A RARE BOSS & CO. .500 (3IN. BLACK POWDER EXPRESS) ROTARY-UNDERLEVER DOUBLE HAMMER RIFLE, serial no. 3044, 28in. black powder only barrels with Henry rifling, initialled JP (for John Portlock), matt rib engraved 'BOSS & CO. 73 ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON.', bead fore-sight and folding-leaf rear-sight, Jones patent rotary-underlever, carved percussion fences, non-rebounding back-action locks with bolted dolphin hammers (one with broken spur), best border and fine scroll engraving, retaining virtually full renewed colour-hardened finish, skeletal pistolgrip, 15in. highly figured stock with cheek-piece, sling eyes and chequered steel butt-plate, weight 9lb. 14oz. The makers have kindly confirmed that the rifle was completed in 1872 for Charles Heneage Esq.
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AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 8.5MM GABBET-FAIRFAX 'MARS' SELF-LOADING PISTOL, serial no. 47, 11 1/4in. overall, with blued barrel with raised sighting rib engraved 'MARS PISTOL 8.5MM', round rotating bolt with twin cocking lugs, blued frame with two long cylinders housing the recoil springs extending under the barrel, bright hammer, grooved trigger, magazine with lanyard-ring, smooth walnut grips, and some original blued finish. Footnote: The Mars pistol was developed in 1900 by Hugh Gabbet-Fairfax and was available in 8.5mm, 9mm and .45 (both long & short chambering). The first twelve prototypes were made by Webley & Scott under the direction of William Whiting who went on to design Webley’s successful series of self-loading pistols. The Mars was noted for having exceptional ballistics in their day, the .45 being the most powerful pistol in the world for a time. Gabbet-Fairfax was declared bankrupt by 1903 and production was resumed by the Mars Pistol Syndicate although this too suffered bankruptcy in 1907. It is not known exactly how many Mars pistols were manufactured during it’s troubled life, most estimates being around 60 although one pistol is known with a serial number of 195. The British War Office tested the pistol as a possible replacement for the .455 Webley service revolver but ultimately rejected it due to excessive recoil, muzzle-flash, and the complexity of its long recoil design. It was also noted that the spent cases were ejected out of the back of the pistol – directly into the face of the firer. Brian Boyan, owner of Worcester Gunsmiths, retired this year after more than 40 years in the gun trade. His life mirrors the development of guns and shooting since the end of the Second World War. He spent 12 years as Winchester’s gunsmith, making kickers and undertaking 2,000 repairs in that time. It is not surprising that his favourite Winchester model is the 101 – a gun that was a landmark in the post-war history of the shotgun. “It was the best gun they ever made,” says Brian. “Everything else stems from that gun.” Winchester made a line of these guns in the 1970s and 1980s. They were all made in Japan and are all extremely good quality. The model included a field grade, pigeon grade, and diamond grade with an XTR and lightweight thrown in for good measure. All are over/under, break-action guns. Some came in three barrel sets of different gauges. One of the models that firmly established the over-and-under concept as the gun of choice for competition clay shooting, it was not especially radical in design terms, being loosely based on the Browning B25, but it handled well, was affordable and came with Japanese build quality. Since the closure of the plant in Japan, the name has lain fallow. At first an engineer, Brian learnt his trade with Dr MK Durek, a Czech who worked at Webley & Scott in Birmingham and who designed pistols for them. Pistols are one of Brian’s great loves and he has two important lots in this sale – lot 302, the desirable London made Colt Navy percussion revolver, serial number three and lot 333, the rare Mars pistol. After founding Worcester Gunsmiths in 1958, Brian went on to compete in standard and free pistol events at an international level. A former secretary of the North Worcester Rifle & Revolver Club when Sir Gerald Nabarro was chairman, Brian was British Class B champion in 1961. He complains, however, that all the internationals he took part in were shot in this country – he never had the opportunity to compete abroad! Brian’s knowledge of gunmaking and the trade spans two generations. In his archive, Brian has the original blueprints of the WW Greener St George’s gun. The firm's famous St George exhibition guns were built in the early 20th century with carved St George and the Dragon motifs. It was one of Greener’s “G guns”, whose genesis came in 1881, when WW patented his Self-Acting Ejector (no 2003). It was the Birmingham firm's first G gun, an amalgam of Greener's 1880 patent (n
A RARE WEBLEY .455 FOSBERY (SMALL FRAME) SIX-SHOT SELF-COCKING AUTOMATIC REVOLVER, serial no. 1194, 7 1/2in. blued Cordite barrel, blued grooved cylinder, action and frame, replacement chequered walnut grips, sold with a copy of the H.B.S.A. reprint of the Webley & Scott Ltd. booklet ‘The Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver. Description and Instructions’. Footnote: This revolver was completed on 28th July 1903. Literature: Gordon Bruce, Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols, p. 85.
