Product Details
HOLLAND & HOLLAND
A 12-BORE 'BADMINTON NO.2 MODEL' SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 20595,
30in. nitro barrels, rib engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98. NEW BOND STREET. LONDON.', and '2', 21/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. and 1/4 choke, toplever engraved '2', automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, fine border engraving, retaining traces of original colour-hardening, 14 1/4in. figured stock, fore-end with Deeley & Edge patent release catch, weight 6lb. 7oz., in its lightweight leather case (some damage)
Provenance: The vendor's research has established that this shotgun was completed as No.2 of a pair in 1899 with 30in. barrels for 'Mount' and that the guns were split and re-sold by the makers in 1941.
"This gun was purchased by Major Selwyn Lloyd of the 43rd Division Home Force in 1941 and is in its original case. It was originally one of a pair and another Major from the same division purchased its pair at the same time.
Selwyn Lloyd served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1951 to 1954. He then served as Minister of Supply (1954 to 1955) and Minister of Defence (1955) before becoming Foreign Secretary in the same year and his tenure saw the Suez crisis which led to the fall of the Eden Government but he continued to serve as Foreign Secretary under Harold MacMillan until 1960 then becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1960 to 1962 Eden and MacMillan were both keen shots and it is likely that this gun has witnessed many a momentous political debate on the shooting field in particular the infamous shoot attended by President De Gaulle accompanied by numerous body guards who spoilt the shoot lunch by delivering to the cook a quantity of De Gaulle's own blood and to be stored in the refrigerators within the estate's kitchen in case of an assassination attempt.
It was at this shoot that De Gaulle told MacMillan that he was going to veto Britain's entry into the European community. There is no record of the gamekeeper's comments however when the bodyguards' alsatians ran amok through the shooting field.
On Mr Crawford's death the gun travelled to Lancashire and the current owner who has researched the history and had the gun completely overhauled and serviced by Holland and Holland in 2009."
Literature: The Lot is accompanied by the maker's sales invoice detailing recent work carried out by them at the vendor's request.
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Estimate £4,000-6,000
S2