James H. Johnston's Great Western Gun Works
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Introduction
My interest in James Hampton Johnston's Great Western Gun Works company began with a rifle of that make that was stashed in the room I stayed in as a child when visiting my grandparents. The purpose of this page is to present some information about Mr. Johnston and his company.
The company, which was both a manufacturer and an importer, advertised widely in newspapers and other publications. Most of the advertisements are unremarkable. I have tried to include some of the more interesting advertisements in the chronologically-organized information provided below.
L. Dietle
Chronology
1836-1917: According to his tombstone at the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, James Hampton Johnston was born in 1836 and died in 1917. An 1875 article, included farther below, states, "JAMES HAMPTON JOHNSTON ... was born in the town of Waynesboro', Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 16th, 1836. He grew to manhood in his native place, and there learned the trade of gunmaker." According to the following excerpt from Appendix II ("American Gun-makers, 1630-1928") in the May 25, 1928 issue of the "Bulletin of the Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee", James H. Johnston's father was the gunmaker John H. Johnston of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
1843-1917: According to her tombstone at the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Loveday Petty Johnston (the wife of James H. Johnston) was born in 1843 and died in 1917.
1850: Click here to see the listing for eight-year-old Connecticut-born Loveday Petty in the 1850 census records of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
1856: Page 115 of James B. Whisker's 1990 book "Arms Makers of Pennsylvania" features a relatively large recurring J. H. Johnston gun manufactory advertisement that began running in the May 22, 1856 issue of the "Waynesboro' Village Record" newspaper. The advertisement incorporates an image of crossed long rifles and references the gunmaker's old stand and his old customers. Based on those references, and knowing that James H. Johnston was only 19 years old on May 22, 1856, it seems safe to assume the advertisement was probably about the manufactory of John H. Johnston, father of James.
1857: According to George Thornton Fleming's book "My High School Days", Loveday Petty was admitted to the Pittsburgh Central High School in July of 1857.
1860-1866: The obituary of James H. Johnston, which is included farther below, indicates that he "had resided in Pittsburg since 1860. During the Civil war he was in charge of a department at the Allegheny arsenal. At the close of the war he entered business, establishing the Great Western Gun Works..." The previously-mentioned 1875 article states, "Just previous to the beginning of the late war, in 1860, he moved to Pittsburgh, and was appointed Master Armorer at the Arsenal there. In this position he served with credit until the close of the war, a period of five years. In the following year, with a small capital, he established the Great Western Gun Works..."
1862: A House of Representatives report titled "Pittsburgh Arsenal Explosion" begins with, "That in the year 1862 a large number of persons were employed in the Allegheny Arsenal, situated then in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and now part of that city. On the 17th of September, 1862, a frightful explosion occurred at the United States Arsenal at Lawrenceville. It was caused by carelessly leaving powder on the floors of the building and the roadway near by, so that a wagon when coming up to unload by the door set the powder on fire by a spark struck from the flinty rock on the road. The result was the death of 74 human beings, though there were comparatively few who were only injured. ... The killed and injured were nearly all young girls. Some were not much more than ten years of age. Most of them lived in or near Lawrenceville."
1862: According to his obituary, James H. Johnston married Loveday Petty on December 24, 1862.
1864-1865: The following image is from the "Directory of Pittsburg and Allegheny cities ... for 1864-'65". It lists James. H. Johns[t]on as a gunsmith living in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville. A similar listing is provided in the 1865-'66 directory.
1866: According to the previously-mentioned 1875 article, and the printed header of a February 27, 1900 letter that is included farther below, J. H. Johnston's Great Western Gun Works was founded in 1866.
1867: The following image is a J. H. Johnston advertisement from the 1867 "Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Almanac". The advertisement does not use the name Great Western Gun Works, and gives an address of 334 Penn Street.
1867: The following article about a robbery at the Great Western Gun Works is from the April 11, 1867 issue of the "Ebensburg Alleghanian" newspaper of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
1867: Click here to see a large advertisement for the Great Western Gun Works in "Miner's Pittsburgh Almanac No. 9, for the Year of Our Lord 1867." The address is given as "No. 334 Penn Street, No. 45 Wayne Street."
