A fine pair of 12-bore shotguns by J. Purdey & Sons dating from 1887, formerly the property of famed WWI commander Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, will be offered at Bonhams sale of Sporting Guns in London on December 13.
Purdey is universally acknowledged to be the world’s finest maker of shotguns; they’re estimated to fetch up to about $32,000.
“It feels as if you are holding history in your hands when hefting these shotguns,” notes Patrick Hawes, Head of Sporting Guns at Bonhams.
Historic shotguns on offer at Bonhams in London
The firm was granted its first Royal Warrant in 1868 by The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, an honour that has renewed by each succeeding British monarch.
Depending on whom you consult, Haig, heir to a Scotch whisky fortune, a keen polo player and Oxford man, was either a brilliant military commander or an incompetent upper class twit.
There’s no disputing that he had great taste in guns, though….
- Posted November 17, 2011
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