May the bidding begin

There’s something just a little bit tantalising about an auction in any situation. Whether it’s the prospect of a genuine bargain or maybe the rare chance to get your hands on something very special, which hardly ever comes on to the market, this is not shopping as we usually know it.

Yes, of course there’s an element of risk and you have to judge your bids wisely. But when you see just this small selection of the superb sporting lots on offer in the Bonhams Sporting Gun sale on May 23 can you afford not to be involved? 

Joseph Manton 20 bore sidelock ejector

This modern 20 bore side-by-side from one of the most famous names in the business was completed in 2012 shortly after the Manton name was reincarnated by three like-minded passionate shooting men in Suffolk. It is numbered 11,501 and thus forms part of a pleasing continuation in this pantheon of British guns.

Manton lived from 1766 to 1835 and among those who worked for him were James Purdey, Thomas Boss and William Greener, so it’s not hard to see why he is often considered the father of modern gunmaking.

This gun has had very little use, hence its pristine condition. It is beautifully engraved with best bold foliate-scrollwork which is signed G. Moore on the trigger-plate. The chopper-lump barrels have a game rib engraved with “Joseph Manton, London” in gold inlay.

At a mere 6lb 3½oz and with 28 inch barrels this would be just the thing for grouse or early season partridge. But with ¾ & ⅞ choke and 2¾inch chambers (London nitro proof) you could just as easily use it for pulling down some superb pheasants in the height of the season.
It’s estimated at £18,000 to £25,000.

A pretty pair of McKay Browns

Modern day gunmaking genius David McKay Brown has confirmed this sumptuous pair of 12 bore Lee-engraved side-by-side, round-action ejectors was completed in 1990. They appear to have had little use and consequently they are in very good condition.

The toplevers, ribs and forend-tips are numbered '1' and '2' in gold and both guns have the maker's name in a scrolling banner and virtually full colour-hardening and highly-figured stocks. The guns weigh 6lb 6½oz, with 15-inch stocks and 27 inch barrels. They come in their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover, and have a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000.

They have the distinctive elegance of the round-action and will be hard to resist for fans of this form. It would be some sporting dream to travel to Scotland with this beautiful pair of guns and shoot driven pheasants with them in their homeland.

Triple barrel Tribute from Manton

From the same company as the 20 bore Joseph Manton featured above there is also this extremely rare Moore-engraved three barrelled 20 bore Tribute. This prototype gun is a single-trigger, assisted-opening sidelock, and it bears the serial no. 11502. Keen-eyed readers will note that makes it the next gun off the line after the 20 bore.

The bolstered action is elaborately engraved with best bold foliate-scrollwork and signed G. Moore on the trigger-plate, along with the maker's name and ‘Tribute’ in gold script. 

As you might expect with the extra barrel this gun weighs in at a lot more than the double barrel version but even so it’s still only 7lb.10oz, which makes it lighter than most sporters on the market today. This triple barrelled package of sporting intrigue and engineering flair has a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000.

A perfect little Purdey

This fine Smith-engraved 20 bore over-under sidelock ejector by J. Purdey & Sons carries the serial no. 29705 and was completed in 2000. The elaborate engraving depicts woodcock on one side and partridges on the other, both surrounded by bouquet and foliate-scrollwork.

There are gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, almost full colour-hardening, and the attractive stock has a pistol grip and cap. The 28 inch barrels are engraved J. Purdey & Sons, Audley House, South Audley Street, London, England and they have a file-cut ventilated top-rib.

The gun is London nitro proofed with 2¾ inch chambers and weighs a dainty 6lb. 5oz., with a 14 inch stock, 28 inch barrels and approximately ⅝ and ¼ choke. It is complete in a leather case with accessories and a canvas cover and has a guide price of £25,000 to £35,000. This could be your moment to put a gun from the most cherished name in the business in your cabinet.

For a full list of lots in this auction and for more information about viewing and bidding in person, online or by telephone visit the Bonhams Sporting Guns website here.