1867: Click here to see an extensive article from the December 16, 1867 issue of "The Evening Telegraph" (Philadelphia) about a conflagration and ensuing explosion that destroyed the Great Western Gun Works building, which was "situated on the corner of Wayne and Penn streets..." The December 21, 1867 issue of the "Yolo County Democrat newspaper" (Woodland, California) provides the date of the fire, stating: "The Great Western Gun Works in Pittsburg were burned December 14th." In reference to James H. Johnston, the aforementioned 1875 article states, "... his little establishment was destroyed by fire, and the proprietor lost almost everything, having little or no insurance."
1868: The following advertisement, which is from the March, 1868 issue of the "American-Agriculturist", reports a new address: 250 Liberty Street.
1868: The following advertisement, which is from the April 4, 1868 issue of "Harper's Weekly", lists a new address: 179 Smithfield Street. The advertisement also includes the statement, "Send stamp for circular, terms, &c."
1868: The following listing for the Great Western Gun Works is from the "Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities for 1868-69." The address is listed as 179 Smithfield.
At the new address: Click here to see a non-illustrated Great Western Gun Works "price list" that uses the new 179 Smithfield Street address. The date of the price list is unknown because the original cover is missing, and the publication has been rebound by the Library of Congress. Although the company eventually sold a wide variety of outdoors-related products, the products identified in this price list consist of guns, gun accessories and consumables, and gun parts.
1869: The following advertisement is from the February 13, 1869 issue of "Coleman's Rural World" (St. Louis, Missouri). The advertisement mentions a "priced catalogue" but does not list an address.
1870: The next image is a Great Western Gun Works advertisement from an 1870 issue of "Putnam's Magazine". It gives an address of 179 Smithfield Street and mentions a "price catalog". The same language was used in a recurring advertisement that was published in the July 28, 1870 issue of "The Youth's Companion."
1870: The following advertisement is from the "Almanac for the Reformed Church in the U. S. for the Year of Our Lord 1870."
1870: The front cover of an 1870 catalog includes the following:
"RETAIL PRICED CATALOGUE
GUNS, RIFLES
Revolvers and Ammunition,
Manufactured and for Sale, Wholesale and Retail,
AT THE
Great Western Gun Works,
No. 179 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, Pa.
J. H. JOHNSTON, Proprietor.
Fifth Annual List June, 1870."
1871: The following advertisement is from the June 17, 1871 issue of the "Cambria Freeman" newspaper of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.
1871: Click here to see the 1871 Great Western Gun Works wholesale catalog.
1872: The following advertisement is from the March 1, 1872 issue of "The Findlay Jeffersonian" newspaper of Findlay, Ohio. It gives an address of 179 Smithfield Street and mentions a "price list".
1872: The cover of the illustrated 1872 Great Western Gun Works "Retail Price List and Catalogue of Guns, Rifles, Revolvers, Ammunition, and Sporting Goods" gives an address of 179 Smithfield Street.
1873: The following advertisement is from the September 5, 1873 issue of the "The Rutland Daily Globe" newspaper of Rutland, Vermont. It gives an address of 179 Smithfield Street and mentions an "illustrated price list".
1874-1875: The following information, which is from the 1875 book "Manufacturers of Pennsylvania", provides information about James Hampton Johnston and his company, and states that "he moved his manufactory to the four story building at 285 Liberty street, in 1874." The listed date of the fire is incorrect.
1875: The following example of a recurring advertisement is from the March 24, 1875 issue of "The Forest Republican" newspaper of Tionesta, Pennsylvania. The advertisement lists 285 Liberty Street as the address of the firm.
1879: The front cover of the 1879 Great Western Gun Works "Wholesale Illustrated Price List and Catalogue of Guns, Rifles, Revolvers, Ammunition, and Sporting Goods" gives an address of 169 Smithfield Street. A line of text near the bottom of the cover states, "LIST No. 24, 1879."
