Rebranding A 135 Year Old Gunmaker Brand

In 1885 Thomas Watson’s son, Arthur and Thomas succeeded to the firm as the eponymous Watson Brothers, continuing the gun-making traditions established by their father. Today Watson Bros. remains a privately owned and managed business making guns and rifles of exceptional quality.

As W.B reputation grew so did their client base attracting royal warrants from such exotic lands as Turkey and Persia. With demand high over a 100 year period, W.B built 17,000 guns of which all the records are still held, specializing in all varied forms of fine sidelock ejectors.

When Michael Louca, the current owner and master gunmaker wanted to bring the brand into the modern age and also create a separate accessory branch of the brand, approached Spellbrand to help create a new brand identity. The super talented team at Spellbrand created a sublime brand strategy and translated that into a stunning new identity that retains the majesty of the 135-year-old heritage while modernizing the image of the brand.

Indeed today Watson Bros., still under the guidance of Michael Louca, continues to be creative with a modern sidelock ejector, self cocking hammer gun and big bores as well as over and unders and side by sides, all made in their workshop in the City of London.

With such accolades as being invited to exhibit in the Victoria and Albert museum ‘Power of Making’ exhibition, they are proud of the reception their guns have received.