Five stunning lots to bid on in the Bonhams auction

Taking place at Bonhams Knightsbridge and online on December 3rd, this auction features a dazzling array of ancient and modern weapons and firearms, from Japanese swords to cannons and, of course, shotguns and rifles. Here are GunsOnPegs top picks from the sale.

 

 

These guns, made in 1968, are truly of exhibition quality, with the masterful deep relief engraving and gold inlay by Ken Hunt, who is justifiably recognised as one of England’s best engravers, having started working for Purdey as an apprentice at the age of 15. These are a beautiful example from his 60 year career and would be the prized centrepiece of many collections, for their art, workmanship and the quality of the gunsmithing.

 

 

Each gun is numbered on the toplevers, ribs and forends. The left lockplate low relief engraving shows differing wooded landscapes inhabited by chased gold-encrusted pheasants, one in flight. Similarly, the right lockplate features lakeside scenes inhabited by chased gold-encrusted wild-fowl. The front of each lockplate features foliate-scrollwork issuing from the mouth of a grotesque.

 

 

The underside of each action is engraved with a symmetrical design with chased gold-encrusted woodcock in flight, one viewed from above and the other from beneath. The trigger-guards are also engraved with a foliate design and feature a gold-encrusted pointer and gundog respectively. Each lockplate is signed 'K.C. Hunt'. The highly figured stocks complete a pair of beautiful and highly desirable guns.

 

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A fine 20-bore self-opening single-trigger sidelock ejector gun by J. Purdey & Sons, No. 26423

 

 

 

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

 

The makers have kindly confirmed the gun was completed in November 1953 for Mrs. Hopkins. It was repurchased by Purdey's in May 1975 when the stock was shortened and set, the toe rounded and the leather covered pad and gold oval fitted. The gun was resold the same year.

 

 

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An extremely rare 4-bore chamberless sidelever boxlock non-ejector wildfolwing gun by Frederic T. Baker

 

Double 4-bore guns are rare in any capacity, but in this configuration quite extraordinary. Whilst it will win no 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 by putting gas vents on the fences one could slightly mitigate the pressure on detonation, making it more comfortable to fire, without reducing the efficacy of the shot.

 

All in all a very unusual item, and being obsolete it relieves the need to hold it on a licence, unless of course you intend to fire it! This is a real oddity and a proper collector’s piece.

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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 of the 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."

Atkins 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.

 

This gun was built to Gough Thomas's very particular order and completed in 1948. The case contains the writer's spectacles and a pasted-in letter from Atkin to Gough Thomas in which it says 'Wishing you the best of good health and good shooting' and details the specifications of the gun.

The action-body is decorated with bold acanthus scrollwork on a matt background by Harry Kell, one of the greatest Victorian engravers, and the highly-figured stock was made by A. Hodges.

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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 never is this more evident than 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 hunter’s repertoire.

 

The toplever and forend carry the number '2' in gold. The rifle is elaborately decorated, with best bold foliate-scroll engraving, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, rolled-edge trigger-guard, and a well-figured pistol-grip stock. The pistolgrip-cap is engraved and the stock features a cheek-piece and a leather-covered recoil-pad.

The file-cut sighting-rib has open sights fixed for 50 & 300 yards and folding sights for 350 & 500 yards. The rifle is mounted with a Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 telescope-sight in quickly detachable-mounts engraved.