doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com CHARLTON HALL LADY'S & GENTS SPORTING SALE

Joe my WR 16ga made in 1882 has no dolls head and only one lump. It also has a heavier than normal proof.

I went to the Charlton Hall auction last year and will not go this year. I find that the owner of the auction is a nice person, he knows almost zero about guns. He has some very nice furniture and art to sell during the remainder of the year and he has excellent knowlege of art and furniture. It was a nice venue and was an excellent opporunity to meet old friends and make new ones, but that was about the whole value of the auction to me.

My take on the photos this year is that they are not as good as last year. The descriptions of the guns are so so, such as the Remington 1100 "pump action".

There were hardly any bargains there last year and I expect less this year. Sellers paying sellers premium of 15% as well as paying insurance premiums while the guns are at Charlton Hall; and futher buyers paying 15% buyers premium does not leave much room for bargains. Sure as George notes there are some guns of prestige there, however you can drive 175 miles west of Columbia, SC to Philip Futrill's shop in NC and see many times more best quality English guns than you will see at Charlton Hall and buy them for less money.

Small Bore had a Purdey non-ejector at Charlton Hall last year for sale (I think it was the same Purdey as he wrote about in one of the English shooting magazines--that rivelled the barrels on the first attempt at re-proof for him at London Proof House) and it brought $13,000.00. This was $1,000.00 more than I though it would bring retail, however it was a nice old Purdey, and I hope that Small Bore sells more guns this year. I suspect, however he does not have to pay the 15% sellers premiumn, or at least he should not have to as he is the main draw to the auction.

There was a nice Stephen Grant there also and a nice pair of Purdey's--neither the Grant or Purdey's met reserve, I believe. I also seemed to remember that Small Bore at a good Lang SLE there last year. I do not recall if it brought minimum--or even if it has a reserve.

Now with the US$ at $1.46/UKPound Sterling the tables have turned as the USdollar was $2.00 to the pound at last year's auction. If Gordon Brown continues borrowing money to support the UK economy, we will see the US$ at $1.25 to the pound soon(it was $1.45 yesterday).

I saw several nice old Purdey's and Boss's a couple of weeks ago while I was in London. I may buy one soon as the Pound slips. I would have been better off to have taken some of my 401K out in August and bought several new Purdey's. As it is my 401K is now a 201K.

Good luck to all of you that may go to Charlton Hall. It was fun watching the activities there.

Come to think of it, Philip Futrill's Mid South Guns is EAST of Columbia, near Pinehurs, NC.

The first preview was this afternoon and was very well attended. The layout on the auction floor is beautiful and the quality and diversity of the offerings is better that last year. There have been some late additions that won't appear in the catalogue. Dig is coming in Wednesday and the Friday evening social and Q&A session is from 5-7 P.M. and is close to being filled.

Phillip's Mid South Guns is northeast of Columbia in Wagram, NC just over 100 miles from Columbia. I was told that he plans to be at Charlton Hall Friday & Saturday. He does have an amazing inventory at fair prices that I am sure that he would like to add to. I hope he makes it down.

Ron Long, the owner & auctioneer, would be the first to tell you that guns are not his expertise which is why Diggory & I are involved. We also seek help from Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works & other knowledgeable gun people. The sales charges both ways are in line with other auction houses. Some lots will have a reserve & some will not. Many of us don't have the opportunity to travel to England and it is great to have an English style gun auction close by in the U.S. I expect there to be some real bargains in this one. We'll see!

Just My Thoughts, George

You putting your 300 SxS's in the auction ?

Be nice jOe!

I am...


I just heard that all the scrap metal was effecting compass needles with in a 50 mile radius of Lexington, SC

The descriptions of the first two guns in the catalog were enough to tell me that I was not going to be able to tell from the catalog descriptions which guns I would be remotely interested in. There are lots of words used to tell us what we can tell from the pictures and little about what the pictures don't tell us. A good percentage of the description is a synopsis of the history of the company that made the gun, something bidders already know. The pictures don't add much either. Diggory, if you and George sell a few guns and snap up a few dozen more consignment guns that don't make reserve, the sale will be a success, for two of you, and maybe the auction house. However, that leaves out a bunch of the rest of us. Kind of like the automobile bailout. I'm hardly ever this negative but among name gun auctions, this is not one of my favorites. I would love to be able to attend the inspection, but the catalog doesn't give me enough information to bother to get in the car.

This info was added to the lot I'm interested in:

"Minor pitting inside barrels; exterior has no dents, minor scratches. Wall is 30.+ on both barrels; no load information available, stamped ''Not for Ball.'' Original color left except at the forend where the hand holds the barrel; no cracks or splits in wood. Gun is an extractor, all serial numbers match. Straight grip is original, with re-cut checkering; wood is lovely. Gun works perfectly, has auto-safety; tight and all appears to be original. Gun is No. 2 of a pair with engraving of a gundog on the trigger guard, oval has crest with ''Pro Patria.''"

Not bad. I appreciate the info. But the bore sizes and original proofing info is missing so I still don't know if the gun is in proof or wildly out of proof.

Minor pitting could mean really bad pitting that someone honed out, putting the gun out of proof.

BTW: a while ago there was a dealer in the US who bought out-of-proof guns at UK auctions and imported them into the US. He would sell them as OK guns to an ignorant American market. It was a great way to make a lot of cash.

OWD

Negative, negative, negative…..

As I’ve said before, it is so easy to decry from afar. My mother has always said about a meal, which you have put your feet under their table to partake and that someone has put forth an honest effort in preparation, and my wife about comments in general, if you can’t say something nice or constructive about something or someone, don’t say anything at all or even open your mouth. This denouncement of Charlton Hall is something akin to the left wing effort to kill gunshows. Bushveld’s comments are warranted is his attendance and support and I hope Charlton Hall has noted it’s shortcomings in the 1st event and as George notes, has possible put corrections in place to rectify the situation. Apparently Bushveld has insight or other means available for purchase that others may not have. If you have issues such as the description, photos, etc., either pen Ron a letter or better yet offer your services if you are some what of a photog or speech writer. If he/they refuse, then you have made an effort to support the event. I was always taught that if you had anything to say, say it to someone’s face. So show-up, make an effort and voice your concerns in person, i.e., if you don't make an effort or support it, you don't have grounds to complain. There seems to be dissention in the ranks and NO ONE but us gun owners/collectors are going to support such an effort which will lead to its success. If you want to start a “Sink the Charlton Hall Gun Auction” fund, feel free to do so, but hang out your own shingle and put the tirade in the basement in the opinion section where it belongs. I don’t have any interest in Charlton Hall, nor are any of the folk involved my clients, including George L., nor am I related. I receive no kick-backs. I haven’t purchased anything from George L. nor have I been offered any special discount that he hasn’t offered to anyone else. I am self employed and operate my own business. And in addition to travel costs I am away from my business, but I consider it worth the effort. I look forward to meeting one and all and see your support whether by attendance, purchase or by voicing your concerns.


Kind Regards,

Raimey S. Ellenburg