The Lewis Drake Collection

William Smith, London. Superb 13-bore, double-barreled, flintlock Sporting Gun, #2488, ca. 1820. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:06:01 GMT

William Smith, London. Superb 13-bore, double-barreled, flintlock Sporting Gun, #2488, in it's original Maker's Case with a compliment of original accessories, ca. 1820. Weight: 7 1/2 Lbs. Fine 30" Damascus barrels with brilliant, pristine, unaltered bores (.710"/.710"), retain much original finish. Stepped-in breeches, with platinum touch hole liners, retain much of the original hardening colors. Elevated top rib. Beautifully engraved false breech retains most of the original hardening colors. Superb locks, incorporating all of Smith's Patent features to assure extremely rapid ignition, are engraved en-suite, retain most of the original hardening colors, and show very little evidence of use in the field. Engraved Iron mounts retain much of the original finish. The nicely figured walnut stock has numerous minor handling marks with a very minor crack in the right side of the butt right at the butt-plate that was recently expertly repaired by LDA. It should also be noted that there are relatively isolated areas of light corrosion on the outside surface of the left barrel where it rested against the lining when stored in the case. Similar areas are also present on the top rib near the breech and at the toe of the butt-plate. Otherwise this fine gun remains in overall superb condition showing little evidence of use and is very accurate with round ball out to 50-70 yards as you will see from the attached target. Cased in original case (refurbished by Norm Blank in 1958) with a complete compliment of original accessories.
Original William Smith Flintlock double guns in this condition are quite rare and highly sought after today by collectors and competition shooters alike for both their peerless quality and extremely fast ignition. You will not likely ever see a finer one offered for sale.

Provenance:
Stephen Grant & Joseph Lang, Ltd., 7&8 Bury Street, St. James, London, s.w.i.
Norm Blank Collection, 1958 - 2024
Lewis Drake and Associates, 2024

SOLD

Magnificent Holland & Holland Double Rifle .375 H&H Flanged Magnum engraved by the incomparable Philippe Grifnee, completed in 1997. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 19:05:27 GMT

Magnificent Holland & Holland Double Rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum engraved by the incomparable Philippe Grifnee, completed in 1997.

Price On Request

John Manton and Son, London. An absolutely stunning 14-bore, cased double barreled, Flintlock Sporting Gun, #10571, made in 1830 for the Earl of Plymouth. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 19:27:21 GMT

John Manton and Son, London. An absolutely stunning 14-bore, cased double barreled, Flintlock Sporting Gun, #10571, made in 1830 for the Earl of Plymouth, Robert Henry Clive (1789-1854), grandson of Robert Clive (1725-1774) who was also known as "Clive of India".

Weight: 7 lbs. Stock dimensions: 14 ¼" LOP. Superb 31 3/4" Damascus barrels with absolutely pristine breeches, unaltered bores

(.701"/.701"), and thick walls (.056"/.056") at the muzzles, retaining most of the original external finish. Stepped-in breeches engraved and with platinum lines inlaid fore-and-aft also have platinum-lined touch holes and retain much of the original hardening colors. The ramrod is original as is the spare that accompanies the gun. The peerless quality locks, retaining much original finish have deep-V pans (without platinum divider bars) and gooseneck cocks. The hammers have been struck a few times but, like the breeches, show little-or-no evidence of ever being used in the field. Absolutely mechanically perfect with extremely powerful main and feather springs as you would expect from this Maker! Beautifully engraved iron mounts retain much of the original dark blue finish with some of the finish worn off the trigger guard tang and butt plate. Nicely figured walnut stock has a few handling marks and a minor repair to the mortise just above the bar of the right lock. Overall the stock retains virtually all the original finish with sharp, crisp, checkering at the wrist. Silver wrist escutcheon, showing no wear, is engraved with a griffin and torse over the owners initials, "RHC". The whole in the original mahogany case with a complete compliment of original accessories including spare ramrod, stout 3-piece loading rod, Hawksley pigskin leather-covered powder flask signed in ink by hand, " G.H.W. Windsor-Clive", over an abbreviation for the Coldstream Guards referring to Lieutenant Colonel George Herbert Windsor Windsor-Clive (1835-1918), the second son of Robert Clive and younger brother of the original owner. Also included in the case are a leather flint wallet containing spare flints and two spare side nails, wad punch, double turnscrew, pan brush, and original key to the case ... all in fine condition.

Overall a magnificent, incredibly rare, original set, with impeccable provenance, mechanically absolutely perfect, the whole remaining in superb condition throughout, and suitable for the finest collection or use in the field today. Not likely you will ever see a finer example offered for sale !!

Provenance:

Made in 1830 for the Earl of Plymouth, Robert Henry Clive (1789-1854), grandson of Robert Clive (1725-1774) who was also known as "Clive of India".

Purchased by my friend, Norm Blank, around 1962 directly from the Earl of Plymouth's estate in a sale facilitated by Keith Neal.

Ownership passed to Lewis Drake in 2023.

SOLD

Magnificent John Manton and Son, 17-bore, Double barreled, Flintlock Sporting Gun, ca. 1817. SOLD

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 22:10:59 GMT

John Manton and Son, London. Magnificent 17-bore double barreled Sporting Gun, #6324, made in 1817 for Henry James Montagu-Scott, 2 ^nd Baron Montagu of Boughton (16 December 1776 – 30 October 1845) . Weight: 6 ¾ Lbs. Stock Dimensions: 14 5/8”x 1 3/8”x 2 5/8”x st. Superb 28” Damascus barrels (possibly shortened for the owner early-on by Manton) have brilliant bores (.647”/.647”) and retain much of the original finish. Beautiful locks with typical John Manton "French" cocks have extremely powerful main and hammer springs which, along with the stepped-in breeches, would make for very fast ignition. John Manton Patent deep-V pans were the order of the day for Manton when this gun was made and the conventional pans on these locks were likely at the owner’s behest. Nicely engraved locks retain much of the original hardening colors and internals are still brilliant. Feather Springs with rollers retain most of the original fire blue finish. Hammers have been struck a few times but overall the locks show little, if any, evidence of actually being fired. The mounts are engraved en suite and retain most of the original brilliant dark blue finish except for the heel of the butt plate. The nicely figured stock, with silver escutcheon at the wrist engraved with a crown over the letter, “M”, is overall in fine condition with the exception of a few bruises and a couple of filled-in areas near the heel of the butt. The Whole in the original Maker’s Mahogany case with a complete compliment of original accessories (bow-tie turnscrew a modern replacement) and original spare parts consisting of 2 hammers, 2 top jaws, 1 top jaw screw, 1 cock screw, and a spare side nail.

