AUCHTERARDER.- Held just two weeks into the Grouse Shooting Season, it seems very appropriate that Gavin Gardiner’s Annual Auction of Fine Modern & Vintage Sporting Guns & Rifles, which is now in its 49th year and takes place at 5pm on Monday, August 29, 2016 at the World-famous Gleneagles Hotel (Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland) should include a gun that was produced for Grouse shooting.

The fine 12-bore “Royal de Luxe” model self-opening sidelock ejector gun by Holland and Holland is engraved with bold foliate scrollwork around detailed scenes of game in landscapes, the right lock engraved with grouse, the left lock with woodcock, the action base with a dog retrieving a pheasant, the trigger guard with snipe. The maker confirms that the gun was ordered in July 1972 and delivered in June 1976 and that the original cost of the gun was £2,050. The gun has been recently serviced by themselves and is estimated to fetch £14,000 – 18,000.

Probably the most desirable and iconic shotgun made in Scotland is the John Dickson & Sons round action and the auction includes several examples. A pair of 12-bore round action ejector guns, dating from 1902 are estimated at £10,000 – 15,000.

Also with a Scottish connection is a leather single motor case by John Dickson & Son. With a compartment for 30-inch barrels, the outside of the case is inscribed with the owner’s initials “E.B.B.T., Gordon Highlanders” The case was formerly the property of Sir Ernest Beechcroft Beckwith Towse, VC, KCVO, CBE (1864-1948) and is estimated at £200 – 300.

Elsewhere in the sale, that includes just over 200 lots of Fine Sporting Guns and Rifles by the leading European gunmakers is a .500/.465 nitro express “Royal” model sidelock ejector rifle by Holland & Holland, that was built in 1955 and is estimated to fetch £20,000 – 30,000. The large calibre rifle built for dangerous game, is one of only a small number that the maker built and remains in excellent condition. Also of note is a scarce pigeon gun, also by Holland & Holland, dating from 1948 which carries an estimate of £14,000-18,000. The gun is profusely engraved with scrolling foliage around birds in flight, and was originally built for the sport of pigeon shooting, the maker’s name signed within a banner and it is retaining some original hardening colour and finish.