Bidding
Terms & Conditions
Before taking part in any of HOLTS Auctions please first download and read our terms and conditions: Terms & Conditions
Privacy policy
If you wish to read about how HOLTS Auctioneers handles your private information and details please read our Privacy Policy.
HOLTS Main Auctions
- Bidding in Person - The simplest way to buy at auction. Turn up, register your intention to bid with us and we will provide you with a bidding number. Use this in the room to attract the attention of our Auctioneers and bid away! Available for our main auctions held at our headquarters in Norfolk
- Telephone Bidding - Once you have registered for a telephone bid one of our team will telephone you on the day, and act on your behalf, upon your instruction in the saleroom. There is no charge for this service, and is available for our main auctions. To arrange a telephone bid please contact us up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction: +44(0)1485 542 822
- Commission Bidding - An absentee bid (also known as a commission bid) can be left up to 24 hours prior to the start of the auction. This can be done in a number of different ways:
- Via our online catalogue HERE. Just look for the “Bid“ button on each lot entry. When you click the button you will asked to register if you are a new customer. Please keep a note somewhere safe of your account email and password
- Via Telephone: +44 (0)1485 542 822 – one of our team will check your details on our system and fill out a form for you
- Via Email: info@holtsauctioneers.com
- Live Online Bidding - Bidding live online is a convenient way to bid live on the day, without the stress of leaving home. Simply register with either Invaluable or The Saleroom and you are able to follow the auction and bid live from the comfort of your own home, whilst still being immersed in the excitement and thrill of the auction day. By registering with Invaluable or The Saleroom you will be provided with a password and be able to interact with the sale via your device connected to the internet
To register for live online bidding via The Saleroom please click:
NOTE: Any bids submitted via the Invaluable and The Saleroom platforms will incur a surcharge on the hammer price of each successful live online bid which will be passed to the buyer. This charge will be collected by HOLTS and therefore included within the purchase invoice.
We have an extensive online catalogue that provides the opportunity to leave bids in advance of any auction: ONLINE CATALOGUE
Sealed Bid Auctions
The Sealed Bid Auction runs alongside our main auction. Please submit a sealed bid through the sealed bid online auction catalogue HERE. Absentee or commission bids (see above) are taken but there is no incremental bidding in this auction. The price you write down is the price you will pay (+ commission + VAT) unless you are outbid by another. There is no live bidding in this auction.Dedicated Online Only Auctions
Please submit a bid through the online only auction catalogue HERE. You will be automatically notified if you have been outbid and given the opportunity to raise your bid if you wish before the auction closes. (Closing time is clearly shown in the online catalogue and on our website).Buyers Premium
HOLTS charge a premium to the buyer on the hammer price of each lot sold at the following rates:
25% up to and including £50,000
20% in excess of the hammer price above £50,000
Any bids submitted via the Invaluable and The Saleroom platforms will incur a surcharge.
For UK residents VAT is payable on the premium at the rate of 20%. This is not recoverable under current UK VAT rules. VAT is also applicable to the hammer price when marked in the lot description as follows:
- Items marked † (dagger symbol) are subject to 20% VAT on the hammer price as the goods are newly manufactured.
- Items marked * are subject to 5% VAT on the hammer price as an antique import
- Items marked ** are subject to 20% VAT on the hammer price as a modern import
- No VAT will be applied to the invoice of any buyer residing outside of the UK
Under each Lot entry in the online catalogue, there is a buyers premium calculator.
The HOLTS App
HOLTS publish each main auction catalogue in a digital format free to download via the HOLTS App, available from both The App Store and Google Play.
