Six rifles owned by the Windsor-Clive family, descendants of “Clive of India”

In Holts Auctioneers’ forthcoming auction, buyers have the chance to purchase a group of six rifles owned by the Windsor-Clive family, direct descendants of Robert Clive, “Clive of India”, creator of the Indian Empire. Holts historian Donald Dallas, commented that Lots 1150-1155 are extremely noteworthy: “The Windsor-Clive rifles are special as they are from a very famous family in British history. They have been in the family since new and have never seen the light of day before. Most guns and rifles have been on the market before and it is rare to encounter a collection that has been in the same gunroom for over a century.” Robert Clive (1725–1774) was born near Market Drayton, into a small landowning family. In 1743, he was packed off to India, as a writer intent on playing a more prominent role, which he certainly achieved. Hailed by the British Prime Minister Pitt, as a “heaven born general”, Clive became the sole ruler of Bengal. His return to Calcutta in 1765 marked the beginning of Imperial rule in India. Lot 1150, Alexr. Henry & Co. .22LR 'WINCHESTER MODEL 1903' SELF-LOADING TAKE-DOWN SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 24953, features 20in. lined nitro reproved round barrel (muzzle marked 'ZERO LINED F. CLARKE') with open sights and bead fore-sight, engraved 'MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PAT. AUG. 27.01. FEB.25.02. FEB. 3.17. DEC. 22.03.' and '- WINCHESTER - TRADE MARK - MOD. 1903. .22 CAL. AUTOMATIC', the top of the blued receiver engraved 'ALEXr HENRY & CO. 18 FREDERICK ST. EDINBURGH.', the hand mounted with a folding adjustable peep sight, unchequered stock and fore-end, steel crescentic buttplate, 13 1/2in. pull, weight 5lb. 8oz. Estimate £100-£150 Lot 1151, MAUSER, RARE .22 SAVAGE HIGH-POWER 'KURZ-ACTION' BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 56358 / 3900 / 24059, features 24in. unsigned nitro barrel (Birmingham proof marks only) with block-mounted folding leaf sight and ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, barrel, underside of receiver and stock numbered 3900, unsigned receiver (with thumb cutout), the underside of receiver, stock and steel buttplate numbered 24059, further number 56358 to underside of receiver with bolt numbered 6358, trigger group, flag safety and bolt sleeve numbered 58, the bolt fitted with a Fraser patent adjustable folding peep sight, hinged floorplate with lever release, slim well-figured pistolgrip stock with horn pistolgrip-cap and fore-end finial, ovate insert to hand (likely cover for fitting a wrist mounted peepsight), sling eyes, 14 1/4in. pull including steel buttplate, weight 6lb. 3oz. Estimate £3,000-5,000 Lot 1152, JOHN RIGBY & CO. .303 CAL. BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 2620, features 25in. nitro barrel engraved 'JOHN RIGBY & CO. 72. ST. JAMES'S ST. LONDON.', block-mounted open sights with two folding leaf sights with white metal inlaid sight lines and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards and folding tangent sights to 1000 yards, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, mauser action number 63, receiver (with thumb cutout) marked 'WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER-OBERNDORF', flag safety, detachable straddle floorplate with push button release, semi-pistolgrip stock with sling eyes and steel buttplate, small crack to right side near bolt recess,14 1/2in. pull, weight 7lb. 8oz. Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this rifle was completed on 6th August 1906 for Lord Windsor. The records have it as a 'Mauser sporting best, action no. 63, 25in. barrel standard 2v +2 leaves and tang to 1000'. Estimate: £1,500-£2,000 Lot 1153, DANL. FRASER & CO. FINE 'THE FRASER "VELOX" 7.65MM FRASER (.303 MAUSER) TAKE-DOWN BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 3156, features 26in. nitro barrel engraved 'DANL. FRASER & CO. GUN & RIFLE MANUFACTURERS. 