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Sporting Guns

Bonhams Sporting Gun department holds two auctions a year at our Knightsbridge auction room in London. We offer a fine and varied selection of best quality British, European and American shotguns, rifles and pistols by makers such as James Purdey, Holland & Holland, Boss, Woodward, Lebeau-Courally, Francotte, Bosis and numerous others. A variety of accessories - including cases, cartridge-magazines, cartridge display boards and books - are also included in these sales.

The market for sporting guns remains buoyant and our department has grown significantly in recent years, frequently achieving record prices to become one of the global leaders in this specialist field.

Buying and selling sporting guns at Bonhams
With offices and representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams gives buyers and sellers access to a global network of collectors and unparalleled marketing resources to achieve the highest price and level of client satisfaction possible. Contact a specialist directly for more information or submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

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Thinking of selling? Get a free auction estimate by submitting your item online or contacting your local Bonhams. With specialists based in towns and cities worldwide, we are your local auction house.

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Exceptional results

An extremely rare and fine Royal .450 (Black Powder Express) double-barrelled hammer rifle presented by Queen Victoria to John Brown, Christmas 1873, by Alexr. Henry, no. 3210 for 1873 In original fitted pig-skinned lined brass-mounted oak and leather case with nearly all the accessories including W. Bartram powder-flask with black leather-covered body, bullet mould and case-trimmer serial numbered to the rifle, capping/decapping tool, oil bottle and other items, the interior of the lid with makers trade label, the exterior stamped in gilt letters 'J. Brown Esq. H.M.P. Attendant, Balmoral'. Sold for £35,000 inc. premium
A very rare 9mm (Mars) self-loading pistol by Mars, retailed by Charles Lancaster, no. 37T With original magazine. Sold for £26,312.50 inc. premium
A very fine pair of Ken Hunt decorated 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 27397/8 In their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover. Sold for £47,750 inc. premium
A fine pair of Lee-engraved 12-bore round-action ejector guns by David McKay Brown, no. 7475/6 In their brass-mounted oak and leather case with canvas cover. Sold for £31,312.50 inc. premium
A fine and exceptionally rare chiselled and relief-engraved 12-bore sidelock hammer gun by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 10624. Sold for £15,250 inc. premium
A fine matched pair of 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by James Purdey & Sons, no. 18259 & 18259* In their leather motor case (handle broken, straps missing). Sold for £50,000 inc. premium
A rare 28-bore single-barrelled lightweight child's hammer gun by J. Purdey, no. 9691, Made for Prince Duleep Singh. Sold for £25,250 inc. premium
A fine 7.65x25mm System Borchardt patent C-93 self-loading pistol by Waffenfabrik Loewe, no. 881 With its original leather case, shoulder-stock holster, four wood-tipped magazines numbered to the gun and wooden accessories, some numbered to the gun. Sold for £23,812.50 inc. premium
A fine Ken Hunt-engraved 12-bore single-trigger sidelock ejector live pigeon gun by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 27177 In a leather motor case with J. Purdey & Sons trade-label. Sold for £25,250 inc. premium
A fine and extremely rare 12-bore side-opening over-and-under round-action ejector gun by J. Dickson & Son, no. 4178, The first of only four ever made. Sold for £57,500 inc. premium
A pair of 12-bore 'Royal' self-opening sidelock ejector guns by Holland & Holland, no. 40124/5 In their fine leather motorcase with trade label. Sold for £35,250 inc. premium
A fine Smith-engraved 20-bore single-trigger over-and-under sidelock ejector gun by J. Purdey & Sons, no. 29705 In its leather case with canvas cover and accessories. Sold for £51,312.50 inc. premium
A fine and rare 12-bore sidelock hammer ejector gun by Boss & Co., No. 4181 In a brass-mounted oak and leather case with Boss & Co. trade-label. Sold for £27,500 inc. premium

Find a specialist

Photo of Christopher Fox

Christopher Fox

Director

Christopher D. Fox is Bonhams Skinner's Vice President and Director of Historic Arms & Militaria and Associate Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts. He specializes in military and civil …

View profile of Christopher Fox

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