The worlds gone Britannia mad !

[ratbuster2240]

Rich, I think the retro 'tootsie roll' pump handle makes them a bit more desirable than the later chunkier ones. But not as desirable as the earlier 312. The rifles looked as though they had been stored in a shed with light surface rust, but the Benjamin being phosphor bronze didn't.
It had the usual crack at the grip from incorrect pumping technique.

The knackered 1960s Benjamin 342 without a rear site and a badly repaired stock was my banker cheap plaything....and it went for £120 hammer price
Are these more desirable than I thought?
Rich.

[Graemevw]

Out of interest, does anyone have the hammer prices to hand, to see what the guns actually made ?

Lakey

They haven't published, and I didn't take notes, but I think They made between 300-350 for the cheapest and it was either 500 or 600 for the most expensive.
Plus commission, which was nearly 27% online.

[averageplinker]

Rich, I think the retro 'tootsie roll' pump handle makes them a bit more desirable than the later chunkier ones. But not as desirable as the earlier 312. The rifles looked as though they had been stored in a shed with light surface rust, but the Benjamin being phosphor bronze didn't.
It had the usual crack at the grip from incorrect pumping technique.

I did like the look of it and can see that they are desirable but I guess my question was whether £120 plus charges is the going rate for a project gun like that one?

I have fallen for the charm of pumpers a little since Lawrie and Ped helped me sort my Sharp Ace. I thought if I could get it for about £60-70 all in I would be doing ok. Clearly some others liked it more than me.

Rich.

[ratbuster2240]

Since the pandemic I have seen the older guns sell for a lot more £s. I'm guessing it's because people aren't travelling or socialising as much and instead spending their money on something they can do at home.

I agree with pumpers having charm. I think they got the Sharp Ace spot on. Unlike the Benjamins they are easy to scope and moderate.

I did like the look of it and can see that they are desirable but I guess my question was whether £120 plus charges is the going rate for a project gun like that one?

I have fallen for the charm of pumpers a little since Lawrie and Ped helped me sort my Sharp Ace. I thought if I could get it for about £60-70 all in I would be doing ok. Clearly some others liked it more than me.

Rich.

[micky2]

Out of interest, does anyone have the hammer prices to hand, to see what the guns actually made ?

Lakey

The Brits made £260,£280,£340,£340,and £550 which might have been a .25, the Rangers made £260,£340. all of them hammer prices. Haenel 28 pistol £320

[Jerry Cornelius]

The Brits made £260,£280,£340,£340,and £550 which might have been a .25, the Rangers made £260,£340. all of them hammer prices. Haenel 28 pistol £320

Mmm, so about £330 all in for the cheapest, and they all looked pretty much project guns to me

I’m not regretting having passed this time.

[slug-gun]

Interesting how there are different folks for different strokes, as they say. ie clearly there are those who will happily pay top money at a provincial auction for items that, were they to appear on a table at Kempton Park for example, would remain there all day unsold, most probably?

[old goat]

Interesting how there are different folks for different strokes, as they say. ie clearly there are those who will happily pay top money at a provincial auction for items that, were they to appear on a table at Kempton Park for example, would remain there all day unsold, most probably?

It is interesting, with a mate shared a stall a couple of times at Kempton and sold lots of guns, but only one or two at the asking price even given all where keenly priced, some of the buyers seemed to have Boot Sale mentally with silly offers

Never bought anything at auction but I suspect most buyers never attend and bid online and get caught up with the moment, paying over the odds for everyday guns with out even seeing or handling them, something they are welcome to do at Kempton

[Lakey]

At the end of the day, when all is said and done Britannias are not common guns. Only made for three years at the start of last century.

To see five of them in one auction ( I suspect from the same source, is pretty unusual I think. ( And there was the cylinder and Bayonet spring guide from a 6th gun in the auction as well )

Lakey

[old goat]

Was not suggesting Britannias are everyday guns, but i have seen quite a few at the Kempton sales, just find it interesting the difference people are willing to pay from the various sales outlets

[Binners]

Well, I can assure you it wasn't me - I was nearly killed in the rush to bid £35. Although judging by the prices one was a lot better than the rest. Had you actually viewed them, Pete? Or can anybody else explain?.

