953 this would have been the second time.

In 1898 the firm opened additional retail premises at 13 King Street, St James's, and a year or so later a workshop at 1 Rose and Crown Yard, which was near to the King Street shop.

In 1900 a patent (No. ?) was granted for a vertical post graticule in a telescope sight, and another (No. ?) for an aperture sight mounted on the bolt of a Mauser rifle.

In many countries at the end of the 19th century there were substantial numbers of Martini Henry .577/.450 rifles, and in India and the Sudan there was some opposition to British rule. These rifles in the wrong hands were an obvious risk. The government therefore banned the import of cartridges, cartridge cases and bullets of this calibre into these countries. In direct response to the ban Jeffery developed his .475 cartridge which competed with Holland's .500/.465 and Westley Richards .476 cartridge.

The firm was mainly known for its rifle expertise especially double barrel rifles, reportedly they made many large calibre rifles and probably half the 150 or so .600 rifles made worldwide. The firm was the first to make a rifle in this calibre in 1902. They made over 30 .600 double barrel rifles and about 24 single barrel rifles.

The firm also introduced the .400 Jeffery, the .404 Jeffery, and the .450 No.2 Nitro. Because of its flat trajectory and penetration their .333 nitro express cartridge was used during the First World War to deal with German snipers who used armour plate to protect themselves.

Jeffery's single barrel rifles won several competitions at Bisley. The firm made a wide range of shotguns and used the South London Shooting Grounds for fitting and lessons.

In 1909 W J Jeffery died, he was only 52 years old, and his brother, Charles Jeffery took over the business.

In 1914, at the start of the First World War, the King Street shop was replaced by a smaller shop at 26 Bury Street, St James's, and the workshops at Rose and Crown yard closed. At this time the firm described themselves as wholesale and retail gun makers.

In 1920 Charles Jeffery died and his nephew, F Jeffery Pearce took over. The Queen Victoria Street premises closed in 1921, and in 1927 the firm moved to 9 Golden Square, Regent Street. At this time B Halliday was working for the company, he left to open his own business.

In 1953 the firm became a limited liability company, W J Jeffery & Co Ltd, and in 1955 moved to 5b Pall Mall.

In 1957 Westley Richards (Agency) Co Ltd took over the business and moved it to 23 Conduit Street.

In 1959 Holland & Holland took over and the company's address changed to 13 Bruton Street, they held the records of the company but these are now held by J Roberts & Son of London who also have a licence to manufacture under the Jeffery name.

Other Info
The firm sold shotgun cartridges under the names "The Champion", "The Sharpshooter", "The Club Smokeless", "The Jeffery Cartridge", "Jeffery's XXX", "The Ejector" and "High Velocity.