It is 2 September 2020 and Gavin Gardiner’s sale of Fine Modern & Vintage Sporting Guns. A toxic combination of COVID-19 and La Sturgeon has killed off his annual jaunt to Gleneagles Hotel and we’re ‘online only’. I’m in my study, Freya the dog gonking at my feet. I’ve done my research. I’m preregistered to bid.
Target for today is Lot 112, a William Evans 12-bore, boxlock ejector, with ‘maker’s replacement barrels’, circa 1980, and 2¾in chambers, making it not only steel shot ready but ‘modern’ enough to cope with heavier steel loads; something older guns may soon struggle with. The 15½in stock is a major draw. Most old guns have variants on 14in as they were fitted to our short-arsed ancestors. It is cheaper and easier to shorten a stock than lengthen it; that is, if I even need to with this gun, the estimate for which is a tantalising £500 to £700. However, I haven’t seen it and I won’t know until I do whether I’ll need to spend £300 plus on getting it altered to fit. That’s roughly 50% of the likely purchase price. However, if it sells for low estimate £500 (or less), plus premiums (auctioneer’s 25%, the internet’s 5% – all plus VAT), then it will cost me £650. Simple question: if I saw this gun with a £650 price ticket, would I buy it? Absolutely. Question answered.
Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av The Field.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av The Field.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners