When it comes to arms and armour, Antony Cribb is the auction house expert. Their sale in Oxfordshire on 20 November, titled ‘Arms and Armour’, comprises more than 460 lots. Included is 100 lots of American guns and accessories, 12 cased sets of British and European pistols, and other fascinating treasures. Here are a select few.
This cased pair of 28-bore flintlock duelling pistols by Bass has been beautifully made with gold maker’s tablets and gold-lined breeches. They come with their fitted mahogany case and a wide range of accessories, including powder flask, bullet mould, turnscrew and and more.
Executed by the celebrated maker Purdey of Oxford Street, this cased pair of 40-bore percussion duelling or target pistols come in a fitted mahogany case with commensurate accessories. The guns have consecutive serial numbers 2578 and 2579, and word is from Antony Cribb, they are unsurprisingly proving extremely popular.
These guns come from the far side of the Atlantic and would be one of the ultimate acquisitions for any collector of American guns.
The lot includes a cased pair of .36 calibre five-shot silver plated and engraved Colt Police revolvers. Also consecutively numbered 206E and 207E, these have two-piece ivory grips carved with the figure of Liberty and the engraving on the frames features the characteristic wolf’s head of Gustave Young, one of the most famous Colt engravers. They come in their close fitted velvet trimmed mahogany case with various accessories, the set and case being typical of those put together by Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York City and the silver plating possibly by Tiffany.
This is a Prince of Wales Volunteers Officer’s mameluke and shoulder belt plate ensemble. The blade is etched with the owner’s initials for General Henry Proctor who was Colonel of the 82nd Regiment of Foot. The sword and shoulder belt plate are contained in a gilt mounted leather wrapped wooden scabbard.
This Scottish Victorian highland light infantry officer’s presentation dirk is by Leckie Graham & Co. of Glasgow. Its scabbard also contains the companion knife and fork, along with the owner’s miniature medals, full size Long Service and Good Conduct medal and a sweetheart brooch containing a photograph of the officer Lieutenant George Brown.
According to Antony Cribb, the arms and armour market remains strong, making this auction a shoo-in in for collectors across the globe.