4 LEITH ST. TERRACE. EDINBURGH', block-mounted open sights with two folding leaf sights, finely file cut finish and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, receiver (with thumb cutout) with matted receiver ring, the rear engraved 'FITTED WITH FRASER'S PATENT TRIGGER ACTION', flag safety, the bolt with provision to fit a peep sight, detachable floorplate with military style release, the whole finely engraved with acanthus scrolls with ropework bordering, well-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, horn pistolgrip-cap, recessed sling eye, 14 3/8in. pull including chequered horn buttplate, bolstered fore-end with Henry type finial and Deeley & Edge patent release catch, weight 7lb. 6oz., in its brass-cornered oak-lined case with original labels, bone striker pot with spare take-down screws, firing pin and fore-sight, and with some accessories. Estimate: £3,000-£5,000 Lot 1154, DANL. FRASER & CO. FINE .400 / 360 (2 3/4IN.) NITRO EXPRESS BOXLOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 3163, features 26in. cordite proofed chopperlump barrels (proofed for .360, 40GRS CORDITE 300GRS BULLET MAX) with reinforced breeches, the breech end with fine acanthus scroll detailing, raised matt rib engraved 'DANL. FRASER & CO. GUN & RIFLE MANUFACTURERS. 4 LEITH ST. TERRACE. EDINBURGH.', open sights and two folding leaf sights, file cut finish with white metal inlaid sight lines and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, ramped bead fore-sight with flip-up moonsight, the breech end with telescopic sight mount bases, treble-grip action with side-clips and carved serpentine fences, removable striker discs, slender toplever, bolted automatic safety with white metal 'BOLTED' detail and gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, the hand mounted with a folding adjustable peep sight, fine acanthus scroll engraving with ropework bordering with the makers name in central scrolling banners, retaining much original colour-hardening and finish, gold-washed internals, 14 3/4in. well-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, horn pistolgrip-cap and buttplate, inset sling eyes, bolstered fore-end wood, weight 9lb. 10oz., in its brass-cornered oak-lined leather case with some accessories. Estimate: £6,000-£8,000

Lot 1155, JOHN RIGBY & CO. FINE .450 (3 1/4IN.) NITRO EXPRESS 1879 PATENT SIDELOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 16873, 28in. Krupp-steel nitro chopperlump barrels (cordite proved .450 EX. CORDITE 70 - 480MAX) with raised matt rib, carved in gothic script 'JOHN RIGBY & CO. 72 ST. JAMES'S ST. LONDON', and bold scroll engraving at the breech end, open sights with two folding leaf sights, white metal inlaid sight lines and marked for 100, 200 and 300 yards, ramped bead fore-sight, the tubes engraved 'SPECIAL .450 BORE BIG GAME RIFLE. FOR SPECIAL CORDITE CARTRIDGES & BULLET 480GRS', treble-grip action with Rigby & Bissell patent rising third bite, patent no. 1141 of 1879, use number 816, action face marked with patent use number and also number 2647, carved leaf fences, slender toplever, manual safety with button release and gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, removable striker discs, dipped-edge lockplates, chequered front trigger, fully engraved with bold foliate scroll engraving on a partially matted background, retaining much original colour-hardening, 14 5/8in. figured pistolgrip stock with engraved sling button, horn pistolgrip-cap and including 7/8in. rubber recoil pad, fore-end with Rigby patent screw-grip fore-end fastener, weight 10lb. 14oz., in its leather case with accessories, the lid outer marked 'LORD WINDSOR'. Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that this rifle was completed on 6th April 1906 for Lord Windsor, as a "...best top lever non ejector hammerless double rifle, pistol hand, vertical bolt, special smokeless', with 28in. barrels weighing 6lb. 8oz. with an overall weight of 10lb. 14oz.. Action number 2647.” Estimate: £10,000-£15,000 Holt’s Auctioneers’ next auction in London is on Thursday 22nd June 2017.