PERTHSHIRE.- Now in its 48th year, Gavin Gardiner Ltd.’s annual auction of Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns, will be held at the world-famous Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland at 6pm on Monday, August 24, 2015. The prestigious auction attracts buyers from around the world – from the USA to Europe to Australia – to purchase pieces by the greatest makers and over the years, attracting world-record prices.

This year’s sale will be no different with items by the best Scottish and English makers. Among the highlights is a fine pair of 20-bore Holland & Holland Sporting model over and under ejector guns. Built in 2000, the guns carry an estimate of £60,000-£80,000. They would cost over £160,000 if ordered new today.

Also included is a pair of 12-bore assisted opening round action ejector guns by highly sought-after Edinburgh gunmaker John Dickson & Son. Built in 1932 for Lt Col Archibald Douglas Crabbe, they are estimated to fetch £8,000-12,000. More unusual items from the Scottish maker are a silver-mounted drinking flask (est: £400-600) and a nickel Norfolk Liar Game Counter is estimated at £300-500.

Another item with a known provenance is a pair of 16-bore pinfire hammer guns that were built by Albert Staehle for Prince Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, Heir of Brunswick, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (1845-1923) – the last Hanoverian prince to hold a British royal title and the Order of the Garter. Estimated to fetch £2,000-3,000, the guns have gold lined decoration surrounding scenes of game in landscapes and are engraved with a crown and the entwined intials "AE", surmounted with a Prince's crown. Although he was the senior male-line great grandson of George III, the Duke of Cumberland was deprived of his British peerages and honours for having sided with Germany in World War I.

Also included is a gun that was built for the King of Portugal by Cogswell & Harrison in 1902. The 12-bore “Avant Tout” model is estimated at £500-800.

A fine 16-bore sidelock ejector gun by London makers J. Woodward & Sons, which is being sold with a fascinating file of correspondence relating to the ordering of the gun is expected to fetch £14,000-18,000. Included in the archive is the first letter of initial enquiry dated November 1935; the original invoice dated July 15th 1936; a receipt for £160 11s 6d dated September 1936 and the final letter dated November 27th 1936. The gun appears virtually unused and has remained in the vendor's family from new.

Gavin Gardiner’s sales regularly unearths more memorable pieces and an e-bore (I.34 inch diameter) percussion gun dating from the 1840s - measuring 123 inches (over 3 metres) will no doubt attract some attention. It is estimated at £1,000-1,500. The sale will include over 200 lots of fine sporting guns, rifles and shooting accessories dating from 1860 to the present day by worldclass makers such as Purdey, Holland & Holland, Boss & Co and Westley Richards. The Gleneagles Hotel is a famous sporting venue in its own right and the sale is held during the first two weeks of the Grouse shooting season.