Product Details
JOHN DICKSON & SON
A FINE 10-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 4048,
No.2 of a pair, 29in. nitro reproved bold damascus barrels (in 2004), broad rib engraved 'JOHN DICKSON & SON, 63 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH.', 67mm chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both, J.D & S patent action incorporating Purdey patent double bite, patent no. 1104 of 1863, use number 5203, carved percussion fences with beaded borders, rebounding sidelocks, broad strikers, best fine acanthus scroll engraving, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 1/2in. highly-figured stock (cracked and repaired at hand) with sling eyes and including engraved steel buttplate with backstrap, fore-end with grip release catch, weight 9lb. 5oz.
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this shotgun was completed as a best double toplever 10-bore to match gun No. 3370, with 29in. barrels. It was completed on December 27th 1886.
Further research undertaken by author Donald Dallas confirms that the gun was made for the eccentric collector Charles Gordon, and the following information was kindly supplied by Donald:
"Charles Gordon was a man of wealth and substance, born into an old established family, but a man of unsound mind with a mania for collecting, not only guns but wine, fishing tackle and books, a man who bankrupted his estate ending his days alone with all his possessions sold, insane and incapable of running his affairs.
Charles Gordon was born in 1853, but shortly after his birth his mother died and since his father was a serving army officer, he was adopted by his aunt and uncle who lived at Halmyre House near Peebles in the Scottish Borders. By the time he was fourteen, his uncle and aunt had both died and although he inherited the large Halmyre Estate along with a considerable income, he was left alone to fend for himself. He was of unsound mind throughout his life, one aspect of this being a desire to collect on a massive scale. He bought over 300 guns, rifles and pistols of the very best quality, all in sumptuous cases, about half being muzzle-loaders, a system that was completely obsolete at the time of purchase. Even his breech-loaders were quirky and out of date and he never fired the majority of his collection.
In 1908 a Curator Bonis had to be appointed to direct his life and his house, estate and his possessions were all sold including his gun collection. He died in 1918 in a humble cottage on his old estate."
Other Notes: Holt's Auctioneers - Lot 1599, September 2009.
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Estimate £2,500-3,500
S2