There were 578 gun firms in the Quarter in 1865 when local gunsmiths were supplying weapons to most of the world's armies.

Production was structured around small independent workshops that tended to specialise in particular components. However, the industry gradually moved out of the city centre as production was rationalised.

Prohibitive firearms laws restricted the trade to shotguns and air rifles and the redevelopment of the city centre, particularly the construction of Corporation Street in the 1870's and the post-war re-development of Gosta Green as a university campus, further diminished the Gun Quarter.

Apart from a few showrooms, the firearms trade has virtually disappeared from central Birmingham and the Gun Quarter survives in name only.

The Gun Quarter was officially renamed the St Chad and St George Quarter in July 2011 because local communities did not want to be associated with firearms given the current level of gun crime in Birmingham (News Headlines 30/07/11).

The Quarter contains several landmark buildings including St Chads RC Cathedral, the Victoria Law Courts and the Methodist Central Hall; it is generally regarded as a smaller area within the Business Quarter.