1828
ABOUT ELEY
THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS
Founded in London by the visionary Eley brothers in 1828, Eley Hawk has grown into a globally recognised British brand synonymous with innovation and excellence in shotgun cartridge manufacturing.
For nearly two centuries, the company has been at the forefront of the shooting industry, creating premium cartridges that deliver exceptional performance for both game and clay shooters.
As the oldest UK shotgun cartridge manufacturer, Eley Hawk stands apart with a unique combination of rich heritage, advanced technology, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Our legacy includes groundbreaking advancements in cartridge design and component innovation, many of which remain industry standards today.
From pioneering percussion cap production to engineering modern eco-friendly solutions, we’ve continually evolved to meet the needs of shooters across generations. Every cartridge produced reflects the wealth of expertise and knowledge gained over almost 200 years. At our state-of-the-art Birmingham factory, the team uses this heritage to refine every stage of production, ensuring cutting-edge technology, batch-to-batch consistency, and unmatched reliability. This commitment to precision has made Eley Hawk cartridges the trusted choice for shooters worldwide.
From its humble beginnings in London as a small family business to its current status as a global leader, Eley Hawk has consistently delivered ‘the perfect choice’ for every shooting scenario. Whether you’re in the field hunting game or on the range perfecting your clay shooting, Eley Hawk cartridges are crafted to meet the highest demands of performance, reliability, and sustainability.
The Eley family has an impressive history of talent and innovation resulting in the continued evolution of the cartridge industry, aiding sportsmen worldwide and the military along the way.
The Eley family name can originally be traced back to their agricultural roots in Derbyshire. However, the Eley family is much better known for their dealings during the mid-18th century as London silversmiths.
Unfortunately, at the age of 47, William Eley inadvertently blew himself up while trying to experiment with a new percussion cap.
Despite this terrible tragedy, the Eley Cartridge Company was eventually led by William Thomas Eley (son of William), and his two brothers Charles and Henry. But it was William who became the driving force of the business, growing it into one of the largest ammunition-producing factories in the world. William was an inventive genius in terms of cartridge improvements, but he also masterminded a revolutionary new way of producing percussion caps.
To this day all Eley Hawk shotgun ammunition is manufactured in England to the exacting qualities demanded by shooters worldwide. Maxam has invested heavily in the Eley Hawk manufacturing processes, moving to a state-of-the-art factory based in Sutton Coldfield.
1828
In 1828 the first historic record of Eley's existence as a cartridge manufacturer; Charles Eley appears on an advertisement launching Eley Patent Cartridges as "the greatest improvement ever produced in gunnery". The two brothers, William and Charles, worked together to acquire the rights to produce the Jenour cartridge, jointly founding the Eley Cartridge Company which opened a factory in Old Bond Street in 1828.
1854
William Thomas Eley takes out the patent 2487 for combustable paper cartridges.
1874
During the early 1870s ammunitions suppliers worldwide were in huge demand. New types of ammunition were required by the military, thus creating a need for new machinery capable of manufacturing these new products. In order to finance this demand, the Eley Brothers decided in 1874 to become a limited company.
1898
In 1898 and again in 1900, Eley won awards for their products at the two Paris Exhibitions. The Grand Prix award, was one in a list of many the company had gained during its existence. However, it was this latter award which led the company to introduce a shotgun cartridge in March 1903 which was to bear its name.
1924
In 1924 Eley introduce the first special Trap shooting cartridge to respond to the rise of clay trap shooting (this naturally arose as a sport, due to the decline of wild bird game shooting post World War I, as bird numbers dropped).
1933
In 1933 Eley pioneers the first plastic shotgun cartridge.
1959
The Eley Kleena fibre based wad started its life in 1959, and was a unique development in cartridges as it cleaned out the shotgun barrels when fired.
1962
The Eley name lives on through the formation fo the Imperial Chemicals Industry Ltd. As part of ICI gorup Eley continues to thrive as a brand.
1989
1989 Eley Hawk company formed and production returns to Witton site.
2002
Europe's largest manufacturer of explosives and shotgun ammunition. The intention of Maxam is to continue growing and develop Britain's oldest shotgun ammunition manufacturer into a world leader building on it's longstanding reputation for excellence.
2004
Eley Hawk wins the coveted Shooting Industry awards prize for the Eley Superb Cartridge
2012
Yet again in 2012 Eley Hawk win the shooting industry award for the best clay cartridge with Eley Trap .410
2017
Yet again in 2017 Eley Hawk win the shooting industry award for the best game cartridge with Zenith 12g and 20g loads.
2019
Eley launch the VIP Pro Eco, the first of its kind. The UK’s first and only dissolvable, biodegradable wad that has been certified to the highest industry standards. Enabling shooters to make their own informed, socially responsible choices.
2020
Eley combine innovation with tradition. Grand Prix Pro Eco Wad – the first traditional 2 1/2 inch load incorporating the UK’s first and only dissolvable, biodegradable wad.
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- 1854
- 1874
- 1898
- 1924
- 1933
- 1959
- 1962
- 1989
- 2002
- 2004
- 2012
- 2017
- 2019
- 2020