1879: The following eye-catching advertisement is from the February 18, 1879 issue of "The Times" newspaper of New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. It mentions "...my Large Illustrated Catalogue and Price list which I mail FREE."
1880: The following listing for the Great Western Gun Works is from the "Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities. 1880-81." It reports an address of 169 Smithfield, and mentions the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
1880: The following insect powder advertisement is from the September 2, 1880 issue of the "Forest and Stream" magazine.
1882: The following eye-catching advertisement is from the April 28, 1882 issue of "The Columbian" newspaper of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It mentions a "Large Illustrated Catalogue FREE."
Circa 1883? Click here to see a transcript of an 1800s interview with Berks County, Pennsylvania gun barrel manufacturer Franklin K. Schnader, who reported that the Great Western Gun Works was one of his principal customers.
1884: The following stealth advertisement, which mentions an "illustrated catalogue", is from the February 21, 1884 issue of the "Centre-Democrat" newspaper of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.
1884: The following stealth advertisement, which mentions an "illustrated catalogue", is from the February 28, 1884 issue of the "Centre-Democrat" newspaper of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. It reports an address of 169 Smithfield.
1885: The following listing is from "J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory for Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities, for 1885." It reports an address of 621 Smithfield.
1886: The cover of the Great Western Gun Works "ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, No. 38, 1886" gives an address of "621 Smithfield Street (OLD NO. 169)." The first line of text on the cover is "1865. ESTABLISHED 21 YEARS. 1886." This conflicts with other documents that report an 1866 company founding date.
1888: The front cover of an 1888-89 catalog includes the following:
"1865. ESTABLISHED 23 YEARS. 1888-89
J. H. JOHNSTON,
Great Western Gun Works,
621 SMITHFIELD STREET,
OLD No. 169.
PITTSBURGH, PENN'A.
ILLUSTRATED CATALOG
OF
Rifles, Shot Guns, Revolvers".
1889: John H. Johnston is buried in the Green Hill Cemetery at Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where the inscription on his tombstone states, "MY HUSBAND JOHN H JOHNSTON DIED MAY 22, 1889 AGED 78Y. 1M. 16 D." That information yields a calculated birth date of April 6, 1811.
1889: The following address change notice is from the May 26, 1889 issue of the "Pittsburg Dispatch" newspaper.
1890: The following listing is from "J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny Cities, for 1890."
1891: The following advertisement is from page XXV of the 1891 book "The Sportsman's Directory". It references J. A. Johnston, rather than J. H. Johnston, and mentions an "illustrated Catalogue." According to the obituary of James H. Johnston, he had a son named John Alfred Johnston. The obituary of John Alfred Johnston, which is included farther below, mentions "the Great Western Gun Company".
1892: The following advertisement is from the July 2, 1892 issue of the "Pittsburg Dispatch" newspaper.
1892: The following advertisement is from the August 28, 1892 issue of the "Pittsburg Dispatch" newspaper.
1894: The following advertisement is from the May, 1894 issue of the "The-Oologist".
1900: The following advertisement is from the June, 1900 issue of the "Confederate Veteran."
1900: The following two images show the front and back of a Great Western Gun Works postcard that was written on February 21, 1900 and mailed to J. S. Johnston & Son of McConnellstown, Pennsylvania. The postcard gives the address of the Great Western Gun Works as 529 Smithfield Street. (Images provided by Art DeCamp.) According to page 384 of the 1883 book "History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, Pennsylvania.", John S. Johnston had been the village gunsmith at McConnellstown since 1854. According to his death certificate, the gunsmith John Snider Johnston was born on August 25, 1832 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, was the son of Maryland-born James Johnston, died in Walker Township of Huntingdon County on April 29, 1911, and was buried at McConnellstown.
1900: The following typewritten Great Western Gun Works letter about the cost of patch boxes was written to J. S. Johnston on February 27, 1900. The printed header lists a telephone number. (Image provided by Art DeCamp.)
