Gavin Gardiner’s Forthcoming Auction

GAVIN GARDINER LTD’S AUCTION OF
MODERN & VINTAGE SPORTING GUNS & RIFLES
REFLECTS THE STUNNING CRAFTSMANSHIP OF
TODAY’S UK GUNMAKERS

Gavin Gardiner’s first sale of 2018 on Wednesday,
April 18 at Sotheby’s, New Bond Street, London W1A
2AA is highlighted by two magnificent guns that showcase
the wonderful gunmaking talent in the UK today.

A collection of around a dozen guns by London gunmaker
Frederick Beesley, includes the magnificent Presentation
quality Dinosaur gun, that was among the last guns
completed by this maker in 2006 and appears virtually
unused. Estimated to fetch £30,000-£40,000, the gun is
engraved by Bill Sinclair and its construction utilises the
talent of many of the finest gunmakers working in the trade
today. Comprising a Holland & Holland type self-opening
mechanism, the left lock is engraved with a mammoth against a wooded landscape, while the
action base is adorned with a flying pterodactyl above a
smoking volcano and the right lock is engraved with a
running deinonychus.

From over the border, is a fine pair of 12-Bore “Creative
Art” engraved single trigger round action over and under
ejector guns by Scottish maker David McKay Brown.
Engraved with large Scottish scrollwork, the maker’s name
is signed within a panel. Carrying an estimate of £30,000-
£50,000, the maker confirms that the guns were built in
2003 and appear relatively little used and retaining virtually
all of their original finish.

Among the rifles are two interesting examples by Londonmaker
John Rigby & Co. A scarce .470 nitro express
sidelock ejector big game rifle, that the maker confirms
was built in 1918 and has been in store for a good number
of years is estimated at £14,000-18,000, while a fine .350
bolt-action sporting rifle which appears relatively little
used and was built in 1927 is expected to fetch £4,000-
6,000.

The auction of more than 200 lots of vintage sporting
guns, rifles and shooting accessories, is the only sale of
Sporting Guns to be held in the heart of London’s Mayfair.

For the first time, Gavin Gardiner has produced a series of short films on his forthcoming
auction discussing auction highlights and tips on buying at auction.