Steyr rifle with royal provenance achieves regal sum

Holt’s Auctioneers’ recently sold a fine Mannlicher Schoenauer ‘MOD 1924’ full-stocked take-down bolt-magazine sporting rifle made by iconic gunmaker Steyr in 1943 for the late King Alfonso XIII of Spain.

With an estimate of £3,500-4,500, Lot 1115 eventually sold for £6,400 to an anonymous international collector. In fact, 30% of the 684 Lots sold for above their top estimate in the September auction.

Holt’s Auctioneers’ Chris Beaumont enthused that this rifle is an excellent example of the ‘quality, condition and provenance’ credo auctioneers often refer to. He added: “This particular rifle was one of the best examples of its type we've ever seen - hardly surprising as it was made for the Royal Household of Spain. Royal commissions will almost certainly guarantee the highest level of workmanship because repeat orders - and the possibility of obtaining a Royal Warrant (or similar status) has long been the ambition of gunmakers the world over.

It's not simply the financial gain from such orders that matters - having the Royal seal of approval is hard to match when you are promoting your wares. This rifle was sold to an international collector - who I'm pleased to say makes a point of using what he buys. This rifle won't sit collecting dust but will be out in the field, working (albeit gently) for a living.” Holt’s Auctioneers’ next auction in London is on Thursday 8th December.