Overall an absolutely stunning gun retaining much original finish throughout, showing virtually little-or-no evidence of actual use in the field, made by one of, perhaps THE greatest, British gunmaker ever to draw breath. A great rarity to find in this condition and suitable for the finest collection or for use in the field today.

Provenance:

Henry James Montagu-Scott, 2nd Baron Montagu of Boughton (16 December 1776 – 30 October 1845) , to his nephew Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch" and "By descent to Henry Montagu Douglas Scott, later 1st Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, (Gns. 1800), R.J. Wigington (Arbour Antiques, Ltd., Stratford-Upon-Avon) .

SOLD

Gamebore 28g. Shot Shells, 2 1/2" case, #7 Shot. Price: $40 per box.

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:22:03 GMT

Gamebore, "Traditional Game" , 28ga. Shot Shells, 2 1/2" case, #7 Shot. Price: $40 per box of 25

Lyalvale 12ga. Shot Shells, 2" case, #7 shot.

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:04:12 GMT

Lyalvale Shot Shells, 2" chamber, 13/16 oz. (23 gm) load, #7 Shot. Price: $50 per Box of 25

Extremely Rare Original Damascus "Alaska Skinning Knife Set" by Joe Keeslar. Price On Request

Sat, 27 May 2023 20:27:11 GMT

Extremely rare hand-forged Damascus, “Alaska Skinning Knife Set”, custom made for me around 25 years ago by my Dear Friend and fellow long-bow hunter, Joe Keeslar. Smaller knife is 9” OAL with 5 ½” blade. The larger knife is 10 ¾” OAL with 6 ½” blade. Ideal set for use on largest North American Game and most African Plains Game. Joe told me recently that he only made “a couple” of these sets. Leather sheath for both knives complete with whetstone. Peerless quality throughout!

Price On Request

Rare original Joe Keeslar Damascus "Survival Knife". Price $6800

Sat, 27 May 2023 20:04:31 GMT

Superb, rare, hand-forged Damascus, “Survival Knife”, made for me around 20 years ago by my Dear Friend, Joe Keeslar. 13 ½” OAL with 8 ½” blade. Ingenious quick-release shoulder sheath for a right-handed person keeps the knife safely and very comfortably tucked away, with handle slanted downward, just beneath your left armpit, out-of-the-way, yet instantly available if the need arises. Great position for hunting or concealed carry if someone is so inclined. Also, does not interfere with walking through dense brush, climbing into a tree stand, or shooting a longbow from any position. Joe told me he might have made ten or twelve shoulder rigs like this with several different blade styles. Peerless quality in every respect.

Price: $6800

Rare original Joe Keeslar Camp Axe/Knife Set. Price: SOLD

Sat, 27 May 2023 19:40:51 GMT

A rare original Camp Axe and “Brut de Forge” Skinning Knife set, hand-forged from an old file for me many years ago by my dear friend, fellow longbow hunter, and renowned Master Bladesmith, Joe Keeslar. The axe is 10 ½” OAL and the knife is 8 ½” OAL with a 5” hollow ground blade. Custom leather combination sheath by the maker. Joe thought he “might have made five or six sets similar to this over the years”. Price: SOLD

Stunning 2002 Corvette Coupe complete with Dual Removable Roof Panels. Price: $34,500

Tue, 23 May 2023 21:48:40 GMT

Stunning 2002 Corvette Coupe complete with Dual Removable Roof Panels. Ordered by Dwain Taylor Chevrolet, Murray, KY, and delivered from the Corvette Final Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, KY. The car was purchased new from Taylor Chevrolet by a gentleman in Murray KY. I, the second owner, purchased it from him with 15,000 miles on it. It currently has 17,061 on the odometer. Always has resided in a heated garage in Murray, KY. Since I purchased the car I have had installed 4 new tires (original tires have good tread and come with the car), two new fuel pumps (one in each tank), a new fuel pump relay, a new Alternator, changed the oil, and serviced the drive train. There is no damage history and I don't believe there is a single scratch or blemish on the body. The original Owners Manual with the original VHS tape accompany the car along with the original Window Invoice which has been framed. The engine has been wiped down with a damp cloth to remove a light layer of dust. no solvents, chemicals, or silicone materials were used no pressure sprayer has ever been used on either the engine compartment or anywhere else on the vehicle. Runs, drives, and handles like a dream. You would be hard pressed to find a better vintage "Vette" for the money!! Price: $34,500

LePage, Paris. Magnificent 20-bore double-barreled flintlock sporting gun #862, made in 1806. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 00:02:00 GMT

LePage, Paris. A magnificent 18-bore double-barreled flintlock sporting gun, #862, made in 1806, and so marked inside each lock and on the underside of the barrels at the breeches. Weight: 6 ¾ Lbs. Superb 32 ½” barrels, decorated with gold Ormolu at the breeches and muzzles, and gold inlay along the center, retain most of a rebrowned finish and have brilliant bores. Fine locks, nicely engraved, with maker’s name inlaid with gold, are fully functional and mechanically perfect. The most susceptible-to-wear part of the flintlock, other than the frizzen, is the pan which is subjected to a cutting torch loosed against the bottom of the pan every time the gun is fired. Hence, the lining of these pans with platinum which melts at a higher temperature than iron, carbon steel, or gold. Also, please note that the locks on this extraordinary firearm, if you look closely at the pans, while fit up to the lock plate perfectly, they are still removable and, when worn out, they may be replaced with new pans by the maker without having to forge entire new lock plates. The lovely false breech and iron mounts are sculpted and engraved en suite. The figured Walnut stock shows some wear to the checkering and relief carving but no evidence of abuse. Ramrod with iron worm on hidden end is original to the gun.

