Sporting Guns

The Financial Times has a good, but brief article on sporting guns and shot guns. These guns can be very valuable and many are collected today. As a luxury good, appraisers should be aware of what sets apart an ordinary rifle or shotgun from those the fall into the collectible sproting gun category.  As with most luxury good items, prices are currently very strong.

The FT article briefly lists who the major manufacturers are as well as some of the important value characteristics and condition issues, such as engraving and quality materials to barrel condition and metal pitting.


The FT reports (short so I posted in its entirety).

What: The term “sporting gun” generally refers to any classic English or European shotgun designed for shooting game, from the early hammer guns of the 1860s to the sidelock ejector design introduced in the 1890s and still favoured today. The best sporting guns are made using the finest materials and elaborately engraved. The most sought-after are English models such as Purdey, EJ Churchill, Holland and Holland and Boss and Co. Italian names such as Fabbri and Luciano Bosis are also highly regarded.

Need to Know: With any sporting gun, barrel condition is all-important. The barrel must be “in proof” (ie must not have been honed beyond the correct tolerance) and pitting, dents or other marks should be avoided. The value of a matched pair of guns is generally exactly double that of a similar single gun. Prices range from £500 for a good-quality but well-used English shotgun to £30,000-£40,000 for one in fine condition by a leading maker. According to dealer William Elderkin, the market dipped briefly after the Lehman Brothers crash of 2008 but quickly recovered and the high end is now stronger than ever. Buyers have, however, become exceptionally discerning and there are more people chasing fewer top-quality pieces, the values of which have risen by around 20 per cent over the past five years. Investors are attracted by the fact that sporting guns are exempt from capital gains tax.

Top tips: Typically, the secret of buying a good sporting gun is to go for the best quality and the best condition. Although well-known names such as those mentioned represent safe bets, equally good quality guns by lesser-known English makers (Henry Atkin, Stephen Grant, Joseph Lang) are also worth considering and are generally more affordable than their more popular counterparts.

Pitfalls: Do not be tempted to “save” money by buying a gun that needs restoration – the cost of returning it to good condition will inevitably exceed its market value. If in doubt, seek the advice of an expert and, when buying at auction, ask the opinion of the saleroom specialist.

Click HERE to visit the FT article.