Left : LC Smith Monograme Grade shotgun Below : Holland & Holland . 500 / 450 Nitro Express Sidelock Double Rifle craftsmanship shared by their European counterparts at a competitive price point . Perhaps one of the finest examples of the Model 21 was presented to President Gerald Ford for the Bicentennial that features gold inlays and oak leaf engraving and vignettes of a mallard in flight and a pointer on one side of the receiver and a pointer grouse in flight .
What to Watch For
Looking for a fine sporting arm at auction , especially where the finest specimens from Purdey , Westley Richards , John Rigby & Co ., Rizzini and others can be found , can be a time- and money-saving opportunity as well as a financially safer option for collectors aching for a bespoke item . To commission a highly customized and embellished firearm from an elite gunmaker can take years before delivery . A collector willing to set aside customization for a generational firearm made by that same company can be obtained in a shorter period of time – and often at a more reasonable price – at auction .
High conditioned , beautifully finished and embellished legacy arms , be they shotguns or double rifles , can be a spectacular addition to display in a gun collection , and at numerous levels of collecting might also be taken into the field as a working gun . Whether treading across the Highlands searching for that elusive quarry or reminiscing in a high-backed leather chair in front of a roaring fire , fine sporting arms land at the nexus of artistry and practicality that should appeal to hunters , historians and collectors alike .
PORTFOLIO MAGAZINE 33