Holts Auction Highlights.

[Abasmajor]

Some personal highlights from today's Holts London Auction:

Lot 612 Cogswell & Harrison combination Shotgun Airgun £1,500 hammer, total £1,930
Lot 615 Giffard 4.5mm Co2 pistol £2,500 hammer, total £3,250
Lot 624 Webley Senior pistol modified for shop display £130 hammer, total £169
Lot 626 A.G. Parker Crank wound pistol £800 hammer, total £1,040
Lot 627 Titan 4th Series pistol £220 hammer, total £286.
Lot 628 ABAS Major pistol (crackle finish) hammer £380 total £494
Lot 629 Westley Richards Highest Possible £520 hammer, total £676
Lot 630 Factory case for Greener Air Rifle Unsold max bid hammer £280, total £364
Lot 633 Improved Model Brittania hammer £400, total £520
Lot 634 Lincoln Jeffries pistol (greasegun) hammer £340, total £442
Lot 635 ABAS Major pistol (3rd Series) hammer £780, total £1014
Lot 640 Webley mk2 Service (.177) hammer £840, total £1,040
Lot 650 ABAS Major pistol hammer £420, total £546

As usual much of the bidding seemed to be coming from the internet.

Regards

Brian

[Garvin]

Some personal highlights form today's Holts London Auction:

Lot 612 Cogswell & Harrison combination Shotgun Airgun £1,500 hammer, total £1,930
Lot 615 Giffard 4.5mm Co2 pistol £2,500 hammer, total £3,250
Lot 624 Webley Senior pistol modified for shop display £130 hammer, total £169
Lot 626 A.G. Parker Crank wound pistol £800 hammer, total £1,040
Lot 627 Titan 4th Series pistol £220 hammer, total £286.
Lot 628 ABAS Major pistol (crackle finish) hammer £380 total £494
Lot 629 Westley Richards Highest Possible £520 hammer, total £676
Lot 630 Factory case for Greener Air Rifle Unsold max bid hammer £280, total £364
Lot 633 Improved Model Brittania hammer £400, total £520
Lot 634 Lincoln Jeffries pistol (greasegun) hammer £340, total £442
Lot 635 ABAS Major pistol (3rd Series) hammer £780, total £1014
Lot 640 Webley mk2 Service (.177) hammer £840, total £1,040
Lot 650 ABAS Major pistol hammer £420, total £546

As usual much of the bidding seemed to be coming from the internet.

Regards

Brian

Thanks, Brian.

The Cogswell was unsold according to Holts' website, because the bids didn't make the reserve.

[Abasmajor]

Thanks, Brian.

The Cogswell was unsold according to Holts' website, because the bids didn't make the reserve.

Hi Danny,

Thanks for the correction I must have misheard the auctioneer in relation to the Cogswell & Harrison. Did the sale have any surprises for you ? I thought most air gun items sold at about the right price unlike the Colt Percussion revolvers which seem to be suffering relative decline in value.

Regards
Brian

[Garvin]

Did the sale have any surprises for you ? I thought most air gun items sold at about the right price unlike the Colt Percussion revolvers which seem to be suffering relative decline in value.

Regards
Brian

Not really, I agree with you Brian.

The Webley Service Mk2 series II did well, but it looks like a cracking example.

Prices/demand for the more common Giffard CO2 rifles appear to have taken a beating, but an awful lot seem to have been up for sale recently. I keep thinking of something DT Fletcher said a while ago about them having been impractical to refill when new, which might explain why so many look like they've spent the last 100 years in the back of the cabinet... Looks like he might have a point.

Probably the Titan looks the best value on your list, although it was refinished.

[Abasmajor]

Not really, I agree with you Brian.

The Webley Service Mk2 series II did well, but it looks like a cracking example.

Prices/demand for the more common Giffard CO2 rifles appear to have taken a beating, but an awful lot seem to have been up for sale recently. I keep thinking of something DT Fletcher said a while ago about them having been impractical to refill when new, which might explain why so many look like they've spent the last 100 years in the back of the cabinet... Looks like he might have a point.

Probably the Titan looks the best value on your list, although it was refinished.