Jean LePage was honored to have the title of, “Arquebusier de l’Empereur” , from 1802 to 1815. Napoleon Bonaparte was Emperor of France from 1805 - 1814, and again for a brief time in 1815. Was this gun actually made for Napoleon? Quite possibly but not necessarily as LePage would understandably have been proud of that Warrant and could have put that in gold on the barrels for some other extremely wealthy and well-connected aristocrat or a very high-ranking military leader favored by The Emperor himself. At any rate it is an extraordinary specimen from a historic time period. The Gold inlaid inscription on the barrels translates as, “LePage of Paris, Gunmaker to the Emperor” .

Overall a rare and beautiful example of the French Gun maker’s Art, showing some use but no abuse, suitable for the finest collection or use in the field.

Spiridione Baculini, Italy. A magnificent 23-bore OU double-barreled flintlock sporting gun , ca. 1790.

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 00:04:25 GMT

Spiridione Baculini, Italy. A fine and rare 23-bore OU double-barreled flintlock sporting gun, ca. 1790. Weight: 7 Lbs.

Good two-stage, ribless, 40” barrels with thick walls and no dents or dings have evenly frosted bores with no deep pitting. Gold “Pistoia” poincon at the breech of the upper barrel and a gold “Rampant Lion” poincon under the lower barrel hidden beneath the trigger guard tang. Two pierced and engraved barrel bands. Superb locks have virtually all of the original hardening color with beautifully polished internal parts showing no evidence of use except for the faces of the frizzens having been struck a few times. Also, please note that the locks on this extraordinary firearm, if you look closely at the pans, while fit up to the lock plate perfectly, they are still removable and, when worn out, they may be replaced with new pans by the maker without having to forge entire new lock plates. Nicely engraved mounts show no evidence of wear. Original touch hole prick hidden in the underside of the butt stock just behind the trigger guard tang. Pierced Butt plate tang with some missing wood within the piercings. Stunningly figured birds-eye stock beautifully relief-carved and in fine condition. Probably a period replacement ramrod. Overall, a completely elegant and quite rare firearm suitable for the finest collection.

Price:

E. M. Reilly, London. Fine and Rare 16-bore, Double-Barreled, 2-groove, Big Game Sporting Rifle, #5991, ca. 1840. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 16:43:57 GMT

E. M. Reilly, London. Fine and Very Rare 16-bore, Double-Barreled, 2-groove, Big Game Sporting Rifle, #5991, ca. 1840. Original Maker’s mahogany case with a complete compliment of original accessories, including many spare lock parts. Wt. 8 ¼ Lbs. Stock Dimensions: 14” LOP. Superb 29” Damascus barrels, retaining much of the original finish, with excellent bores, three folding-leaf rear sights, and a single blade front sight. Beautifully game-scene engraved locks retain most of the original hardening colors and are of peerless quality inside and out. The false breech and all of the iron mounts are engraved en suite and retain traces of the original black finish. The figured walnut stock has a very few minor handling marks and retains virtually all of the original varnish. Both the stock, including the stout ramrod, are original and numbered to the gun. The original mahogany Makers case, with original Makers trade label, contains an incredible array of accoutrements including (but not limited to) the following: Four original bullet molds, two molds numbered #1 and #2, casting 503 gr. belted balls of slightly (a few thousandths) different diameters, a winged 721 gr. conical bullet mold identical to those of early Charles Lancaster 2-groove rifles, and a very interesting Minie-style mold casting a 788 gr. hollow base conical bullet; A compliment of spare lock parts for each lock including, two hammers, two hammer screws, two mainsprings, two sear springs, and several spare nipples; Many other assorted tools for loading, unloading, cleaning, and maintaining the rifle in the field.

Overall a very rare and absolutely incredible cased set in fine original condition, having seen minimal use and no abuse. Price: SOLD

James Wilkison, Edinburgh. Rare 16-bore flintlock Sporting Gun, ca. 1815

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 15:09:25 GMT

James Wilkison, Edinburg. Rare and quite fine Scottish 16-bore, double-barreled, flintlock Sporting Gun, ca. 1815-20. Wt. 8 Lbs. Stock Dimensions: 15 ½”x 1 3/8”x 2 ¾”x ¾” cast-off. Superb heavy 30” Damascus barrels, Birmingham proofed, with stepped-in breeches, resplendent with platinum poincon’s showing the Maker’s name, retaining much of the original fire blue finish, and platinum touch-hole liners showing minimal use. The barrels retain much of the original brown (now graying) finish. Bores (.662”/.662”) and breeches all bright with no corrosion inside or out and no evidence of having been tampered with, no dents or dings, and wall thickness at muzzle .058”/.058”. Superb Locks with extremely stout, open-throat, cocks which rest upon the rear flash guards when off cock. Locks and iron mounts beautifully engraved in typical Scottish patterns with a wonderful Scottish Cow depicted on the wide top rib just between the poincon’s. The beautifully embellished mounts, along with the locks, all retain traces of the original brilliant fire-blued finish. The straight-grip stock, with fine checkering at the wrist, shows a few minor bruises here and there and a few minor repairs. Overall a rare (especially in this fine condition), superb example of the skills of one of the unheralded provincial British Makers.

Beautiful 254 Acre Estate Property Adjoining nearly a mile of TVA Lakefront Property. SOLD

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 20:54:37 GMT

Beautiful 254 Acre property on Kentucky Lake which adjoins almost a mile of TVA Lake front property. Virtually completely forested . Last selectively logged in 1990. Private single point entry onto property from State Hwy 732. Old logging roads currently give access to the entire property. If you are looking for a site to build a totally private family estate, this is the spot.

