Mitchell’s Antiques is holding its next Country Sporting Sale on 6-8 October 2021. Among top lots are a clock owned by the famous huntsman John Peel, a stuffed golden eagle, an Edwinson Green & Son shotgun and a photograph featuring big game hunter Sir Percy Wyndham.
The sale also features a single-owner collection of some 400 lots of vintage guns and accessories from the ‘Solway Vintage Guns Museum’ founded by Reg Carruthers (1935 to 2021) who entrusted his collection to Mitchells to sell before sadly passing away in January this year.
Reg was a much loved and familiar face around shooting grounds and salerooms in the county in pursuit of his favourite hobbies, shooting and the collection of guns and accessories, including some rare and unusual items. He was a registered Firearms dealer, CPSA safety officer and coach and was chairman of Penrith & District Gun Club for many years. Highlights from his collection are a massive wildfowling Punt gun measuring 8ft 4in in length with an auction estimate of £1,200 to £1,800 and a cased Joseph Lang pinfire double barrel shotgun in fine order which should make £700 to £1,000. The Solway Vintage Guns Museum’s Gundle shop delivery bike dating from the early to mid 20th century is also for sale with an estimate of £100 to £150.
Also for sale in the gun section is an Edwinson Green 12 bore side by side shotgun valued at £5,000 to £6,000, several guns made by the Wallas Family of Wigton and a collection of pre-war BSA airguns. A selection of pigeon decoys made by Daniel Foster, thought to have been a gamekeeper at Cockermouth Castle circa 1930 is also for sale with an estimate of £80 to £120.
Other major highlights in the sale are found amongst the taxidermy which features a massive moose shoulder mount valued at £1,000 to £1,500 from the home of the Carlisle-born author, adventurer and conservationist Dave Hill who wrote “The Arctic , the Inuit and the Polar Bear” in 2016. The taxidermy section also includes a Golden Eagle with mountain hare prey which should make £500 to £800 and a cased 9lb 2oz brown trout caught in Crummock Water on 10th August 1939 with an estimate of £250-£350.
A Simpson of Wigton 30 hour longcase clock with label to the interior stating it had once belonged to the famous huntsman John Peel (1776-1854), along with a bill of sale from G.K. Hadfield in 2003 for £7,400, has a current auction estimate of £250 to £350. A Wilk cartoon by the well-known Keswick artist John William Wilkinson (1906-1994) titled “just tell them it was killed by the hounds” should make £300 to £500. A rare photograph of the Commissioner of Kumaon in India Sir Percy Wyndham, pictured with elephant, gun bearer and beaters, is also for sale with an estimate of £50-£80. Sir Percy Wyndham was a friend of the famous hunter, tracker, naturalist and author Jim Corbett (1875-1955).
The fishing section comprises a range of rods, reels and tackle by well-known makers and includes a House of Hardy “The compleat Angler” Presentation Set which could make £300 to £500. An Orvis CFO 2 Disc trout fly reel, limited production of 72 has an estimate of £200 to £300. Amongst the knives is an Alan Wood handmade knife with an estimate of £120 to £180.
Visit MitchellsAuction.co.uk/antiques-fine-art or The-Saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/mitchells
