Interesting comments.
LG – this side of the pond we do recognise the value of a gun, but it tends to be an appreciation of the beauty of either shooters or museum pieces. Shooters are used, a lesser grade Greener for rough shooting and grandfather's H&H or Purdey for more formal occasions where it is less likely to get dinged. Personally I never could get worked up over a 1911A for any reason, even if it had ivory grips (or worse, pearl!)However, I can see why someone would pay a premium because it had a famous owner and then lock it away, like some of the gold inlaid presentation guns, as an investment.
As for your comment “The first of the British wave was the best to come over” I guess you’re talking guns, as the Mayflower lot were trouble from the word go and everyone from James I to Cromwell wanted riddance of them and their mates!
Small Bore – interesting points; agreed on the lack of proof. Also, I did not know about the addition of 10/15% on the hammer price. Is that an extra fee to the auction house? That, coupled with VAT and duties would erode quite a bit of any saving. Will have to do more sums.
Km.