A RARE AND VIRTUALLY UNUSED WESTLEY RICHARDS 'W.R. .318 ACCELERATED EXPRESS' SINGLE-TRIGGER 'OVUNDO' SIDEPLATED DETACHABLE-LOCK OVER AND UNDER EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 17891, 26in. nitro barrels with matt sight rib, silver-inlaid leaf sights for 100, 200 and 300 yards and block-mounted bead foresight with flip-up moonsight and patent fold-away protector, the breech-end mounted with a Zeiss Diavari-C 3...9x36 telescopic sight in quick-detachable mounts, side rib engraved 'WESTLEY RICHARDS 23 CONDUIT ST. LONDON. GUN MAKERS BY APPOINTMENT TO H.M. THE KING "OVUNDO"', and 'OVUNDO SYSTEM REGD.NO. 351045 / 1913', 'PAT 170703 / 1920', and with sling swivel, the tubes engraved 'W.R. .318 ACCELERATED EXPRESS. 37 / 250 GRS', treble-grip action incorporating Westley Richards (J. Deeley and LB Taylor) improved patent detachable locks, patent no. 17731 of 28 June 1897, use number 3301, with additional L.B. Taylor and Westley Richards patent pivoted firing pins, patent no. 9410 of 16th April 1914 and patent concealed extension and hook mechanism, patent no. 8853 of 8th April 1914, Westley Richards patent toplever, patent selective 'One Trigger' single trigger, bolted automatic safety, hinged floorplate, sidelocks with flush, concealed hinged viewing panels, the action, sideplates and furniture profusely engraved with bold acanthus scrollwork on a matt background, with beaded borders, the floorplate engraved with the maker's name, model designation and a prowling tiger, retaining some original finish, 14 3/8in. figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, sling swivel, engraved and colour-hardened pistolgrip-cap (with trap containing spare firing pins and foresight), including 1in. rubber recoil pad, weight 9lb. 13oz., in its brass-cornered, leather-bound oak case
**A RARE PRE-WAR MAUSER 8X60 'AFRICAN MODEL' BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 103696 for 1930, 27 5/8in. barrel with German commercial proof marks, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight, windage adjustable tangent rear-sight calibrated to 1,000 metres, magazine floor-plate with lever-type release, 14 1/4in. pistolgrip stock with raised cheek-piece, chequered grip, schnabel fore-end and rare over-barrel hand-guard, Mauser horn butt-plate (chipped), and iron sling mounts. Footnote: Please note VAT at 17.5% is applicable on the hammer price and buyers premium.