Comfort yourself with the thought that nobody gets everything. I'm sure there was a story behind a hoard like that and I for one would like to hear it. Was the vendor even one of us? I did my sums and knew I had to buy several to justify the expenses. Unfortunately that would not have benefitted the vendor in the least and the flak I'd have got at home for embarking on a 350 mile round trip may not have been worth the effort.

Luckily what happens in NZ stays there.

ATB, Mick

No, never viewed em mate, just the pictures online. I don't buy from auctions, especially one that gets mentioned on here

[micky2]

I thought they where good buys even with the auction fees added, as one of the above posts says they are rare. compare it with the price of the Haenel 28 pistol. l know which one l would have. l remember about 10 years ago, one went in auction for £800 hammer price. and only looked to be in average condition.

[ogilkes]

Interesting how there are different folks for different strokes, as they say. ie clearly there are those who will happily pay top money at a provincial auction for items that, were they to appear on a table at Kempton Park for example, would remain there all day unsold, most probably?

That's the insanity of auctions. Bidders get into a feeding frenzy. Cast my eye over the Brits. too but te bank manager would not like it if I bought one at the moment.

[Diabolical]

Me too
Some poor bu55er will be sad if he buys them blind.....

I had a chance to view these and also attend the auction as I am very local to it. They were ALL .177, and they all had issues as far as originality eg replacement through bolts some with nuts on the other side and in what I would describe as being poor/fair condition. The best of the bunch was Lot 172 which was in fair condition but had a repro seesaw rear sight, which I believe is incorrect for serial number 749 but I'm no expert on Brittannias although I do own a nice one. This one fetched £550 hammer, the auction house had a buyer's premium of about 20% inc Vat if bidding in the room. Add a further 6% or 3% for online platforms. The other Brittanias went for the following (hammer price)

Lot 152 £260
Lot 155 £280
Lot 156 £340
Lot 173 £370 (I think.......)

The other guns sold for
A very rusty early HW 80 £150
Telly Repetier £95
BSA Break Down (rough) £110
Haenel 28 (good) £320
Webley Rangers, £260 and £340 (one had a 'locked up' action)
Benjamin £130
Webley Junior £65
Theoben HE £380

Yes, I was busy with my notepad! I only bid on the Haenel until it got to £150. The Theoben was the best airgun there, and was in very good condition.

Auctions are funny things! When buying without being able to view I've had some great buys, but also picked up a few dogs along the way!

[Graemevw]

I had a chance to view these and also attend the auction as I am very local to it. They were ALL .177, and they all had issues as far as originality eg replacement through bolts some with nuts on the other side and in what I would describe as being poor/fair condition. The best of the bunch was Lot 172 which was in fair condition but had a repro seesaw rear sight, which I believe is incorrect for serial number 749 but I'm no expert on Brittannias although I do own a nice one. This one fetched £550 hammer, the auction house had a buyer's premium of about 20% inc Vat if bidding in the room. Add a further 6% or 3% for online platforms. The other Brittanias went for the following (hammer price)

Lot 152 £260
Lot 155 £280
Lot 156 £340
Lot 173 £370 (I think.......)

The other guns sold for
A very rusty early HW 80 £150
Telly Repetier £95
BSA Break Down (rough) £110
Haenel 28 (good) £320
Webley Rangers, £260 and £340 (one had a 'locked up' action)
Benjamin £130
Webley Junior £65
Theoben HE £380

Yes, I was busy with my notepad! I only bid on the Haenel until it got to £150. The Theoben was the best airgun there, and was in very good condition.

Auctions are funny things! When buying without being able to view I've had some great buys, but also picked up a few dogs along the way!

Even from the pics, 172 looked the best. It was the one I was most interested in bidding on, but unseen, I was going to bow out at about £450 including fees.
Maybe I was being unrealistic.

How rough was the breakdown?