Under the Hammer

Lot 222

A .375 (Nitro Express) 'Royal' Sidelock Ejector Rifle By Holland & Holland, No. 30452

The crisp and elegant engraving patterns of Holland & Holland guns are renowned globally, and is well represented on the lock-plates of this fine sidelock rifle in their own .375 magnum calibre. The double rifle has long been considered the pinnacle of rifle development and remains a functional part of any sportsman's repertoire.

Lot 231

An Extremely Rare 4-Bore Chamberless Sidelever Boxlock Non-Ejector Wild-Fowling Gun by Frederic T. Baker

Double 4-bore guns are rare in any capacity, but in this configuration quite extraordinary. Whilst not the winner of any beauty contests, it has a myriad of alterations designed to reduce recoil and is possibly an experimental creation. By removing the chambers from the barrels and putting gas vents on the fences the pressure on detonation is slightly mitigated, making it more comfortable to fire without reducing the efficacy of the shot. All in all a very unusual item, and in an obsolete calibre it negates the need for it to be held on a licence, unless of course you intend to shoot it!

Lot 344

An Extremely Fine Cased pair of French 32-Bore Flintlock Pistols

This pair of cased pistols are classic examples of the deluxe firearms produced by Nicolas-Noel Boutet (1761-1833) who is considered to be one of the greatest recorded gunmakers. From 1793 to 1818 he was artistic director of the Manufacture Nationale de Versailles where he was responsible for the production of some of the finest luxury and presentation arms ever made. Examples of his work are preserved in major museum, institutional and private collections worldwide.

Lot 345

An Exceptionally Rare Cased Deluxe .34 Percussion Colt Paterson No.2 Belt Model Revolver

Only one other revolver of this type exists to rival the present lot for condition and quality of decoration. Both are extremely rare survivors. No. 576 was discovered in 2002 in a general house clearance and was sold by Bonhams in London the same year for a premium inclusive £222,500 (at the time a European auction record for any firearm).
The other, know as the Serri Paterson, is in a private American collection and is illustrated in R.L. Wilson’s Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, published in 1999 .

Lot 356

An Exceptional Cased Pair of 32-Bore Percussion Duelling Pistols

This classic pair of cased percussion duelling pistols are believed to be the finest of their type in existence and are remarkable for retaining virtually all their original finish, indeed they appear to have never been fired. They were acquired directly from the Duke of Norfolk at Arundel Castle in 1967 by the famous collector W. Keith Neal.

Lot 359

A Fine Cased Pair of 48-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistols

This fine cased pair were in the collection of W. Keith Neal who acquired them from Lowther Castle, the seat of the Earls of Lonsdale. They are a remarkably complete set and in fine condition. The original owner is almost certainly William Lowther, 5th Viscount and 2nd Earl of Lonsdale (1757-1844). A Knight of the garter he served as MP between 1780 and 1802, and was responsible, with the architect Sir Robert Smirke, for the creation of Lowther Castle in its psudo-Gothic splendour, where he was a generous patron of artists and writers. His greatest passion was foxhunting and it is recorded that he kept about fifty hunters!

Lot 363

An Exceptional Pair of 'Flintlock' Repeating Air Pistols From Blair Castle, Scotland

These pistols are in the form of flintlock pistols but in fact are repeatedly fired by compressed air stored in reservoirs which also form the barrels. They are remarkable for their outstanding original condition and for being the only pair of a very small number of surviving examples. They were sold directly from Blair Castle, the family seat of the Dukes of Atholl in 2015, and were most probably made for John Murray, 3rd Duke of Atholl (1729-1774).

Lot 315

An Exceptional Kell-Engraved Lightweight 12-Bore 'Spring-Opener' Sidelock Ejector Gun By Henry Atkin, No. 3510

This gun was built in 1948 to the specifications of Gough Thomas, one of the leading authorities on guns and shooting in his day.
Thomas's order was nothing if not particular. He demanded that Atkin "guarantee that in respect of materials, workmanship, finish and shooting qualities, the gun will conform to your highest pre-war standards"; he added, in an encouraging aside, "although I am very critical, I am highly appreciative of the best work, and if you succeed in pleasing me I shall be a constant advertisement for you."
Atkin's replied, "We guarantee that the gun will conform to our best standard of pre-war days as we will (fortunately) have our old workman with us." Indeed, the result was a marvel.

Lot 337

A Very Fine Pair of Ken Hunt Decorated 12-Bore Self-Opening Sidelock Ejector Guns By J. Purdey & Sons, No. 27397/8

These guns are truly of exhibition quality, with the masterful deep relief engraving and gold-inlay decoration by Ken Hunt, who is justifiably known as one of England’s most renowned firearms engravers. The guns are beautiful examples from his 60 year career and would form the centrepiece of any collection for their art, workmanship and quality of gunsmithing.

Lot 338

A Fine 20-Bore Self-Opening Single-Trigger Sidelock Ejector Gun By J. Purdey & Sons, No. 26423

This fine gun was built for the Hopkins family, who were prolific purchasers of Purdey firearms in the period immediately following the war. The interior gold lockwork is immaculately done, as is the foliate engraving, particularly the oak leaves which are chiselled in relief on the fences and is of the highest quality.