A FINE AND RARE J.P. SAUER & SOHN 7X57R SINGLE-BARRELLED BOXLOCK NON-EJECTOR RIFLE, serial no. 273486, 23 3/4in. nitro two-stage octagonal to round barrel with matt sight rib, open sights and ramp-mounted bead foresight, the breech-end mounted with a Hensoldt-Wetzlar Dialytan 4x telescopic sight in quick-detachable mounts, treble-grip action with side-bolsters, manual safety, set triggers, border engraving, retaining virtually full colour-hardening and finish (renewed), 14 5/8in. well-figured replacement semi-pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece and horn buttplate, weight 7lb. 1oz., in a canvas case The rifle has been completely refurbished to a very high standard and has been re-bored and re-chambered to 7x57R from 6.5x58R Sauer
A FINE AND RARE JOHN WILKES .410 (3IN MAGNUM) SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 15246, 26in. nitro chopperlump barrels, the rib gold-inlaid 'JOHN WILKES' and engraved '79, BEAK STREET. LONDON. W1.', and with scroll engraving and a gold line at the breech-end, 3in. chambers, bored approx. 1/2 and full choke, exquisitely proportioned petite action with automatic safety, gold-washed triggers, rolled-edge triggerguard, gold-washed internals, the action, lockplates and triggerguard neatly embellished with gold lines, scrollwork and crossed chequerboard detailing, the maker's name also in gold, the action and fences with best fine scroll engraving, retaining virtually full colour-hardening and finish, the fore-end iron decorated en-suite, 14 1/2in. very highly-figured stock, weight 4lb. 13oz., in a leather lightweight case. The gun was completed circa 1986 and appears to be virtually unused
A RARE J. PURDEY & SONS 12-BORE DOUBLE-TRIGGER OVER AND UNDER SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 23157, 29in. nitro barrels with raised game rib, ivorine bead foresight and intermediate bead sight, rib engraved 'J. PURDEY & SONS. AUDLEY HOUSE. SOUTH AUDLEY STREET. LONDON. MADE OF SIR JOSEPH WHITWORTH'S FLUID PRESSED STEEL.' 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 3/4 choke, sextuple-grip action with carved fences, automatic safety, cocking-indicators, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, bright finish overall with blued pins, 14 3/4in. well-figured pistolgrip stock with engraved and blued pistolgrip-cap and 7/8in. leather-covered recoil pad, slight crack at hand, weight 7lb. 10oz., in its leather case. The maker's have kindly confirmed that the gun was completed on 17th December 1926 for a Mr Abbas Djalal Footnote: The gun is an example of the first generation of Purdey over and under guns, inspired by a design by Green of Cheltenham. The gun would later be developed to a quadruple-grip action. Approximately eighteen guns in total were made on the Green principle before the outbreak of WWII. In 1948 Purdey's acquired the company and trappings of James Woodward & Sons and subsequent over and under guns were built on the Woodward design
A RARE HOLLAND & HOLLAND 12-BORE 'DUPLEX' BOXLOCK EJECTOR 'ZEPPELIN' GUN, serial no. 83306 / 28885, 30in. nitro reproved barrels with matt Churchill rib, tubes with scrollwork at the breech-ends and engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND, 98 NEW BOND STREET. LONDON. PATENT "DUPLEX" CHOKE, 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl and 1/2 choke, bolstered treble-grip Webley action, border and scroll engraving, removable striker discs, bright finish overall, 14in. figured stock including horn buttplate, weight 6lb. 12oz. Footnote: The maker's records list the gun as being a Webley & Scott grade three proprietry pigeon gun. It is recorded as being one of a group supplied to the Admiralty in 1915. The 'Duplex' choked shotguns, combined with chain-shot cartridges (see insert in illustration) were used in aerial combat against enemy airships (following the same principle as chain shot for use in cannons)
A RARE G.E. LEWIS 12-BORE LIGHTWEIGHT 'ARIEL' BOXLOCK NON-EJECTOR, serial no. 13080, 28in. nitro reproved barrels with sunken rib, tubes engraved 'G.E. LEWIS & SONS. 13080. 32 & 33 LOWER LOVEDAY ST. BIRMINGHAM.', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. imp cyl and 1/4 choke, treble-grip action with beaded border and bold scroll engraving, the toplever gold-inlaid 'ARIEL', automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, retaining traces of colour-hardening, 15in. highly-figured semi-pistolgrip stock with teardrops, 1in. wood extension and horn buttplate, Deeley and Edge fore-end release catch, weight 6lb. 4oz. Footnote: The Ariel was released by G.E. Lewis in the 1920's when it became apparent that there was a market for lightweight guns, marked by the success of the Churchill XXV lightweight gun. The barrel length of 28in. was standard, although shorter barrels were available if requested. The 'Ariel' was promoted as an ideal gun for use "in a hot climate", especially as it had the advantage of having "a larger killing circle than a smaller bore of the same weight".
A rare ‘Lucille Ltd’ velvet ‘piano’ dress circa 1919 labelled Lucille Ltd 11. rue de Penthiere Paris of black velvetwith boat neckline falling in gentle gathers to broad waistband the wide kimono-like sleeves of contrasting ivory crêpe de chine applied with black ribbon ‘piano keys’ vertical plain ivory band to right skirt seam; with matching stole bust approx 97cm 38in (2) Exhibited: British Titanic Society Convention October 2003. The Lucille Ltd label was used in garments produced in her Paris Salon between 1911 and 1923.
