Before the 1860s shooters mostly used muzzleloading guns, such as the Blunderbuss, and these are far less practical as usable collectables. Mr Harriman points out that old firearms can certainly compete with modern shots ? it is the skill of the person operating that makes the biggest difference. If you invest £15,000 to £20,000 you can buy a later 20th-century ''hammerless? vintage gun from one of the top three. Modern breech-loading shotguns are hammerless and automatically primed when loading cartridges. Investors who spend £5,000 on vintage guns can shoot with modern cartridges, but may be using a late 19th-century ''hammer? gun.Ī hammer gun requires the triggers to be separately primed and 19th-century pieces may also not have automatic ejectors ? cartridges are manually pulled out. However, 1,000 man-hours can be put into the masterpiece ? vintage buyers get this craftsmanship for a fraction of the price. Today a bespoke Purdey can set you back £70,000 or more and take two years to make.
Holland & Holland was established in 1835, while the ''builders of best guns only? Boss & Co Gunmakers was established in 1812.
Queen Victoria had a pair of Purdey pistols. The London-based J Purdey & Sons was established in 1814 and received a Royal warrant in 1868. The British set the world benchmark for quality due to know-how and attention to detail that has been passed down through generations. ?The big three that can make the best investments are gunsmiths with blue-blood heritage ? Purdey, Holland & Holland and Boss,? Mr Harriman says. He says a good second-hand shotgun can be bought for £200 to £300, but pay £5,000 to £6,000 and you are able to invest in a true classic. It may offer similar returns, but the joy it will bring is unlikely to be very much.? Compare this with a bank or building society deposit book. It should certainly hold value and can grow over time.
He says: ''A vintage shotgun can be a thing of great beauty and craftsmanship ? something with a soul. Mr Bill Harriman is director of firearms at the association and an independent consultant who advises on arms and militaria on the BBC TV series Antiques Roadshow. There are now more than a million enthusiasts nationwide who participate in shooting sports, claims the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Over the past couple of decades the value of collectable firearms has as much as doubled thanks to a growing interest in the sport. Vintage British shotguns can be a sure-fire investment winner for country sports lovers. Top-quality old British shotguns can be beautiful, valuable and practical.
0 kommentar(er)
