Gavin Gardiner’s sporting guns
The December auction of sporting guns at Gavin Gardiner featured a number of collectable firearms but none more so than headline item, a J Purdey & Sons 12-bore single trigger sidelock ejector, over and under gun, No. 29175. Featuring 28in barrels with 2.75in chambers, locks and top lever with fine bouquet and scroll engraving and retaining virtually all of its original hardening colour, the maker's name signed in gold, rolled edge trigger guard, 14 3/4in highly figured stock with pistol grip. Weighing in a 7lb 6oz, nitro proof, in its maker's lightweight leather motor case. It had only been used a few times since being built in 1991. As a new one would set you back £165k, no surprise to see a hammer price of £50,000,…