A rare Madeleine Vionnet blue knitted bodice late 1930s-early 1940s bearing thumb-print label with diagonal pattern diagonally inserted buttonholes and interesting shoulder construction bust 88cm 34 1/2in. A similar Voinnet knitted bodice in cream wool is currently on exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
A rare McLaren/Westwood black mohair ‘No Future’ jumper circa 1977 with black silk Seditionaries label of loose cobweb-like knit with rip-effect neckline with velcro fastenings numerous customised holes appliqued with scarlet wool skull with printed ‘No Future maximum penalty £5 Sex Pistols’ silk ribbons chest 127cm 50in
A rare Westwood/Mclaren ‘Scum’ t-shirt 1977 bearing SEX Original and black Seditionaries labels the customised t-shirt of pink cotton with slashed widen neckline the sleeves removed the word ‘Scum’ daubed in red across the front above typescript text entitled You’re Gonna Wake Up One Morning and Know What Side of the Bed You’ve Been Lying On! chest 86cm 34in
A fine and rare embroidered ‘shorthand’ sampler by Margaret Griffith probably Welsh dated 1834 worked in twisted silks on a beige gauze ground with central manor house with curving path leading to a lawn with giant peacock and outsized dove prowling lion a lioness and her cubs a top-hatted gentleman stands at the gate and admires an elegant lady in blue gown with small Welsh bonnet hair-comb ringlets or veil elaborate gates and tiled paths with fruiting arbours each with perching squirrel within scrolling long and short stitch border of brown and cream roses and deep green foliage the central tablet embroidered in black silks with two verses from the New Testament John VI 27 and 2.Corinthians V 10 49 by 58cm 19 by 23in. This sampler is unusual for its size and extra-ordinarily ambitious and entertaining design. The brown wool gauze ground is also rare.
A pair of rare Chinese export pugs, Quinlong, circa 1760, each seated, with brown painted hair, with black pupils on white eyes, and with red collar suspending gilt bell (2) 18cm high Literature: David S Howard 'The Choice of the Private Trader: The Private Market in Chinese Export Porcelain illustrated from the Hodroff Collection', number 331. David S Howard 'A Tale of Three Cities: Canton, Shanghai & Hong Kong", number 177 This type of pug was not as popular as spaniels. This pair has long ears, without European clipped ears.
Borchalu Kazak rug south west Caucasus mid 19th century 5ft.3in. x 4ft.6in. 1.60m. x 1.37m. Overall uneven wear heavy in places crude repiling. A Borchalu Kazak of the same rare group but in somewhat better condition also with green ground and with the same main border pattern but on yellow rather than red was sold Sotheby’s London 27 April 2005 lot 16.
Shirvan long rug east Caucasus second half 19th century 8ft.3in. x 3ft.9in. 2.51m. x 1.14m. Overall uneven wear heavy down centre with small areas of damage canvas glued to back. Rugs with this ‘triple medachyl’ border are rare; see Bennett & Bassoul Tapis du Caucase p. 196 pl. 69 for another example with a more usual Shirvan field design./t
Rare Karabakh or Kazak long rug south west Caucasus early 19th century 9ft.4in. x 4ft.2in. 2.85m. x 1.27m. Brown ground corroded overall wear small holes kinks. This remarkable long rug has a repeat palmette closely related to one found at either end of a rare group of ‘sunburst’ rugs the most famous example of which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum London (see Franses & Pinner: Victoria and Albert Museum The Caucasian Collection in Hali vol. 3 no. 2 fig. 7). The small pairs of facing stylised dragons above each palmette in yellow red brown turquoise and red are also reminiscent of this group of ‘sunburst’ rugs as well as earlier ‘dragon’ carpets.
