Just one week until Holt’s Auctioneers’ next sale of fine modern and antique guns

Collectors from all over the world are preparing to descend on London in preparation for Holt’s Auctioneers’ next sale of fine modern and antique guns, which is set to take place on Thursday 15th September.

The third of their quarterly main auctions of the year, there will be more than 700 Lots available including shotguns, rifles, edged weapons and associated sporting ephemera.

Join the team for drinks and browse Lots in advance of the auction on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th September at Princess Louise House in Hammersmith.

If you wish to attend, please email nicola@holtsauctioneers.com so that your name can be given to door staff. On the day you will be required to present photo ID. Without ID you will not be able to enter the premises. Or alternatively, save time checking-in by applying for a free Client Card. Embossed with your name and unique number, clients can simply swipe the credit card-sized plastic card at the front desk when registering for a paddle to help speed up the process.

For more information, visit: holtsauctioneers.com.

Lot 1300: Pair of rare 16-bore Woodward shotguns

Holt’s Auctioneers is selling a rare pair of 16-bore single-trigger over-and-under sidelock ejector shotguns made by London gunmaker J. Woodward & Sons in 1913, each with two sets of barrels.

Often known at the “gunmaker’s gunmaker”, James Woodward was in business in 1874 until acquired by James Purdey & Son in 1948. The company produced its first over-and-under in 1913, a design highly regarded for its grace and elegance. Nicholas Holt explains why these shotguns command such interest: “These guns are only one of five pairs of 16-bores ever built. They have only come up on the market because sadly the owner has died. I shot with him at Sandringham many times and they never let him down.”

The shotguns feature 26 7/8in. nitro chopperlump barrels, solid raised matt top-ribs gold-inlaid '1' and '2', bead fore-sights, side-ribs, over barrels engraved 'JAMES WOODWARD & SONS. 64, ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both (No.1) and 1/4 and 1/2 choke (No.2); Additional 30in. nitro chopperlump barrels, solid raised matt top-ribs gold-inlaid '0 1' and '2', bead fore-sights, side-ribs, over barrels engraved 'JAMES WOODWARD & SONS. 64, ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON. ENGLAND', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both (No.1), under wall at 18, and 3/4 choke in both (No.2); actions incorporating C.L. Woodward, W.P. Evershed and C. Hill patents 4986 and 9562 of 27th February 1913, hold-open toplevers gold-inlaid with English partridge and '1' and a snipe and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, carved fences, side bolsters, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, Woodward patent non-selective single triggers, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, the undersides engraved 'WOODWARD PATENT UNDER & OVER' and gold-inlaid with a further partridge (No.1) and a mallard (No.2), converted to Miller patent selective single triggers with replacement rolled-edge triggerguards, (original double triggers and triggerguards in the case), retaining very slight traces of original finish, 13 3/4in. well-figured replacement Prince of Wales semi-pistolgrip stocks with horn pistolgrip-caps, bolstered fore-ends with Deeley & Edge patent release catches gold-inlaid '1' and '2', weight 6lb. 6oz. (original barrels) and 6lb. 10oz. (additional barrels), in their re-lined brass-cornered oak and leather case (with original serial numbered striker pots), the extra barrels in their original leather barrel case.

Estimate: £20,000-30,000.
For sale in London on Thursday 15th September.

For press enquiries, contact Selena Barr at Tweed Media via selena@tweed-media.com.

Lot 1518: An antique 16-bore Reilly 
hammergun in full working order

Holt’s Auctioneers is selling a 16-bore single-barrelled toplever hammergun made by London gunmaker E. M. Reilly around 130 years ago.
 
Chris Beaumont explains why this hammergun caught his eye when cataloging in excess of 800 Lots for the September auction: “For a gun to capture the imagination and pluck at the heart strings, it doesn’t have to be expensive, ornate - or even have two barrels. This little Reilly 16-bore is being offered at just £300 - but it’s one of my favourites in the auction. Even with the proof marks dating it to pre-1887, it still remains in perfectly shootable order (though not nitro proofed) and it has so many nice quality touches to it how could it not appeal? A floating lockplate as usually associated with Purdey, very nicely patterned damascus barrel - horn finial and an early rendition of the ubiquitous Anson push rod fore-end release. To me, it conjures up thoughts of sitting in the woods, Thermos of tea to hand and thoughts of pigeon for supper.”

The gun features a 27 5/8in. black powder only bold damascus barrel, the breech end with short sight flat engraved 'E.M. REILLY & CO. 277 OXFORD STREET, LONDON.', 2 1/2in. chamber, bored approx. 1/2 choke, carved percussion fence, rebounding back-action 'island' lock, fine border and acanthus scroll engraving, retaining slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 1/4in. stock, fore-end with Anson push rod release catch and horn finial, weight 4lb. 11oz.

Estimate: £300-500.

For sale in London on Thursday 15th September.

For press enquiries, contact Selena Barr at Tweed Media via selena@tweed-media.com.

Lot 1084: A stunning gold, pearl and diamond .223 necklace

Holt’s Auctioneers is selling a unique gold, pearl and diamond necklace in the form of a .223 cartridge.
 
Chris Beaumont commented why this one-off necklace caught his eye: “This has to be one of the most unusual items we’ve had through our auction room for a long time. It is nothing less than we would expect from one of our most imaginative gunmakers - Giles Whittome, the man responsible for the extraordinary 2-bore falling block sporting rifle he built for the Royal Armouries to commemorate the Second Millennium. The evocative ‘bullet’ shape of a pearl was irresistible to the gunmaker in him and this unique little bibelot eventuated!”

English gunmaker Giles Whittome explained how he came by the natural pearl: “In the late fifties I was living and working for in Mtwara, a seaport of Tanganyika, eastern Africa. My house was 50 yards from the beach, and the local fishermen used to bump up their income by dragging up the odd oyster, and they used to offer me any pearls they found. There is absolutely no way that this one is cultivated, indeed they were thinking of throwing it away because of its odd shape. As a big game hunter, I wanted this because of the bullet shape (fairly close to a bullet from a .223) and when I eventually came back to England I paired it with an empty .223 cartridge case and gave them to Geoffrey Turk, the society jeweller, and asked him to make something of it. The result is hallmarked as 18 carat and with Geoffrey's initials. The chain is also 18 carat. The primer is a faceted diamond. The cartridge case is also gold.”

Estimate: £800-1,200.

For sale in London on Thursday 15th September.

Win one of five shooting lessons by presenting Holt’s Auctioneers’ client card at London Shooting Show

The first five people to present their Holt’s Auctioneers client card at Holt’s stand at The London Shooting Show, held at the West London Shooting School on Friday 16 September, will win a private shooting lesson worth £126. The lesson will last for one hour and must be taken on the day.
 
Client cards save time checking-in when visiting Holt’s Auctioneers premises in London. Embossed with a unique number, clients simply swipe the credit card-sized plastic card at the front desk when registering for a paddle to help speed up the process.

Throughout the two-day show, the team from Holt’s Auctioneers will be on hand to offer free appraisals and advice on consigning for auction. Holt’s can also offer a more formal valuation service for insurance or probate requirements, just ask them for details.

Organised by The London Shooting Club, the inaugural show will be focused on game shooting as well as the products, services and clothing that will appeal to the experienced shooter and those aspiring to join-in fieldsports for the first time.

To apply for a free client card, email info@holtsauctioneers.com.

The next auction is Thursday 15 September in London.