About Us

Ray Ward Gunsmiths have for many years been a strong contender in the trading world 
of guns. The company initially found it’s roots in 1961 when Ray Ward opened a 
continental Sport shop in Redhill in Surrey. The shop in it’s infant days supplied a large 
variety of sporting equipment and accessories for many different sports. It was by chance, 
in the late 1960’s that Ray Ward was asked to provide cartridges for another local gun 
shop in the area, this provided him with the foresight that would transform the company 
into a fast trading and competitive leader in the shooting industry. 

In 1970 Ray decided that with his experience and his research into importing and retailing guns 
he was now ready to open another shop a short distance from the original premises in Redhill. 
The new shop provided a sizeable collection of specialist fishing and shooting equipment 
and moved quickly into importing shotguns including major firearm brands Beretta, 
Browning and Ruger. The shop grew from strength to strength and traded at the same 
location  in Redhill for some 30 years. Ray Ward became a keen shooter himself, winning 
various national shooting titles in various disciples such as Olympic Skeet and Olympic 
trap both disciplines now widely contested at every Olympic games, he then continued his 
involvement in Clay Pigeon Shooting by being chairman of the governing UK body of the 
sport the CPSA (Clay Pigeon shooting Association) then later taking the position of 
President and still holds the position of life vice- president. 

In the mean time Ray’s eldest son Andre had continued trade in the original Continental 
Sports shop until it closed  in 2001, yet today stills trades as a wholesale internet sports 
supplier. Ray’s other son John was beginning to show a keen interest in the gun trade and 
was successfully managing another of Ray’s pioneering ideas, the competition Clay shooting 
club known as the RW Trap Club based at the now national shooting center at Bisley, Surrey. 

At the same time John was becoming more involved in traditional game shooting and could be 
called upon to find game shooting days across the country. It was established that John would 
continue the family business Ray Ward Gunsmith at the shop in Redhill and took full control of the 
business in the early 1980’s after Ray’s retirement from the retail scene. 

In 1994 John Ward continued to evolve Ray Ward Gunsmith by opening a gun showroom 
in the prestigious Knightsbridge address in the heart of English gun trade, specializing in 
highest quality English made shotguns such as Purdey, Boss and Holland & Holland, 
supplying shotguns and apparel. The demand for quality products quickly grew and the 
shop found itself increasing in size to fulfill a full country clothing department and on-site 
gunsmiths to carry out repairs and servicing on site (see workshop link). Inevitably the 
demand for storage of guns became more apparent and once again Ray Ward Gunsmiths 
were able to provide this much needed facility for shotguns and firearms. All these aspects 
helped the Knightsbridge shop to establish itself as the company head office and flagship 
store. As the shop grew in stature the company decided to concentrate it’s staff and expertise 
souly at the Knightsbridge address thus closing the 30 year old Redhill shop in the latter 
part of 1999.

Ray Ward London, Knightsbridge continues to grow in many ways and continues to sell
the highest quality products from its shop in Central London. The shop offers a number of
individual services including on-site gunsmiths and leather embossing service. There is 
also the availability to have a shooting suit tailored to your exact measurements by our own
personal tailors who work on the same premises.

To date Ray Ward Gunsmith are contuning to progress into the internet and we are now 
processing an online shop from which you the customer will able to purchase our products from 
the comfort of your own home.