ABERDEEN (probably) - a Scottish provincial mounted cowrie shell snuff box, circa 1825, maker probably J Begg or Barron, marked JB to the inside of the lid, of small size, with floral and prick-dot engraved decoration to the flat hinged cover, initialled EMAM Length 6.5cm As there is no town mark it is impossible to make a definite attribution, nevertheless it is felt that this is likely to be the mark of either J Begg or J Barron of Aberdeen. Holloware by either of these makers is rare. £200-400
AYR - a rare gold mounted souvenir brooch, with marks for Ayr circa 1900, maker John Lyle, marked J.LYL, AYR, of pointed oval outline, composed of oak carved with thistles and applied to the centre with a gold circular plaque engraved OAK OF THE AULD BRIG O' AYR 1252 and carved to depict the bridge, collet set with cannetille style mounts 5.5cm x 3.4cm The Auld Brig O' Ayr was made famous in the Robert Burns poem 'The Brigs of Ayr' in this poem the auld brig mocks the new brig saying "I'll be a brig when you're a useless cairn". This came true as the new brig was replaced in 1878. The Auld Brig was itself restored in the early part of the 1900's and this is presumably the source of wood for souvenirs such as this brooch. The Brig was originally built by a gift from two sisters whose fiancés, Sir Sandy Fraser and Richard of Kelburn, were swept away in the river whilst returning home after the great Scottish victory over the Norse fleet in 1263 led by Alexander III. After the death of their beloveds the sisters never married and their effigies are said to be still visible on the eastern parapet of the brig, although washed smooth and therefore hard to detect. £600-800
BANFF - a rare Scottish provincial snuff box, with marks for Banff circa 1810, maker John Keith, marked M, IK and B, to base and IK to inside of lid, the outline resembling a cowrie shell, with flat hinged cover and prick-dot engraved borders around the central harebell engraved oval, initialled JR in script, with reeded and scalloped borders to sides Maximum length 9.5cm Of very unusual form, believed to be one of only very few fully marked Banff boxes. Other Banff snuff boxes are known (one a cowrie shell) but these are only marked with maker's marks. See also the two Banff vinaigrettes in this collection which are also struck with maker's marks only. £4,000-6000
A rare George III Scottish nutmeg grater, circa 1784 - 1786, marked with Edinburgh town mark and incuse duty head circa 1784 - 86 only (no maker's mark apparent), of egg-shaped form, with engraved crest to one end incorporating a cockerel surmounted by the motto COURAGE Height 4.4cm, diameter 2.7cm Crest is that of either Dounie or Downie. £400-600
A very rare near pair of pipe smoking Staffordshire spaniels circa 1850, each seated with separately moulded front legs, with russet patched decoration, black muzzle and gilt collar and holding a pipe in its mouth, each raised on blue painted, scroll moulded, oval plinth base 8.25" high (2). These models were inspired by the prints of Sir Edwin Landseer, notably his 1840 print entitled "A Quiet Pipe" showing a hound enjoying a clay pipe of tobacco
A rare Furstenberg tea and coffee service, decorated flower sprays and blooms within gilt foliated cartouches comprising: a pear-shaped coffee pot and cover; a large teapot and cover; a small teapot and cover; a slop bowl; a milk jug and cover; a tea caddy and cover; a sugar bowl and cover; a lobed dish; two lobed teapot stands; four coffee cups; four saucers; eight tea cups; and eight saucers, (various damage), F marks in underglazed blue, incised and impressed numerals c.1775. (40).
Hunting Interest: a large and rare Chinese famille rose hunting bowl the interior painted with a frieze with seven mounted huntsman and a large pack of hounds encircling a fox the exterior with panels of Chinese figures hunting a tiger and in other pursuits on a cell-diaper ground. c.1760-70. Some restoration. 40cm.
A rare set of four Delft Grace plates dated 1747 each painted in blue with small panels of flowers the centres with hexagonal panels inscribed '(2) Give Thanks before you eat’ '(3) To Him that always give’ '(4) The mercies you recieue’ '(5) And crave fuch blefings may’ all dated 1747 and initialed 'HRM’ each reserved on a manganese ground. One plate damaged. 18cm. (4)
A Rare Martin Brothers stoneware Monkey vase and cover by Robert Wallace Martin modelled on haunches with arms resting in front with forward looking stare in shades of brown blue and ochre incised R W Martin & Bros London & Southall to head and to the back of base R W Martin & Bros London restored rims 27cm. high
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