Price: $3400/acre. Call Lewis Drake 270-210-4304

Extremely rare, likely unique, Joseph Manton 14-bore Flintlock Sporting Gun #6508, ca. 1815. SOLD

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:50:46 GMT

Incredibly rare, likely unique, Joseph Manton 14-bore, double-barreled, Flintlock Sporting Gun #6508, ca. 1815.

George Daw, London. Extremely rare, 32-bore double-barreled percussion Dangerous Game, “Jacobs Rifle”, #3833, ca. 1860. SOLD

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 18:02:23 GMT

George Daw, London. Extremely rare, 32-bore double-barreled percussion Dangerous Game, “Jacobs Rifle”, #3833, ca. 1860

Purdey, London. Superb 16-bore percussion, double-barreled rifle #2704, completed in 1834 . SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 17:09:35 GMT

Purdey, London. Superb 16-bore percussion, double-barreled rifle #2704, completed in 1834 .

Extremely Rare Joseph Manton 16-bore Double Rifle #1514, ca. 1801. SOLD

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 22:50:31 GMT

Joseph Manton, London. Exceptionally Rare 16-bore flintlock double-barreled rifle #1514, ca. 1801. This magnificent firearm, appearing in Neal’s Manton books as a percussion conversion, has recently completed an exhaustive, one year, 2000 man-hour, re-conversion to flintlock by Master Gun-Maker, Steven Alexander.
Weight: 8 ½ Lb. Stock Dimensions: 14 1/8”x 1 3/8”x 2 1/8”x ¼” cast-off. Beautifully figured 30 3/8” skelp Damascus barrels retaining much of an old rebrown finish. Bores have some light pitting and wear at the muzzles. Front and rear sights have been modified for the previous owner in such a way that has left the original sights undisturbed allowing an easy return to the original configuration if/when so desired. New recessed breech plugs with gold touch holes and 24k gold bands along with 24k gold poincon’s, along with a new false breech, perfectly fit-up and engraved by Steve. The superb new locks, with powerful mainsprings along with perfectly timed hammer springs are real rock-crushers, resulting in very fast ignition in the typical Manton tradition. The old percussion conversion resulted in narrowing of the stock through the lock mortise area, requiring several barely noticeable walnut inlays to build that area back up to a width necessary to accommodate the “original” flintlocks. The original iron mounts are all beautifully engraved with very light wear and no corrosion whatever retaining a pleasing gray/brown patina. The ramrod appears original to the gun. The proper period case has been relined and contains numerous accessories from the earlier period of the rifle.

Targets and loading/performance data can be ascertained from the last 3 photographs below. The first target was shot at 55 yds while still a percussion rifle. The last target was shot off-hand at 55 yds as a flintlock using the same loading data recorded on the previous target except the final hollow-point bullet weight was 657 grains. By the way, the modern custom, hollow-point, bullet mold for this incredible rifle is included. The mechanical fit of the bullet is achieved by removing the breech plugs and driving the cast bullets through one of the barrels from the breech out to the muzzle. This process provides a perfect mechanical fitting bullet that will not strip out of the deep, fast-twist, rifling common to that early period. (Let me add that rarely you will encounter a double rifle with counter-rotating rifling in which case you will have to make separate bullets for each barrel!) To my knowledge there were only three double-barreled flintlock rifles known to have been made by Joseph Manton. Overall an incredibly rare and spectacular rifle, cased with everything needed for the hunt.

SOLD

R. B. Rodda, London and Calcutta. Magnificent, "Modele' Deluxe", Sidelock/Ejector .600 NE double rifle made for, Raja Raghuraj Bahadur Sinha, ca. early 1920's. SOLD

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 02:15:13 GMT

R. B. Rodda & Co., Birmingham and Calcutta. Magnificent Sidelock/Ejector, “Modele de Luxe”, Double Rifle in .600 N.E., #10048, made for, Raja Raghuraj Bahadur Sinha, of Haraha Estate, ca. early 20 ^th century. There are no known existing records for the Rodda Firm which is regrettable, however, that trade label in the case lid was in use by Rodda from approximately 1910 through 1931. Furthermore, the original owner was a Raja from Haraha Estate in the United Provinces, near Jim Corbett's Nainital home in Kumaon. Records from the decade from 1910 to 1920 show that the owner enjoyed an exemption from the Indian Arms Act of 1911. This meant the Raja in question was allowed to keep a number of firearms and stock of ammunition in his name – without prior permission from the government and almost certainly would have acquired the rifle from the Rodda Firm during that 1910-1920 period covered by the Indian Government Permit. The mystery which could account for this magnificent rifle remaining in absolutely pristine, original, overall condition, showing no evidence of having been fired since it left the maker over a century ago, makes for a fascinating fireside story ferreted out by my dear friend and, “adopted nephew”, Harnihal Singh Sidhu, to be revealed at a somewhat later date along with an interesting, previously unpublished, history of the R. B. Rodda Co.

I said the case was original, that is with the likelihood the case has been relined and the ivory-handled accessories replaced at a later date, otherwise all original.

The Rifle weighs in at 14 ½ lbs with empty chambers. Stock Dimensions: 14 3/4" LOP. Superb 26" chopper-lump, Whitworth Steel, barrels with 110 gr. Cordite and 900 gr. bullet proofs. Note the individual rear flip-up sights graduated in 100 yd. increments out to 500 yds. terminating in a single flip-up sight adjustable from 600 to 1000 yds. (no further comments needed on that!). Massive, top-lever opening, sidelock action with double under-lugs and spade dolls-head with hidden bolted third fastener. The top tang of the action extends rearward over the rise and well back on the comb of the stock. Ejectors, bushed firing pins, double triggers, and bolted automatic safety. Beautiful, full-coverage, bold, deep-relief, Indian jungle foliage and game-scene engraving which extends out the barrel breaches. The tiny, multi-colored-enamel-inlaid, 24 kt gold shields, fastened to each lockplate with 3 tiny blued steel screws, are beautiful little works of art in themselves! Please, go to the close-up photo which shows a quarter laying next to one of the gold shields for size comparison and note that the coin would completely cover the entire shield which will give you a visual clue to the exquisitely delicate intricacy of the inlays and the vibrant colors of the enamel, all of which simply must be viewed under significant magnification to fully appreciate the work. By the way, the enamel in Sanskrit says, “Satyashramabhyan Saklaarthsiddhihi” , which translates to, “ By practicing truthfulness and hard work , all ends are achieved. “

I could go on, however, the rest of the photographs pretty much speak for themselves.

