John William Edge was a gunmaker in Manchester from 1827 until 1864. These pistols likely date towards the middle of this range. Their smoothbore barrels have recessed crowns, and the bores measure approximately 34 bore (.515 caliber). The barrels are marked "J. W. EDGE" on the top right and "MANCHESTER" on the top left and have Birmingham proofmarks on the bottom flats. They are equipped with folding sprung "snap bayonets" with sliding releases on the top of the scroll engraved boxlock actions, and stirrup mounted ramrods are fitted beneath. The pistols also have sliding half-cock safeties and double triggers, and the finely checkered stocks have blank silver oval escutcheons and casehardened pommel caps with scroll engraving and hinged compartments. They come in a fitted mahogany case with green baize lining and a variety of accessories, including a three-way combination flask. The case for this pair of extraordinary pistols has "W. BAYLEY ESQRE" inscribed on the handle and "STALY-BRIDGE" below. William Bayley of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England, ran the Bayley Street Mills with his brothers and were cotton spinners and manufacturers. These pistols may have served as personal security for him during unrest during the economic depression in the early 1840s. In 1842, he cut wages for the mill workers contributing to the Chartist movement and the outbreak of the Plug Riots. The latter took its name from the strikers removing the plugs from the boilers in the factories to stop production. The local papers wrote of the "Alarming Riots in Manchester and the Neighborhood" and noted that "the hands of Messrs. Bayley and Brothers of Stalybridge struck" after their wages were reduced ultimately expanding to 8,000 to 10,000 spinners and weavers petitioning Parliament and contributing to the general strike throughout the country which included property damage and violence. Several people were killed before the general strike ended. Bayley was later elected the mayor of Stalybridge after it was incorporated in 1857. Shortly thereafter, the American Civil War heavily affected the production of England's factories, and his family suffered heavy financial losses, particularly because William Bayley & Brothers had built the new Clarence Mill which was ultimately sold off. Nonetheless, he was able to comfortably retire in 1863 and lived at his Stamford Lodge mansion. He still retained business ties and was among the investors in The Manchester & Liverpool District Banking Company in 1867.

Excellent plus with 97% plus original vibrant casehardened finish, 95% plus original blue finish, bright polished bayonet blade, crisp engraving and markings, sharp checkering, and only minimal light age and storage related wear including some very faint spots of oxidation. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has mild age and storage related wear, including some separation of the dividers and the lower right compartment lid cracked and with a loose pull. The accessories are generally very fine with minor storage wear.

As described in "A." Provenance: Mayor William Bayley of Stalybridge; The Cam & Deb Cooper Collection

Excellent plus with 97% plus original vibrant casehardened finish, 95% plus original blue finish, bright polished bayonet blade, crisp engraving and markings, sharp checkering, and only minimal light age and storage related wear including some very faint spots of oxidation mainly near the breech. Mechanically excellent.