Hi Danny,

I thought the ABAS Majors reflected their current value well, especially as there was more than one on offer. I would really love to own a Giffard Co2 pistol, but £3000 plus is a bit above my head. Doesn't stop me dreaming though.

Regards

Brian

[oneseven]

I had a good look at the Giffard rifles on Tuesday. Amazing looking things. Some of the boxes webley hurricanes and tempests reached very high numbers in my opinion and the Walter LP53 went £300 before fees so was too rich for me sadly.

[DT Fletcher]

Prices/demand for the more common Giffard CO2 rifles appear to have taken a beating, but an awful lot seem to have been up for sale recently. I keep thinking of something DT Fletcher said a while ago about them having been impractical to refill when new, which might explain why so many look like they've spent the last 100 years in the back of the cabinet... Looks like he might have a point.

Not sure what I originally wrote but I think it is pretty clear that use of any Giffard CO2 model would be tied to the local availability of CO2 (The CO2 Giffard models only came out in 1890 because at the same time CO2 first became commercially available in Paris.) Any interruption of that commercial supply would affect being able to use the guns. My guess is that this supply may have been interrupted by WWI. Production of liquid CO2 requires rather substantial pumps to compress the gas to the point that it will turn to the liquid state.

There is also the problem that no customer refilling seems to have been anticipated, since, it's my understanding, refill required return to factory. Once the Giffard company ceased to operate, use of the Giffard CO2 models would have to be a difficult proposition.

There are a number of CO2 designs (Winsel, Crosman CG) that were produced in the US that, because of awkward CO2 supply requirements, resulted in the same situation where, when found, they are almost always in near new condition.

[shabee]

Had a look at the greener case online, looks as if its either never been used or its been relined if indeed it is an original greener product. Anyone know? Or whos was the greener collection in question?
eric
BTW i know to/have seen and maybe had a go with giffards filled with comp air.

[micky2]

Some personal highlights from today's Holts London Auction:

Lot 612 Cogswell & Harrison combination Shotgun Airgun £1,500 hammer, total £1,930
Lot 615 Giffard 4.5mm Co2 pistol £2,500 hammer, total £3,250
Lot 624 Webley Senior pistol modified for shop display £130 hammer, total £169
Lot 626 A.G. Parker Crank wound pistol £800 hammer, total £1,040
Lot 627 Titan 4th Series pistol £220 hammer, total £286.
Lot 628 ABAS Major pistol (crackle finish) hammer £380 total £494
Lot 629 Westley Richards Highest Possible £520 hammer, total £676
Lot 630 Factory case for Greener Air Rifle Unsold max bid hammer £280, total £364
Lot 633 Improved Model Brittania hammer £400, total £520
Lot 634 Lincoln Jeffries pistol (greasegun) hammer £340, total £442
Lot 635 ABAS Major pistol (3rd Series) hammer £780, total £1014
Lot 640 Webley mk2 Service (.177) hammer £840, total £1,040
Lot 650 ABAS Major pistol hammer £420, total £546

As usual much of the bidding seemed to be coming from the internet.

Regards

Brian

Hi Brian the crackle finish ABAS didn't sell either according to their site, what was the box like. l thought the improved brittania was a good buy, l paid more than that quite a few years ago in about the same condition, the moden Webleys were way over the top in my oppion, and quite a lot for the Bedford & Walker as well.

[Abasmajor]

Hi Brian the crackle finish ABAS didn't sell either according to their site, what was the box like. l thought the improved brittania was a good buy, l paid more than that quite a few years ago in about the same condition, the moden Webleys were way over the top in my oppion, and quite a lot for the Bedford & Walker as well.

Hi Micky,

I didn't attend the sale in person and must have misheard the auctioneer regarding the ABAS as I did with the Cogswell & Harrison corrected by Danny. It might be an an age thing although some auctioneers don't always make it clear that the Lot had been passed. Quite a few of the modern Webleys were from the Webley museum which may have added a bit to their value. Having said that, I understand that this was not a proper museum collection, but more an assortment of bits and pieces brought together for sale when the company ceased trading.

Regards

Brian