Including all of the English gun-maker's there are less than 70, pre-WWII, British .600 NE double rifles known to exist. This extraordinary rifle is, without question, the finest pre-war example known and is one of the rarest, most highly sought after, collectible firearms in the world. SOLD

William Beckwith, London. Exquisite 15-bore, double-barreled flintlock Sporting Gun, #1215, ca. 1820. SOLD

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:38:09 GMT

William Beckwith, London. Exquisite 15-bore, double-barreled flintlock Sporting Gun, #1215, ca. 1820. Weight: 6 ¾ Lbs. Stock Dimensions: 14 ½’x 1 1/8”x 2 3/8”x ¼” cast-on. Superb 30 ½” barrels with absolutely brilliant breeches and bores (.728”/.729”) and retaining virtually 100% of the original brown finish. Original ramrod serial numbered to the gun. Sloped-in breeches, for fast ignition, with two gold bands and platinum lined touch-holes, all showing not a speck of corrosion and no evidence of use. The beautifully engraved and fit up false breech retains most of it’s original hardening colors as well. Immaculate locks of absolutely peerless quality and function throughout retain most of their original finish inside and out. The frizzens have obviously been struck a few times but show no significant wear and no other signs of use and no corrosion whatever to the very complex, and incredibly difficult to fabricate, venting systems with-in the self-priming pan covers. Each lock plate with elongated oval, gold-inlaid, poincon with maker’s name … condition mint. Some flaking of the original brilliant black finish on the iron mounts has occurred, however, much of the finish remains and the engraving is crisp and clean with no significant corrosion anywhere on the gun except some small isolated areas in the bottoms of the pans. The beautifully figured walnut stock, amazingly, retains all of it’s original finish throughout, with a few very minor handling marks, and all of the checkering at the wrist is absolutely perfect as if it had been cut yesterday. You will note the unusual cut-out areas on either side of the forestock right about where the shooter’s hand would be. This was obviously intentional and I can think of no other use for it other than to serve as a tactile register for exact placement of the shooter’s hand. I have never seen that before and any thoughts on that are welcome.

Just forward of the gold inlaid maker’s name on the barrel top rib you will note engraved there the following: “W. B. A. 1820”. This has given rise to some speculation that this gun once belonged to the maker himself, or perhaps a close family member. I have no comment on that other than to note the obvious; that this firearm was held in high regard by owners who held it in high esteem for two centuries, keeping it in a humidity controlled environment, perhaps even on display in such a manner that obviated the accumulation of dents, dings, and the numerous “handling marks” that usually accompany a firearm of this sort.

William A Beckwith apprenticed under Wattel Clark in 1785. He was admitted to the freedom of the Gunmakers Company in 1801. He started his own business at 58 Skinner Street, Snowhill; and worked there until 1861.

Overall a magnificent example of the ultimate British Sporting Gun of the period and almost impossible to find today in this near pristine condition.

James Purdey, London. Extraordinarily rare 15-bore, Double-barreled, flintlock Sporting Gun, #224, made for Rev. Edward Missenden Love, Rector of Somersby, Yarmouth, in 1820. SOLD

tripp@drake.net (Tripp Drake) — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 21:41:22 GMT

James Purdey, London. Extraordinarily rare 15-bore, Double-barreled, flintlock Sporting Gun, #224, made for Rev. Edward Missenden Love, Rector of Somersby, Yarmouth, in 1820. Weight: 6 lbs.7oz. Stock Dimensions: 14 3/8”x 1 3/8”x 1 7/8”x 1/8” cast-off.

Superb 29 ½” barrels by Charles Lancaster have brilliant bores and breaches and appear to retain their original boring (never honed). Bores .678”/.678”, minimum wall thickness at muzzles .030”/.030”. The top rib is “Elevated” just as Purdey’s former employer, Joseph Manton, would have done. The top rib with the Maker’s name elaborately inlaid in gold remains in pristine condition and is quite stunning. The rebrowned barrels have been shortened by ½”, likely in 1827, when according to Purdey records, the gun was, “brought into the Purdey shop by Rev. Love on 17 November 1827 for cleaning and barrel repair and browning at a cost of 5s.0d and 50 flints supplied at 2s.6d.” . The peerless quality locks, with all original internal parts including the extremely stout mainsprings, feature Purdey’s Patent grip-safety lever hinged to the rear trigger guard tang which actuates the external safety sears. I find it fascinating that this exact same feature is still used on virtually all Best Guns produced 200 years later, the only difference being that the safety sears of today act internally on the tumbler as opposed to operating externally on the cock. Also, note the typical early Purdey marrow-spoon pans, tilted back toward the flint, presumably to provide slightly more rapid ignition. The open-throat cock with the “double-chin “beneath the lower jaw which impinges on the top of the flash guard provides for greater strength to the cock and internal lock parts by allowing better distribution of the forces when the exceptionally powerful mainspring is unleashed. The “Sea Serpent” engraving was typical of the earliest Purdey guns and was executed by the same fellow who employed the same motifs on numerous fine guns turned out by Joe Manton during that period. The stock, with a minor, barely visible, repair to the left side of the forend, is the most beautifully figured of any I can ever remember seeing on a British firearm from any period!

Interestingly, the gun was, “brought into the Purdey shop by Rev. Love on 17 November 1827 to be cleaned for 5s0d, the barrels repaired and rebrowned for 15s0d and was supplied with 50 flints for 2s6d” . That last quote was from Richard Beaumont’s excellent book entitled, “The Early Purdey’s”, which actually identifies the owner as, Rev. Edward Missenden Lane , and is either a misprint or simply an error in transcription from the early record book as the silver wrist escutcheon on #224, with the Family Crest of the lined Greyhound surmounted by the Latin inscription, “pro deo et veritate” , translated as, “For God and Truth” , has been well documented by other sources as that belonging to Missenden Love rather than Lane .

