The Bonhams Antique Arms, Modern Sporting Guns & Exceptional Firearms Auction, which has been rescheduled a couple of times this year, is due to take place on 3rd December. There are a number of lots that are rather interesting and well worth a look.
There are a number of very interesting lots in this auction, but here are eGunroom’s top picks:
Lot 238 – A Rare 28-Bore Purdey Made For Prince Duleep Singh
This 28-bore single-barrelled lightweight child’s hammer gun was completed by James Purdey and Sons in 1877 for Prince Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and fourth best shot in England. It appears to have been purchased for either of his sons, when it was completed Victor was 11 and Fredrick 9 years old.
This gun was bought in as a barrelled action from W. & C. Scott of Birmingham and finished by Purdey (as was common with a number of gun makers at the time). The auction catalogue has this gun listed as: Jones patent rotary-underlever, rebounding backlock, percussion fence, best foliate-scroll engraving, well-figured stock, carved horn-capped forend, the barrel engraved ‘J. Purdey, 314½ Oxford Street, London’
Weight 3lb., 13in. stock, 14¼in. barrel (this is incorrect, the length is actually 24½in.), approx. ½ choke, 2¾in. chamber, London nitro reproof (which was carried out in 1924 on behalf of Hon. Henry Coventry, Prince Victor’s brother-in-law).
Lot 330 – A Composed Pair of John Dickson & Son 12-Bore Round-Action Guns
Some hail John Dickson round-actioned guns as the ultimate in handling. They are said to handle like wands and once you shoot with one you will never want to mount a gun from any another manufacturer to your shoulder.
This composed pair (guns that do not have consecutive numbers but are put together as a practical pair) were ordered and delivered to the same customer.
The toplevers and forends numbered ‘1’ and ‘2’, the sides of the treble-grip action-bodies with the maker’s name engraved in a scrolling banner surrounded by best tight foliate-scrollwork, gold inlaid cocking-indicators, well-figured stocks, the damascus barrels with game-ribs engraved John Dickson & Son, 63 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Weights 6lb. 7oz., 15⅛in. stock, 29in. barrels, approx I.C. & ½ choke (No. 1) and approx ¼ & ⅜ choke (No. 2), 2½in. chambers, London nitro proof (No. 2 right barrel-thickness at 20 thou.).
In a brass-mounted oak and leather case with Dickson trade-label.
Lot 335 – A Pair of Marc Newson 20-Bore Guns by Beretta
Marc Newson CBE is an industrial designer who has worked with companies like Apple, Mont Blanc, and Qantas. This model of Beretta’s 486 is his respectful re-interpretation of the traditional side-by-side shotgun with an innovative technological solution: the wood-bridge. In this design, the safety catch is seamlessly set into the walnut stock, rather than being on the end of the receiver.
The laser engravings, whilst quite different from the normal game scenes, pay homage to Asia, the homeland of the pheasant.
This pair of 20-bore guns come in their Beretta 486 by Marc Newson case and are numbered “1” and “2” in gold on the ribs, forend, and lower tang.
Weight 6lb. 12½oz., 15¾in. pull (14⅜in. stock), 30in. barrels, multi choke, 3in. chambers, Italian nitro proof.
Lot 258 – A .410 Hammer Gun by Rigby
Completed in October 1873 by John Rigby & Co as a ‘360 Double Rifle’ this gun has since been converted to a .410 shotgun. Whilst it is fairly common to find rook rifles converted to .410s (Lot 186 has even been re-converted to a .300 from a .410) this one was originally made for the Earl of Charleville.
Charles William Francis Bury, 4th Earl of Charleville, succeeded to the title in 1859. The family seat was Charleville Castle in County Offaly, one of the most celebrated Gothic-style castles in Ireland. He died childless at the age of 22 in Staten Island, New York, in 1874.
The Bonhams’ catalogue lists the following on this lot: Jones patent rotary-underlever, rebounding backlocks, dolphin hammers with safety catches, foliate-scroll engraving, the figured stock with cheek-piece and steel butt-plate, the barrels with file-cut rib engraved John Rigby & Co., Dublin & London in Gothic script.
Weight 5lb. 8oz., 15⅛in. stock, 24in. barrels, approx both cyl., 3in. chambers, Birmingham nitro reproof.
Lot 352 – An 88-Bore Percussion Six-Shot Revolver by Purdey
This extremely rare and fine 88-bore percussion hand-rotated double-hammer six-shot revolver was made by James Purdey when he was based in 314½ Oxford Street, London, in circa 1835. Only two such six-shot double-hammer revolvers are recorded, this one numbered 21, and another numbered 26. The sales ledgers at Purdey do not convey how many of these were made, and only one account has been identified that may refer to them. ‘August 1834 – A 6 barrelled pistol – £12.12.0d.’ – a price that reflects the superior quality of this pistol in comparison to a standard one.
Lot 345 – A .34 Percussion Colt Paterson Revolver
Estimated at £200,000 – £300,000 this exceptionally rare cased deluxe .34 percussion Colt Paterson no. 2 belt model revolver was initially found by Bonham specialist during a routine house clearance in 2002. It was sold in the same year by Bonhams for what was then a European record (£222,500 including buyer’s premium).
Made in circa 1840, it is unknown how this revolver ended up in the UK. This pistol bears the serial number 576 and is considered one of the finest two surviving Colt Paterson no. 2 belt model revolvers in the world; the other one is known as the Serri Paterson.
Head over to the Bonhams website to view the catalogue. There are great number of interesting lots in this auction so it is well worth the time looking through it.