1900: The following advertisement for the "J. A. Johnston Great Western Gun Works and Sporting Goods House" is from the April, 1900 issue of the "Game Laws in Brief and Woodcraft Magazine".
1900: The following two images show the front and rear of a letter that was written from the Great Western Gun Works to J. S. Johnston on April 6, 1900. (Images provided by Art DeCamp.)
1900: The following Great Western Gun Works document was prepared for J. S. Johnston & Son on April 25, 1900. (Image provided by Art DeCamp.)
1901: The following Great Western Gun Works invoice was prepared for J. S. Johnston & Son on January 5, 1901. (Image provided by Art DeCamp.)
1901: The following Great Western Gun Works receipt was prepared for J. S. Johnston & Son on January 21, 1901. (Image provided by Art DeCamp.)
1903: I have seen a photograph of an April 10, 1903 letter from J. A. Johnston that was typed on a letterhead that includes the following:
"Great Western Gun Works
J. A. Johnston,
529 Smithfield Street.
Gunsmiths' Materials, Shooting Gallery Goods,
Seines and Nets.
Pittsburg, Pa."
1907: The front cover of a 1907 catalog includes the following:
". . . . Illustrated . . . .
Catalogue and Price List
. . . of . . .
GUNSMITHS'
MATERIALS
No. 53 1907
J. A. JOHNSTON
Great Western Gun Works
529 Smithfield Street PITTSBURG, PA."
1908: The following advertisement, which is from the December, 1908 issue of "The American Blacksmith", still lists a 529 Smithfield Street address. The stated company name is "Great Western Gun Works & Supply Co."
1909: The following notice about J. A. Johnston becoming an Excelsior motorcycle agent is from the May 1, 1909 issue of the "Motorcycle Illustrated" magazine. The address is reported as 639 Liberty Avenue.
1909: The following advertisement is from the June 1, 1909 issue of the "Motorcycle Illustrated" magazine. The address is reported as 639 Liberty Street.
1909: The following advertisements are from the September, 1909 issue of the "Electrician and Mechanic" magazine. The first advertisement is by James H. Johnston, and lists his residential address. In the last advertisement, which is for John A. Johnston, the company name is listed as "J. A. Johnston's Great Western Gunsmith Supply Co." and the reported address is 639 Liberty Street.
1911: According to an announcement in the April, 1911 issue of the "Magazine of Antique Firearms", "J. H. Johnston of the Great Western Gun Works" had recently been elected to be a member of the American Society of Antique Weapon Collectors.
1911: James H. Johnston is listed in the following excerpt from a membership-related report of the Southern Philatelic Association that was published in a 1911 publication called "The Philatelic West and Collectors' World". His residential street number is missing a numeral, and should be 7218.
1913: I have seen a photograph of an April 29, 1913 letter from J. A. Johnston that was typed on a letterhead that includes the following:
"Established 1866 by J. H. Johnston
Great Western Gun Works
J. A. Johnston
639 Liberty Avenue, Opp. Sixth Avenue
Gun Materials, Shooting Gallery Goods
Repair Parts, Gunsmiths' Supplies, Seines and Nets"
1917: The following item is from "The Fort Pitt Rifle Club's Schedule of Matches" in the April, 1917 issue of "The Open" magazine.
1917: The following obituary was published in the June 29, 1917 issue of the "Pittsburg Press" newspaper.
1917: The following obituary is from the July 12, 1917 issue of "The Iron Trade Review". It indicates that James H. Johnston was active in his Great Western Gun Works company for more than 50 years.
1918: The following obituary from the October 5, 1918 issue of the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" indicates that John Alfred Johnston died on October 4, 1918. I wonder if he died as a result of the influenza epidemic that killed so many people in 1918.
1919: An article titled "Rifles of Our Forefathers" the December, 1919 issue of the "Forest and Stream" magazine includes the statement, "Among the gunsmith's of that period may be mentioned ... the great Western Gun Works of Pittsburgh, established in 1860 [sic] and still making muzzle loading rifles of the old school ..."
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