Provenance:

The Purdey 15-bore double flintlock sporting gun, #224, was made for Rev. Edward Missenden Love, Rector of Somersby, Yarmouth, in 1820. According to Purdey records, the gun was, ” brought into the Purdey shop by Rev. Love on 17 November 1827 for cleaning and barrel repair at a cost of 5s.0d and 50 flints supplied at 2s.6d.”

At some point over the next 100 years or so, #224 found its way into the famous Clay Bedford Collection, and was purchased directly from Mr. Bedford by my good friend, Sidney Dickson (whose name is stamped in both lock recesses), for $2700, around 1976, at The San Francisco Cow Palace Exhibition , in California. Sidney used it extensively and to good effect in the Chesapeake Bay area on shore birds, ducks, geese, and (dare I say it) swans! Sidney then sold it to me just over 30 years ago. It was my favorite bird gun and constant companion in the field for years until I needed the money for some long-forgotten project and regrettably sold it around 20 years ago to a gentleman who also put it to good use. I then bought it back in January of this year.

I believe there are only a half-dozen original Purdey double-barreled flintlock guns known to exist, one owned by Purdey’s and perhaps another at the Tower Of London, along with another four in private hands, of which #224 is one. As I recall, at least two of the other three do not have the external safety sear feature. This remarkable gun has been in more or less constant use for two centuries now and, while very well cared for by a succession of loving owners, there have, in the ensuing years, been a few well-intentioned attempts at minor repairs, some quite good, but others which fell a bit short of the original Purdey standards. LDA’s Master Gun maker, Steve Alexander, has put forth his finest efforts on this magnificent firearm which is pictured below. Please note in the close-up photos that you will only find the tiniest isolated and scattered areas of corrosion, which are all but unnoticeable when you have this diminutive masterpiece in your hands, this due almost totally to the care lavished on the gun by a succession of owners who actually used it and knew how to care for it, as opposed to having languished away forgotten in some loathsome place unattended!

Also pay close attention to the superb metal-to-metal fit and wood-to-metal fit, even after two centuries of use!

None of the finish is original, however, the gun is absolutely mechanically perfect and functionally as good as that day in 1820 that the Rev. Love picked it up at The Purdey Shop. Cased in an original Purdey case from a slightly later date and modified to fit #224.

Overall, breathtakingly beautiful and, perhaps, the rarest and finest British double barreled sporting gun, of any era, you will ever have the opportunity to put to your shoulder!

Micro Uzi Machine Pistol with S.C.R.C. Suppresser SOLD

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 23:21:39 GMT

Micro Uzi 9mm Machine Pistol. Original Semi-auto converted by John Norrell to closed-bolt full auto complete with S.C.R.C. suppresser. 1200 rpm.

Also Note: Both the John Norrell Bolt and the S.C.R.C. Suppressor are National Firearms Act (NFA) items each of which requires a separate SOT Form 3 or Form 4.

Private citizens can legally purchase and possess silencers in 42 states* without a permit.

Silencers are legal but are regulated by federal law and on a state-by-state basis by the National Firearms Act (NFA) branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BAFTE). SOLD

John Harcourt, Ipswich. Exceptionally fine 12-bore double barreled “Coach Gun” with 15” spring-loaded bayonet - SOLD

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 22:55:26 GMT

John Harcourt, Ipswich. Exceptionally fine 12-bore double barreled “Coach Gun” with deadly 15” spring-loaded bayonet, hinged at the muzzle, then folded back over the top rib and latched with a release mechanism on the false breech, ca. 1790. Weight: 7 Lbs. Stock Dimensions: 14 3/8”x 1 ¼”x 2 5/8”x straight. Beautifully forged 18”octagon skelp Damascus barrels with excellent bores (.728"/.729") and breeches retain a fair amount of an old re-brown finish. Each of the barrels have a beautiful deep struck gold Poincon’ identifying the maker. There are single wide gold bands inlaid at the breeches, along with gold-lined touch holes showing little evidence of use. The nicely engraved false breech retains traces of the original finish with no wear and no corrosion whatever. Absolutely peerless quality locks with gold-lined pans, and sliding safeties latching the tumbler at half-cock. Both locks are mechanically perfect with fancy bridles and all internal parts retaining most of the original fire-blue finish. The stock has a very few minor repairs, none of which affect the strength or structural integrity. Overall fine condition throughout, mechanically absolutely perfect, and very unusual for a coach gun to be of this high quality. Originally, this incredibly formidable piece would have been used for guard duty by law enforcement, private security guards at banks, coaches, shipments of valuable cargo of any situation where close quarter potentially deadly security was required.

For a thoroughly fascinating and informative treatise on such use of "Coach Guns" in general, and this gun specifically, please refer to the May/June, 2021, issue of MUZZLELOADER magazin e and the article, "Death To The Highwayman" by Ted Franklin Belue, pp 92 - 103.

Jones, London & Birmingham. Extremely rare, possibly unique, dual flintlock/percussion ignition, 20-bore double barrel Sporting Gun, ca. 1805 (dual ignition likely done, ca. 1820) - SOLD

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:46:19 GMT

Exceptionally Fine Vintage Matched Pair of Boss 12ga. Game Guns Made in 1921. SOLD

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 22:22:52 GMT

Boss, London. Exceptionally fine matched pair of consecutively numbered vintage light weight assisted-opening 12ga. game guns, #6709-10, made in 1921. Each gun weighs in at just 6 ½ lbs. Stock dimensions: 14 ½”x 1 ¼”x 2 ¼”x 3/8” cast-off. Both guns have superb 28” chopper lump steel barrels with original 2 ½” chambers. Bores are brilliant and absolutely mint, all measuring .728”. All chokes are Modified (½ choke) measuring .023” in each barrel which corresponds to the original specifications from 1921. Wall thicknesses are .034”/.034” in the no.1 gun and .032”/.032” in gun no.2. Best bar-action side lock actions with double underlugs, ejectors, double triggers’ and automatic safety’s. Beautifully engraved actions retain much of the original hardening colors and all engraving is crisp and sharp as if cut yesterday. The barrels retain 98% of the original black finish. Trigger guard tangs have been reblacked but the black on the bows is original. Highly figured matching straight grip stocks with checkered butts and splinter forends retain all the original finish with all checkering sharp showing virtually no use. Original makers case with original labels and some accessories. Overall an absolutely stunning pair of vintage, pre-war, Boss guns remaining in little used near-mint original condition and almost impossible to find in this condition today. Replacement cost today well in excess of $200,000.

