Clapton Guns Auctioned

If you were wondering how many people donned winter-weight tweeds and jetted off to London for Nick Holt’s December 11 fine-gun auction despite the economic freeze, I can assure you it was enough. A standing-room-only crowd was outnumbered by commission and telephone clients whose collective zeal heated bidding, with numerous lots exceeding their estimates.
    A 14-bore, bar-in-wood toplever Purdey hammergun valued at £6,000, for example, was hammered down for £10,000, and a scarce .600 Nitro Express Royal double rifle by Holland & Holland built for the Maharajah of Rewa sold for £100,000.
    Unquestionably the cream of the sale was the collection of fine doubles consigned by guitar grandee Eric Clapton. A pair of 16-bore over/unders by Holland & Holland and a pair of Simon Coggan-engraved 20-bore over/under Purdeys realized hammer prices of £100,000 and £130,000. The Clapton collection, comprising six pairs and a single, achieved a total of £443,000.
    “It’s great that the market still believes that fine guns are a good investment, and today has proven that,” said Nick Holt. With the Dow down and real estate falling faster than a shot pheasant, it’s good to know that the gun safe is still a sound place to put one’s money.   —Douglas Tate