OptiOn 2

William Evans Pall Mall

Target price: £10,000+

William Evans was a Purdey-trained gunmaker who set up his business in Pimlico in 1888. Later the company moved to Pall Mall (hence the name of this gun), where it remained until 1944 when an uninvited and destructive overhead visit by the Luftwaffe caused a swift evacuation to its present premises in St James’s Street.

If you have ever strolled along St James’s Street, you will notice that it is an ideal location for a prestige maker of fine guns. Along the street, as well as buying an excellent gun, you can spend more than £1,000 on a pair of hand-made shoes, buy a bottle of wine to grace the finest dinner table, or – if you move in the right circles – be invited to join one of the finest gentlemen’s clubs in London.

The Pall Mall is sourced from Grulla of Spain, with some finishing work performed in the UK. All of the guns are made to measure, so when buying second-hand be aware that the original owner may have specified dimensions which are not suited to you.

The gun is a sidelock built on Holland & Holland principles, and the engraving is particularly attractive. Stock styles can be traditional English straight-hand, Prince of Wales, or full pistol grip. New prices start at £16,500, so expect to pay at least £10,000 for a good example.