Churchill’s armoury
SHOTGUNS PAIR OF 12-BORE ‘THE AUTOMATIC’ SHOTGUNS BY WOODWARD & SON
Churchill’s favourite shotguns, ordered in 1899 by Charles Spencer-churchill (1871-1934) 9th Duke of Marlborough (1892-1934) to be a 25th birthday present to his cousin, Winston Churchill. They were delivered on 6 October 1902. By 1902, Churchill was an MP (elected in 1900 for the Oldham constituency), which is why the address on the oak and leather case is his rooms at Westminster. They are a pair of single-trigger, hammerless ejector guns known as the ‘Automatic’ model, with half pistol hand stocks. The 29in barrels are of Whitworth steel and were of all cylinder choke. They have arcaded fences and the protruding tumbler pivots are marked with cocking indicators.
12-BORE, LEBEAU-COURALLY, MODEL 106
Built in 1938 by Lebeau-courally in Liège as a side-by-side sidelock ejector with two triggers and ejectors. Originally sold to Baron Van der Heyden in 1938, one of Holland’s finest shots. By 1947 it was part of Churchill’s gun cabinet.
PISTOLS .455 WEBLEY-WILKINSON REVOLVER (MODEL 1892)
Likely to have been acquired in early 1894. Carried by Churchill during his service on the North-west frontier of India with the
4th Hussars in 1896.
7.63MM MAUSER C96 (SERIAL NO 4257)
Mentioned in a bill submitted by John Rigby & Co in November 1898 to Churchill for the sale of pistols, along with ammunition and a box. Currently in a private collection.
7.63MM MAUSER C96 (SERIAL NO 2373)
Also mentioned in the bill submitted by John Rigby & Co. Whereabouts unknown.
7.63MM MAUSER C96 (SERIAL NO 3511)
Yet a third Mauser pistol, but this time mentioned in a later bill to Churchill submitted by John Rigby & Co, dated December 1902. Whereabouts unknown.
.450 WEBLEY WG TARGET REVOLVER
Mentioned in a bill submitted to Churchill by John Rigby & Co in December 1902 for cleaning, along with the supply of appropriate ammunition. Built in 1887, it is possible that the pistol originally belonged to Randolph Churchill, Winston’s father, who passed it to Winston (he would have been 13 at the time of its manufacture).
9MM WEBLEY MODEL 1909
Originally assembled in October 1910 and cased, it was gifted as a New Year present to Churchill in 1911. It is engraved ‘From JMB to WSC’.
.32IN WEBLEY MODEL 1913 [pictured]
Assembled on 27 April 1920 and sold during June 1920. Recorded on Churchill’s Firearms Certificate issued on 9 December 1920.
.45IN COLT 1911 GOVERNMENT MODEL
Assembled by Colt in 1914, it is described as a ‘Government Model and 1st Model National Match’. Purchased by Churchill in 1915 and carried by him in World War I.
.45IN COLT 1911 PISTOL, COMMANDER MODEL
Made in 1952, with grips of ivory. The left side of the slide is engraved: PRESENTED TO RT HON WINSTON CHURCHILL. Shipped directly to Churchill by Colt.
9MM BROWNING (HI-POWER)
Made by FN around 1955 in conjunction with an accompanying FN FAL rifle. It is cased and was presented to Churchill by the FN company. The top of the slide is inlaid in gilt ‘WSC’.
RIFLES
6.5MM MANNLICHER MODEL 1893
Purchased by Churchill from James Woodward & Sons on 16 September 1908. Described as ‘Mannlicher Sporting Rifle, five flushed leaf backsight 100 to 500 yards. Ivory tipped bead foresight. Pistol grip stock.’ It was used by Churchill when stalking in Scotland.
.500IN. EXPRESS RIFLE
Mentioned in the Woodward records but no trace can be found of it.
.303IN ROSS MODEL 1910 MK III
Made in 1914 by the Ross rifle Co, Quebec, Canada. The butt has an oval silver presentation plaque inscribed ‘TO RT
HON W L SPENCER CHURCHILL WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF COLONEL THE HON SAM HUGHES MP MINISTER OF MILITIA AND DEFENCE FOR CANADA 14TH FEBRUARY 1914.’
.22IN BROWNING
Little is known of this rifle as no trace of it has yet been found.
.30IN M1 CARBINE
Not much is known about this carbine, sold at auction in 1975.
7.62MM FN FAL
Made in 1955 by FN as a boxed presentation piece to Churchill to accompany the Browning pistol. The magazine housing inlayed in gold:
“I WAS VERY GLAD TO FIND THAT
THE WEAPON WAS IN HARMONY
WITH CERTAIN IMPORTANT PRACTICAL AND TACTICAL CONCEPTIONS TO WHICH MY OWN LENGTHY EXPERIENCE HAS LED ME.” This is a quote from a speech made by Churchill in Parliament in 1954.
10.35MM VETTERLI-VITALI MODEL 1870/87
This Italian rifle, heavily carved and decorated, was acquired by Churchill as a souvenir of his involvement in the Sudan campaign of 1898, which culminated in his famous participation in a charge by the 21st Lancers at the battle of Omdurman.
SUB-MACHINE GUNS
9MM STEN MK III SMG
The Sten Mk III was of simpler construction than the Mk II. Manufactured by Lines
Bros, the company behind Tri-ang Toys.
9MM STEN MK III SMG
Also manufactured by Lines Bros.
9MM LANCHESTER SMG
Made by the Sterling Armaments Co in March 1940. This was the Lanchester
Pilot Gun No 8, one of a small series of pilot guns authorised by contract dated 18 October 1940 for a pilot study into the completion of the drawings, production methods and firing trials. The bolt housing is inscribed: ‘TO THE RT HON WINSTON CHURCHILL, PC CH, MP “WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES, ON THE LANDING GROUND…IN THE FIELDS… IN THE STREETS… IN THE HILLS…WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER” HOUSE OF COMMONS 4TH JUNE 1940’. Sterling clearly gifted this to Churchill in the hope he would champion the gun with all three services. In fact, only the Navy adopted it.
9MM STERLING-PATCHETT SMG
Assembled by Sterling in 1953 and sent to 10 Downing Street as a gift. The underside of the magazine housing has a silver plaque engraved: ‘THE RT HON WINSTON CHURCHILL MP PRIME MINISTER 19401945. HE INSPIRED THE NATION - “WE SHALL FIGHT ON THE BEACHES ON THE LANDING GROUND...IN THE FIELDS... IN THE STREETS... IN THE HILLS. WE SHALL NEVER SURRENDER” HOUSE OF COMMONS, 4th JUNE 1940.’ It was a personal gift from the Sterling Company. Presented on 3 March 1953 during his second term as Prime Minister (1951-55).