Magnificent Boss O/U Double Rifle 2-bbl Set, ca. 1929

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 20:17:35 GMT

Boss & Co., London. Breathtaking Boss O/U double rifle with rising-bite third fastener, two original sets of barrels, made in 1929, and remaining in absolutely mint original condition throughout. LOP: 14”

First set of barrels

20” length, chambered in .256 cal., with fenestrated rib.

Weight of rifle with .256 cal. barrels and no scope: 7 ¼ Lbs.

Second set of barrels

Added by Boss in 1933.

24” length, chambered in .303 cal., with solid rib and fitted with scope as described in accompanying documentation.

Weight of rifle with .303 cal. barrels and no scope: 7 ¾ Lbs.

Weight of rifle with .303 cal. Barrels and scope: 8 ½ Lbs.

This incredibly rare rifle was completed for a client in 1929 at the behest of Abercrombie and Fitch with the second set of barrels ordered and completed for A&F as documented in the attached Boss and Abercrombie & Fitch documents.

Ordered with border engraving and black finish, this magnificent gun, as my friend, Donald Dallas, points out in his excellent book, would have required the attention of only the finest craftsmen available as the slightest irregularity in the metal surfaces would have literally jumped off the surface and smacked you in the face …. no engraving to hide any surface imperfections, you see!

Rising-bite third fastener, Boss single trigger, horn pg cap with original spare front sight blade wrapped up beneath the compartment lid, leather wallets containing spare strikers, spare sight hood, and spare front sight blades. Snap caps, original case keys, wallets containing unused brushes, pull-through’s, and other accessories, all remaining in mint condition. Exhibition grade stock retains all the original finish and original leather covered butt pad is unmarked.

Absolutely the finest British double rifle I have ever held in my hands … it still shoots well too!

Stunning Cased Pair Of French Target Pistols, ca. 1850

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 19:15:22 GMT

Wonderful Cased Pair of French percussion Target Pistols, stocked in Tortoise-shell, ca.1850. Approximately .50 caliber, 10 ½”, barrels retaining much of the original brilliant black finish. The butt and nose caps are silver, as are the decorative silver bars running up the carved recesses in the pistol grips. The process for overlaying the stocks with Tortoise Shell was interesting. First, the underlying wood stock was shaped undersize to allow for a veneer of tortoise shell. However, before the tortoise shell, a layer of pure gold leaf was applied over the exterior of the stock. Then the layer of tortoise shell was applied over the gold. The purpose of the gold is to supply a mirror surface to reflect the incoming light back up through the translucent tortoise shell enhancing the rich color and lustrous polished finish. Overall, the effect is quite stunning. Beautiful original burl walnut Maker’s case with a complete compliment of original accessories. Overall an absolutely stunning set and a great rarity.

Barrett M107A1 .50 cal., semi-automatic extreme long range rifle - SOLD

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:08:04 GMT

Barrett M107A1 .50 cal., semi-automatic extreme long range rifle. 29” barrel with muzzle brake, rear monopod, 10 round magazine, light weight quick detach adjustable bipod, and cheek piece. Finish is FDE/Tan Cerakote throughout. IOR Valdada Recon 4-28x50 extreme long range scope. Deluxe Padded Drag Bag with built in shoulder straps and back strap. Pockets and compartments for all accessories including ammo. The bag converts into a shooting mat in the field. This magnificent firearm, complete with its impressive array of accessories, shows no evidence of use and everything, including the rifle and scope, remain in absolutely mint condition throughout. It would appear that this may be a law-abidding citizen's last opportunity to own one of these Icons of the days when private citizens were actually free! Better buy it while you still can!! Think about that.

Brasher, London. Very fine .48 cal. Breech-loading, flintlock, turn-off, folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1815 - Price $2250

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 02:01:05 GMT

Brasher, London. Very fine .48 cal. Breech-loading, flintlock, turn-off, folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1815. Overall length 6”. Nicely engraved and retains a pleasi ng gray patina showing little use. Cock screw an old replacement. Very nice walnut stock with vacant oval silver escutcheon. The safety incorporates both the cock and the frizzen, a feature found only on the best guns of this type. Beautifully made and mechanically perfect showing little evidence of use.

John Twigg, London. Exceptionally fine and rare early breech-loading, boxlock, .49 cal., flintlock turn-off, folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1765 - Price $3450

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:58:02 GMT

John Twigg, London. Exceptionally fine and rare early breech-loading, boxlock, .49 cal., flintlock turn-off, folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1765. Overall length 6 ¼” . Nicely engraved breech with Twigg’s first form of signature used during the period 1760 - 1770. Highest quality sliding safety incorporating both the cock and frizzen. The rounded butt stock with vacant silver escutcheon is very finely checkered. Additionally, this superb little gun has a roller frizzen, the purpose of which was to reduce friction providing for a faster ignition sequence. This feature was commonly used on the finest, full-size, pistols and long guns of the day, however, this treatment was almost never lavished upon pocket pistols and is a testament to Twigg’s legendary attention to detail and quality in every firearm that bore his signature. Overall crisp, mechanically perfect, with immaculate fit and finish throughout and still retaining traces of the original finish. A superb example of this type of firearm.

