5 of the Best Guns on Sale at Bonhams

A treasure trove for the modern gun collector. There are two very good reasons to come to London on 18th May – not only is it The World Gunmakers’ Evening, held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, Knightsbridge, and organised by GunsOnPegs, but as if that wasn’t enough, the auction taking place at Bonham’s on the same day has some fantastic lots. With two or three sales every year of sporting guns, Bonhams is an Aladdin’s cave for the gun collector – or indeed, if you are looking for a shotgun or rifle.

We’ve selected five star lots in the forthcoming sale, which will be held on 18th May in Knightsbridge, London.

A fine 12-bore sidelock ejector gun by Boss & co.

This beautiful 12-bore shotgun from 1927 certainly lives up to the Boss name, with best bouquet and foliate scroll engraving with virtually full hardening colour, gold inlaid cocking indicators and a rolled-edge trigger guard. It has a highly figured 15 3/8in. stock and 29in barrels chambered for 2 3/4in cartridges.
Estimate: £12,000 - £16,000

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A fine .275 bolt-magazine rifle by J. Rigby & co.

From 1937 and still in remarkably good condition this rifle is a collectable and usable all time classic. It has a rich history, too, having been made for Captain Robert Arthur Heath M.C. in 1937. Captain Heath fought with the 5th Lancers during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross on 10 November 1918, the penultimate day of the war. This Mauser rifle has open sights for 100 and 300 yards as well as a Rigby peep sight. The flag safety is gold inlaid and the block mounted bead foresight has a leather protector, while the receiver has see-through telescope sight mount bases.
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000

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A fine .470 sidelock ejector rifle by J. Rigby & co.

Another rifle from Rigby, with an equally illustrious history, is this .470 Nitro Express big game rifle which was completed in 1912 for the Rt. Hon. Lord A. Browne. It has a treble-grip action body, carved fences and best bold foliate scroll engraving, the chopper-lump barrels have open sights for 100, 200 and 300 yards.

Lt. Col. Lord Alfred Eden Browne D.S.O. commanded the 186th Brigade of The Royal Artillery in WWI, during which time he was awarded his D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry, his citation states he "displayed great skill in artillery rearguard actions, remaining in action until the last moment, running it very fine on three occasions, and then withdrawing by batteries or sections at a time.
Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

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A rare 8-bore self-opening sidelock non-ejector wild-fowling gun by J. Purdey & Sons

This impressive 8-bore wildfowling gun that has a treble-grip action body with concealed third-bite and side clips, decorated with stylised acanthus leaves. Made in 1884, this gun has lovely 34in Damascus barrels and weighs a hefty 12lb.
Estimate: £20,000 - £25,000

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A fine and rare .461 (No. 1 Gibbs) 'Farquharson' falling-block match rifle by George Gibbs

Made in 1894, this rifle is another one with a fascinating history. Made for John Poyntz Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer before he was elected Liberal MP for South Northamptonshire at the age of 21. He became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1868 before becoming First Lord of the Admiralty and modernising the Navy’s armaments, including arming the marines with bolt-magazine rifles. Spencer also hosted the first N.R.A. competition to be held at Wimbledon Common and he was chairman of the NRA in 1867. The rifle has virtually full hardening colour and a side-mounted cocking lever. It has a 34 5/8in heavy match barrel and weighs 9lb 9oz.
Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

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For more information, visit www.bonhams.com/gun or telephone 44(0)20 7393 3815.