doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com UK gun auctions

My wife and I are planning a trip to the UK this late winter/early spring and thought it might be fun to attend a gun auction. Does anyone know who, where, and when one might be held in this time frame? Thanks in advance, Don Hansen.

take a look at the auction link on Digg's page, it is how I keep track of the UK auctions.

http://www.vintageguns.co.uk/

SKB should be able to advise the cost to complete the paper work required to ship a shotgun from the U.K. to the U.S.A. Based on a recent post by SKB on this forum it appears that the cost will be be in the range of $6-800.approx.SKB also points out that considerable delays can be expected in gaining the neccessary approvals.

Don: Holt's, Bonhams, Gavin Gardiner all have auctions scheduled for the Spring 2010. Also there is the CLA Game Fair 23-25 July, 2010 at Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire. http://www.gamefair.co.uk

Diggory Hadoke at http://www.vintageguns.co.uk or John Farugia at http://www.cheshiregunroom.com can both handle the paperwork, customs and shipping.

Best Regards, George

Hello gents. UK auctions tend to be in the third month of each quarter, so may not match up with any plans with the CLA Game Fair in 2010. Holts currently indicate the following dates -

Forthcoming Sale Dates:

Thursday 25th March 2010
Thursday 24th June 2010
Thursday 23rd September 2010
Thursday 16th December 2010

and also remember that some have viewing days/evenings before the sale which allows you ample time to check out what is for sale. I attend each the Holts viewing evenings with keen interest each time they come around.

If it helps, the CLA Game Fair is not only superb fun to attend, but actually has a significant number of quality gunsmiths in Gunmakers Row. Although auctions will afford the opportunity to see, handle, purchase (!) anything from a £10 broken stock to a £120k trio of Purdeys, the Game Fair (in my limited experience) is likely to have more numbers of "affordable" English guns on sale. I purchased my own EM Reilly 1870 hammergun at this years Game Fair which was not something I was intending to do after 12+ months of auction watching!!

Final option - Holts have their auctions real time online so if you get up early, you can catch the sale from 02.30 PST! You can even now bid online which is a viable option when coupled with Diggory's inspection service.

Thanks to all of you for your replies! Am not sure what our schedule is but will post if I was successful on our return. Thanks again, Don Hansen.

Just a point of note. The CLA Game Fair is at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock next year.

T

If you do go to the Game Fair for guns then don't be afraid to haggle. Gun prices on some, if not most, of the stalls were way inflated. If you want a bargin they are there but you will have to work for them and make offers well under what is being asked. There is plenty of choice there and they want your money. Just don't pay the asking price. Lagopus.....

I attended the Game Fair this year and stayed the week after to do some clay shooting at Bisley, West London, Churchills and West Kent, and visited the London gunrooms (Purdey, H&H, William & Son, Beretta, William Evans) in the Mayfair area. All great fun. Stopped by Purdey's who kindly gave me the paperwork to get the 17.5% VAT tax refunded on my game fair purchases.

I also went to the Bonhams gun auction preview. It was interesting to see, particularly the 20 bore Boss with original 17" barrels once owned by the Guinesss family. Location is basically across the street from Harrods in Knightsbridge which is a fun place to visit as well.

DGM did you shoot on the Siberia course or The regular course on the main estate at Bisley? Just wondered because my cousin is the Shooting manager there.

T