Heritage Guns Update 16th May, 2024
I thought I should just touch base with you all now that the jetlag is fading after our trip back to the UK from The 25th Southern Side by Side Championship & Exhibition in North Carolina.
The show was fantastic: weather was very kind with only a little rain on the Wednesday setup and pretty much wall to wall sunshine for the 4 days of the show. Temperatures were in the mid 20’s and humidity wasn’t at all bad.
Footfall was good and I think all exhibitors had a good show, I certainly did with more than half my stock sold!
When we collected Pips, Tilly and Kiwi from the Kennels, they came out like corks out of a bottle and were delighted to get home to their normal creature comforts! Of course with the warm weather here, they are moulting like crazy, carpets and dog beds have mysteriously changed colour and of course they are loving their walks in the fresh spring countryside.
The first things I saw on my return was how much further along the trees and shrubs were than when we left. The wisteria on my workshop is looking amazing and with the hawthorn in bloom, the colours of the trees along our strip of woodland are fabulous.
Anyway, to guns…
I have left the remaining few guns behind in the USA with Bob Nay of MacNab Fine Firearms in Virginia and he will be marketing them through Guns International.
First up is a gorgeous 1890 Holland & Holland 1st Type Royal with two sets of barrels, both 30”, one 2 ½” Nitro and the other 3” Nitro (1200 bar). Presented in a leather case blocked for both sets of barrels. This is an absolutely delicious example of H&H’s premier model. It features the best level of engraving and with its two sets of barrels can handle everything from soft, 2 ½” x 3/4oz up to the occasional 3” wildfowling load (not Superior Steel).
Holland & Holland Royal 12b SLE no 12561
Holland & Holland Royal 12b SLE no 12561 in its leather case with both barrel sets.
Then we have
the spectacular, true pair of James Purdey hammerguns in their original,
relined case. To find a complete pair of hammerguns is very rare indeed and we
restored these in parallel to maintain the true pair ethos and keep them
exactly the same in all respects. I know that pairs of guns aren’t everybody’s
cup of tea but these guns’ rarity and magnificence makes them a must for any
serious double gun collector. They would make a fantastic pair of travelling guns:
beautifully simple, of the highest quality and surely would be the stand-out
guns in any shooting event. Furthermore they are compatible with standard pressure,
steel shot cartridges.
1871
Pair of James Purdey 12b Hammerguns no. 8521 & 8522
Next, with lots of original colour, chopperlump Whitworth
steel barrels and a very smart ‘Rifle Green’ relined case is another Holland
& Holland Royal 12b. Nitro reproof 30” x 2 ½” x Cyl/IC
and a 15 3/8” replacement highly figured stock.
1891
Holland & Holland 12b Royal SLE no 12860
1891
H&H no. 12860 in its Leather and Brass case.
Lastly, we are still looking for a suitable guardian for the lovely William Powell SLE no 9622. This gun is not only a fascinating insight into the way the bespoke gun trade worked but also a truly lovely gun. If you haven’t heard about this gun: it was ordered with non-functioning hammers and various other features of the hammergun era. These hammers were easily removeable so we have put them safely in their case and made up engraved blanking plugs for the mounting posts. They can easily be refitted if the new owner so wishes.
William Powell & Son 12b SLE no 9622 (with hammers fitted)
William Powell & Son 12b SLE no 9622 (with hammers replaced by engraved blanking discs)
Well, that is about it for now.
Keep safe and enjoy the spring!
Very best regards,
Toby Barclay
Historic Guns For The Modern Sportsman
