Modern and vintage at Gavin Gardiner
A single owner collection of Collectors’ Firearms exceeded expectations in Gavin Gardiner Ltd’s sale of Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns and Rifles in April. The collection, which included examples by makers such as Smith & Wesson, Webley and Colt, saw a .50 boxer double barrel hammer howdah pistol sell for £8,750 (includes BP of 25%). Retailed by T Johnson of Swaffham in Suffolk, it sold for 10 times its pre-sale low estimate of £800-£1,200. Featuring 7in Damascus barrels, folding leaf sight, rebounding back locks, hammers and rotary underlever with fine scroll engraving and retaining some original hardening colour, chequered walnut grip.
A fine 6.5mm bolt-action sporting rifle by Westley Richards sold for £3,500. Well-finished in the makers’ distinctive style, it was estimated at £400-£600 and was bought a member of the UK trade.
Elsewhere in the auction of over 400 lots, a fine 12-bore single trigger Royal model selfopening sidelock ejector gun by Holland and Holland sold for £15,000. It featured 25in chopper-lump barrels with 2.75in chambers, about 1/4 and 1/2 choke borings, the frame, hand detachable locks and top lever with acanthus scroll engraving and retaining all of its original bright cyanide hardened finish. The maker confirmed that the gun was completed c. 1980 and appeared little used. A 12-bore single trigger assisted opening sidelock gun by Boss & Co, which was built in 1920, sold for £8,750. It featured 29in chopper-lump barrels with 2.5in chambers, about true cylinder and 1/4 choke borings, the frame, locks and gold numbered top lever with fine bouquet and scroll engraving and retaining traces of original hardening colour. It came in a lightweight leather case with later maker's label.
Then there was a fine 28-bore boxlock ejector gun by John Wilkes, which was built in 1937, fetched £6,500 against an estimate of £2,000-£3,000. This had 26in barrels with 2.5in chambers, about 3/8 and 3/4 choke borings, the frame and top lever with scroll engraving and retaining much original hardening colour. It came in a canvas case with a Watson Bros label.
Another lot that sold very well was a large collection of collector’s air gun pellets and tins, many of which were pre-war and including makers such as BSA and Webley.
This sold for £938 against an estimate of £150-£250. ■