Bozard & Co - History

Company History

Unfortunately, we cannot tell you anything about your gun. We are not the original firm of Bozard & Co.. Because it suited our need and purpose as a business name, we registered the name of Bozard & Co. as a limited company in 2003. The original company was based around 1888 in 33 New Bond Street, London. Then 8 Bennett Street and finally Panton Street. The company ceased trading sometime around the early 1900's. It could be that there are some records of guns made by the original company; but we don't know of their existence.

Philip has a keen interest in the original firm of Bozard & Co. and has done his own research into the company and unearthed many interesting facts. He has uncovered the origin of the name Bozard in Bozard & Co. Bozard was the middle name of the then Director; Philip Henniker Bozard Bedingfield.

The Bozard & Co. of Today

Growing up on a farm in Canada fuelled my interest in guns and how they work. I had my first shotgun, a Remington .410 at the age of eleven that my father bought me from Canadian Tire. (I still enjoy using it today) Then a few years later I got my first rifle, a Winchester Cooey .22 bolt action. Those early shooting days with my father at my side gave me the directions for the path that I was to follow.

I moved back to England in 1984 and started my career in the London gun trade in 1985 with Purdey as a barrel-making apprentice. For a short while I was under Bill Blacker then with Dave Symes. Having fully completed my five-year apprenticeship I stayed with Purdey for a further four years making side-by-side, shotgun and rifle barrels as well as the Purdey over and under barrels of all calibres.

Soon after I was honoured to have earned by servitude the freedom of the city of London and became a member of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.

To further my ambitions in the gun trade, I moved to Holland & Holland in 1994 where I stayed for a further six years. During that time I was promoted to foreman of the barrel shop, over seeing production and to ensure that the barrels were made to the highest possible standards.

It was January 2001 when my life long ambition was realised. To have my own business and workshop making shotgun and rifle barrels for former employers and other famous makers to the highest possible standards.

I have made shotgun and rifle barrels of all calibres. My most memorable works were a pair of Purdey 20 bore side lock over and unders for Tom Selleck and making one of the Holland & Holland .700 nitro express double rifles.

We are now trading as Bozard & Co. Making and repairing best quality hand made guns and rifles to your exacting specifications and our exacting standards. Please click on our other pages to see what kind of hand made gun we can build for you.