Derbyshire Arms was set up at the beginning of 2005 with musket production commencing a short while later. However, experience in re-enacting goes back much further, right back to the late 1970’s in fact, and carries on down to the present day; as does an interest in period firearms that led to the collecting and examining of many original  pieces and, ultimately, to the formation of the present company.

Derbyshire Arms specialises in the handcrafting of period firearms from the medieval period up to the eighteenth century, in effect the golden age of gun making before the advent of mass production. Care is taken to stay as closely as possible to original specifications, though with concessions to the rigours of the activities of the modern re-enactor, and standards of authenticity will be constantly upgraded.  Obviously, as each piece is handmade to order no two pieces will ever be the same; except in the area of safety. All of our barrels are made from pressure tested steel and then proofed for ball and shot. Each piece is then test fired to ensure safety and quality before it is released to the customer.

Designs available at present are mainly seventeenth century pieces as supplied to members of The Sealed Knot Society, The English Civil War Society, The Wardour Garrison and others. Currently available are various muskets of matchlock, doglock and English lock type followed, very soon, by wheellock and snaphaunce models as well as some less well known types at a later date. A range of medieval pieces will also be available from the early pole guns up to the later arquebuse’s of the Sixteenth Century.

As well as making firearms we are also available as film and TV consultants on historical subjects and as a ‘living history gun maker’ working live at your venue on period correct firearms. Recent TV work has included cameo roles with Rory McGrath and Mark Williams on such varied subjects as Seventeenth Century witch hunts and the history of blackpowder weapons.