Knights, Suffolk. Very high quality breech-loading, .46 cal., flintlock, turn-off folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1800 - Price $1950

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:55:57 GMT

Knights, Suffolk. Very high quality breech-loading, .46 cal., flintlock, turn-off folding trigger pocket pistol, ca. 1800. Beautifully engraved action body with nice pat ina. Walnut stock in fine condition with vacant silver shield. Sliding safety. For those who may not understand the functioning of the “folding trigger”, the trigger lays perfectly flush with the underside of the action until the cock is moved from the half-cock to full-cock position. During the cocking of the lock mechanism the “folding trigger” springs out into position ready to fire the gun. The reason for such a mechanism, of course, was to keep the gun as compact as possible for concealment sake and also to give less chance of something getting caught or hung up on clothing during rapid retrieval of the firearm when the chips were down. The “folding trigger” was a relatively intricate mechanism requiring greater skill on the part of the gunmaker and more time to construct, hence, these were relatively expensive pistols in their day. This example remains in fine, mechanically perfect, condition throughout.

Rare Tranter Patent Revolver in .450 caliber with Rhodesian Military Proofs, ca. 1880 - Price $3200

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 01:52:56 GMT

Rare Tranter Patent Revolver in .450 caliber with Rhodesian Military Proofs, ca. 1880. 4” barrel. About 60% original blue finish remains on barrel. Traces of original f inish on action. Wood grips in good condition showing little wear and with the initial, “M”, on the left side at the butt. Overall a very collectable piece of African history.

Manton Double-Edged Knife Price: $650.00

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:37:05 GMT

Beautiful Damascus steel, double-edged, spear point camp knife reproduced by us right out of the 1925 Manton "Centenary" Catalogue. Forged entirely by hand by our own old world craftsmen and not to be confused with most of the cheap "Damascus knives" on the market today.

Overall length is 13 with a 2" blade width, and heavy enough for light wood chopping duty. This knife is an ideal companion to carry in the bush both for general camp use and for defense. Solid brass quillon and genuine checkered buffalo horn handle. Comes in its own leather sheath. Available nowhere else.

Just a reminder ALL of our Damascus steel knives are hand forged to final shape, then the cutting edge only is ground sharp on an emery wheel. Most of the inexpensive "Damascus" knives on the market today are ground down to shape from a machine-forged billet and are of vastly inferior quality and performance. As with many of the items on our website, all of our knives are completely handmade, and can never be mass produced.

Contact us (showroom@drake.net or 270-753-7200) to purchase and arrange payment.

Malay Jungle Knife Price: $550.00

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:34:36 GMT

This beautifully curved hand forged Damascus blade was originally designed for hacking through the Malay Jungle and saw extensive use in the construction of thatched roof huts. Handle is polished genuine buffalo horn and sheath is rugged buffalo hide. Put this knife to work, it can take it with ease.

Just a reminder ALL of our Damascus steel knives are hand forged to final shape, then the cutting edge only is ground sharp on an emery wheel. Most of the inexpensive "Damascus" knives on the market today are ground down to shape from a machine-forged billet and are of vastly inferior quality and performance. As with many of the items on our website, all of our knives are completely handmade, and can never be mass produced.

Reproduction Keeslar Knife Price: $850

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:30:27 GMT

Every camper or outdoors person needs this hand forged Damascus knife. Strap on the sturdy buffalo hide harness with adjustable brass Chicago screws and attach it to your belt for the most comfortable and easily accessible knife you'll ever own. Knife hangs inconspicuously against your side and heavy-duty snap holds it safely in place. A one handed brisk tug on the polished genuine buffalo horn handle and it instantly releases for use.

An excellently crafted reliable tool designed to be utilized in the wilderness. A best seller!

Just a reminder ALL of our Damascus steel knives are hand forged to final shape, then the cutting edge only is ground sharp on an emery wheel. Most of the inexpensive "Damascus" knives on the market today are groundown to shape from a machine-forged billet and are of vastly inferior quality and performance. As with many of the items on our website, all of our knives are completely handmade, and can never be mass produced.

Contact us (showroom@drake.net or 270-753-7200) to purchase and arrange payment.

Baldock Spear Knife Price: $650

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:26:27 GMT

Beautiful hand forged Damascus steel blade with brass guard and blued spring steel handle. This is an exact reproduction of an English survival knife, ca. 1870. The 9 " blade with hollow handle has a special grip feature that facilitates a secure mounting on the end of a shaft to form a spear- simply hack a branch from a tree and slide it into the handle. Ingenious design that is just as useful today as when it was introduced in the mid-1800's. A neat and versatile work horse of a tool with exaggerated serrations on the dorsal side for sawing and elongated double sided sharpened point for thrusting.

Superb quality in every detail. Overall length is 14".

12 bore nitro-paradox, 740gr solid, .735 dia. bullet, 2.5" red plastic Price: $190/box

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 20:54:02 GMT

Holland and Holland cartridges for Paradox ball and shot guns.

12 bore nitro-paradox, 740gr solid, .735 dia. bullet, 2.5" red plastic.
10 cartridges per box
________________________________________________________
**Prices are per box of 25 cartridges. Subject to increased shipping costs due to weight if multiple boxes are purchased. Please email if you would like your additional shipping quote.Non-refundable & non-returnable**

List of available ammunition:
Hunting & High Performance Cartridges
12g 'Royal' Game, 1-1/16 oz- 6 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Red Plastic
12g 'Royal' Game, 1-1/8 oz- 6 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Red Plastic
16g 'Royal' Game, 15/16 oz- 8.5 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Blue Plastic
20g 'Royal' Game, 13/16 oz- 7 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Yellow Plastic
20g 'Royal' Game, 7/8 oz- 7.5 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Yellow Plastic

Hunting Cartridges- in Paper Hulls
12g 'Royal' Game, 1 oz- 6 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Red Paper
12g 'Royal' Game, 1-1/16 oz- 5 shot size- Fibre- 2.5" Red Paper

Paradox Ball & Shot Guns
12 Bore Nitro-Paradox- 740gr Solid- .735 dia. Bullet- Fiber- 2.5" Red Plastic

Contact us (showroom@drake.net or 270-753-7200) to purchase and arrange payment.