Gun

The rarity of an unusual saleroom visitor - and its original condition - was confirmed after research by Bonhams’ arms and armour department.

A wheellock sporting arm from the renowned Cabinet d’Armes of King Louis XIII (1601-43) is for sale at Rock Island Auction Company (RIAC) from August 23-25.

A flintlock duck gun hailed as exceptional by Olympia Auctions fully lived up to its billing when it shot past an estimate of £60,000-80,000 to hammer down at £380,000 on June 26.

Key and pistol combination stands out in a comprehensive firearms collection offered during a dedicated sale staged on home turf

A shotgun built for sharpshooter Annie Oakley in 1888 and used during a significant period of her career has sold for $210,000 (£170,100) in Denver, Pennsylvania.

Despite its many shortcomings in terms of accuracy and reliability, the flintlock Long Land Pattern smoothbore musket – or Brown Bess to give it its more familiar nickname – remained in use from 1722 until the introduction of the percussion cap in 1838.

While London gun-makers featured heavily – and lucratively – at Gavin Gardiner’s (25% buyer’s premium) auction of Modern & Vintage Sporting Guns on December 14, provincial makers also got a look in.

At first glance this early 18th century British-made sporting flintlock is nothing particularly out of the ordinary, despite being impressively engraved and relief carved.

On account of its extraordinary appearance, the Nock seven-barrelled flintlock volley gun has become something of an icon of warfare in the Age of Sail.

As famous last words go, those of Major General John Sedgwick in the American Civil War take some beating.

The government has reminded owners of certain old firearms that they will need to obtain a licence following a change in the law from September 22.

The gun Pat Garrett used to kill Billy the Kid has been sold for a world auction record for any firearm at Bonhams in Los Angeles.

London-made flintlocks with a solid provenance to Alexander Hamilton took to the stage at US sale

The outstanding lot in the arms and armour sale held in London on June 30 by Thomas Del Mar (25% buyer’s premium) was the £96,000 16th century Augsburg close helmet illustrated on the front page of last week’s ATG (No 2501).

Two lots from the March 30 live online auction held by Antony Cribb (22% buyer’s premium) of Newbury are shown here.

Once the humble playthings of boys the world over, airguns now attract a keen collector following.

The German Maxim machine gun was used to devastating effect on Allied troops during the First World War.

Boss over-and-under guns from the golden age of London gunmaking have long ranked among the most sought by game shots.

At Bonhams in London this single-barrelled 28-bore made in 1877 for one of the sons of Prince Duleep Singh reached £20,000.