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Pistol


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Brace yourselves for Brooker Part 2 at Olympia Auctions

16 June 2025

Foremost among Olympia Auctions’ several collections on offer in the June 25-26 sale are the 96 lots from Robert Brooker’s collection.

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Pair of pistols was ‘given to duke as diplomatic gift’

16 June 2025

The auction history of this highly decorative cased pair of Spanish 22 bore convertible ‘Madrid’ lock pistols goes all the way back to 1843 - with a royal connection.

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Previews: issue 2689

14 April 2025

Our selection of lots from seven upcoming auctions

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Napoleon may have been foiled in his wishes for exile but at least he enjoyed wine and fresh food

30 December 2024

A pair of pistols that were presented by Napoleon just six weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo hammered at £30,000 in Thomas Del Mar’s sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria held at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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Napoleon’s asylum hope went up in smoke

25 November 2024

A pair of pistols that were presented by Napoleon just six weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo are on offer in Thomas Del Mar’s sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria on December 4.

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Lot that shows loads of interest

05 August 2024

The rarity of an unusual saleroom visitor - and its original condition - was confirmed after research by Bonhams’ arms and armour department.

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It was nearly Napoleon Blownapart: pistols he once ‘intended to use on himself’ sell in French auction

05 August 2024

A pair of pistols Napoleon Bonaparte supposedly intended to use on himself after defeat sold for €1.69m (£1.4m) including buyer’s premium at auction house Osenat in Fontainebleau, France.

Napoleon Pistol

Pistols Napoleon wanted to use on himself make £1.4m

09 July 2024

The pistols were presented by Napoleon to his friend and Grand Ecuyer Armand de Caulaincourt to thank him for his loyalty

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Mr Durs Egg describes his pistol power

13 November 2023

Stellar English, Indian and Turkish pieces are promised at Olympia Auctions on December 6 in west London.

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Farmer’s interest in militaria grew rapidly

13 November 2023

A childhood in Wiltshire partly spent picking up ammunition lying around as a result of the Allied preparations for D-Day helped to spark Alexander Jeremy Peckover Penrose’s (known as Jerry) interest in firearms.

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Arms & Armour: Lock and load, old style

13 November 2023

Key and pistol combination stands out in a comprehensive firearms collection offered during a dedicated sale staged on home turf

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Coin purse gives you bang for your buck

28 November 2022

This Victorian purse gun was designed by Oscar Frankenau from Nuremberg and patented in both the UK and the US in 1876.

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British pistols owned by American patriot

28 November 2022

A pair of ornate presentation flintlock pistols made in London and later owned by an American patriot sold for $55,000 (£46,200) at a US saleroom.

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Arms & armour: A pick of Purdey

28 November 2022

Chris Wynne dedicated his collecting energies to early guns by a London maker that became an international brand

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Trio sought after in specialised areas

26 September 2022

The sales at Stride & Son (21.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Chichester on September 1-2 included a trio of avidly contested items, each a rarity in three highly specialised collecting areas.

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London armour sale helps New York museum

15 August 2022

A composite German full armour, c.1500-10, from a European Collection was one of the highlights of Thomas Del Mar’s (25% buyer’s premium) sale of Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria held at Olympia Auctions on June 29.

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Buyer goes deep into Gulley

15 August 2022

This cased pair of English flintlock duelling pistols by Joseph Gulley, London, c.1810-15, sold for £8600 at Halls (20/12% buyer’s premium) in a timed online sale that ended on August 2.

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Hunting pistol has plenty of stopping power

30 May 2022

For 19th century sahibs in tiger country and bwanas dealing with charging lions, howdah pistols like the one offered at West Sussex gun specialist Gavin Gardiner (25% buyer’s premium) were the preferred sidearm.

More firearms licences required after law changes

20 September 2021

The government has reminded owners of certain old firearms that they will need to obtain a licence following a change in the law from September 22.

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Guns belonging to American statesman Alexander Hamilton make $1m

19 July 2021

London-made flintlocks with a solid provenance to Alexander Hamilton took to the stage at US sale