AUCHTERARDER.- Gavin Gardiner Ltd’s auction of Modern & Vintage Sporting Guns at the prestigious Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 5pm will include a fine 12-bore Creative Art engraved round action ejector over and under gun by well-known Scottish gunmaker David McKay Brown. Built in 2006, it is estimated to fetch £18,000-24,000.

David McKay Brown was apprenticed to Alex Martin of Glasgow in the year 1958 and subsequently by John Dickson and Son of Edinburgh for the last three years. In 1967 he set up his own business, initially repairing guns, but his ultimate intention was to build guns bearing his own name, the first McKay Brown gun being manufactured in 1974. David was impressed with the qualities of the Dickson round action and being a Scottish maker himself, he decided to build his own version of the Dickson round action as patented by John Dickson in 1880, 1882 and 1887. He soon acquired an excellent reputation and for a relatively small company his output is prodigious, building around thirty guns per year in his premises at 32 Hamilton Road, Bothwell, some 8 miles south of Glasgow. Since completing his first gun in 1974 David and his team of gunmakers have built over 750 guns and rifles to the present day.

Another fine example of his work will also be included in the sale. Dating from 1992, it carries a similar estimate of £18,000-22,000.

Also included will be one of several round action guns by Edinburgh-maker John Dickson & Son, considered to be the iconic Scottish gun. A lightweight pair in their maker’s leather case with green velvet interior is estimated at £10,000-15,000.

A 12-bore sidelock ejector gun by Alexander Henry, another Scottish gun maker, who was based in Edinburgh, and designer of the Henry rifling and barrel used in the Martini–Henry rifle will be included. Dating from 1921, the gun is engraved with Celtic strapwork on a lined ground - only eight examples of a Celtic sidelock are noted in the maker’s records and it is expected to fetch £4,000-6,000.

Also engraved with Celtic strapwork is a gun by Mortimer & Son, who are based at Dunkeld. The vendor states that the gun was built for Sir Oswald Ritchie in 1927 and is estimated at £6,000 – 8,000.

This years sale at the Gleneagles Hotel, which is in the 52nd year, will include 165 lots of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns, Rifles and Accessories from 1860 to the present day. It is held two weeks into the Grouse Shooting Season.