Bidding Forms
To submit an absentee bid, known as a commission bid, for any of HOLTS main sales of fine modern and antique guns; please download and complete the bidding form and return it fully completed 24 hours before the start time of the sale:MAIN AUCTION COMMISSION BIDDING FORM
To submit an absentee bid, known as a commission bid, for any of HOLTS sealed bid sales please download and complete the bidding form and return it fully completed by the advertised deadline:
SEALED BID AUCTION COMMISSION BIDDING FORM
Completed forms to be faxed to HOLTS Administration Office on:
+44 (0) 1485 544 463
or scanned and emailed to:
info@holtsauctioneers.com
Licence Requirements
FIREARMS ACT 1968 (AS AMENDED)
Purchasers must hold a valid licence to purchase the item they are bidding on.
Private buyers resident within the UK who have successfully bid on a Section 1 or Section 2 item must send by Recorded Delivery their original shotgun/firearm certificate to Holts in advance of making payment. The certificate will be checked and completed on day of receipt and returned by Recorded Delivery, at which point payment should be made. Successful bidders not in possession of a valid authority are requested to pay a deposit of 95% of the invoice total with the remaining 5% payable once the certificate has been checked and completed.
Antique and Obsolete Calibre weapons are sold as exempt items under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms act – to be held as a curiosity or ornament only. Please note that by bidding on these items you declare that you are not a Prohibited Person as defined by Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended).
Section 5 items may only be bid on by current Section 5 licence holders without exception. A valid Section 5 authority must be produced in order to view prohibited weapons. Overseas buyers should be aware that items classified as Section 5 prohibited weapons under UK law will incur additional shipping charges regardless of their classification outside the UK.
Buyers of items covered by Section 7 should refer to chapter 9 of the Home Office ‘Firearms Law – Guidance to the Police’ for eligibility and restrictions.
Unless prior arrangement has been made, two weeks after the Sealed bid sale, all Section 5 (and Section 7.1 / 7.3) items will be moved to a Section 5 carriers where storage charges will be incurred.
Deactivated Firearms
Please note, under UK Law, you are required to inform the Home Office of possession of a deactivated firearm. A link to the Notification of Possession of a deactivated firearm form can be found HERE.
NOTE TO OVERSEAS BUYERS:
Buyers should satisfy themselves that any purchase can be legally imported into their country of residence, and that they have any relevant authorisation for possession in that country before bidding.
Please be aware that items classified as Section 5 Prohibited Weapons under UK Law will incur additional shipping charges regardless of their classification outside of the UK.
Please be aware that under current UK restrictions, no modern firearms, edged weapons (or component parts) of Russian origin can be exported outside of the United Kingdom.
For further assistance with any of the above please contact HOLTS Account Department.
PROOF AND CONDITION
Please note that the descriptions of firearms in the catalogues are restricted to external examination and the status of proof. Firearms are not stripped as a matter of course and it is recommended that any purchase is stripped and cleaned and that the firing and safety mechanisms are checked by a qualified gunsmith before use.
STOCK ACTION AND FORE-END
Guns sold as Stock, Action and Fore-end only are sold WITHOUT the barrels.
The original barrels may be available for sleeving purposes, but will only be released cut in the approved manner as per Proof House guidelines. There is a charge of £10 per item for this service.
Please note Stock, Action & Fore-end guns are sold as licensable items and will need to be entered onto an appropriate licence before being released. If, subsequently, licensable parts are left with Holts for destruction, a £10 handling charge will be levied.
BLADED PRODUCTS
Bladed products are not for sale to people under the age of 18. By bidding on an edged weapon you are declaring that you are 18 years of age or over. Upon collection photo identification will be required if a person appears under 25, to prove that they are over 18 years old Please be aware that we are unable to send edged weapons or bladed products by postal courier to a UK residential address (Offensive Weapons Act 2019).
AMMUNITION
We are unable to send ammunition and cartridges.
HOLTS Auctioneers deal in GBP only.
EUROPEAN BUYERS
Items that have been imported by us from the EU will also be marked with the country of import. If any of these are purchasedby an EU resident the lot(s) can be reimported for you with no liability for import duty or import VAT. The export and associated import will be administered by us and our agents so that your purchase is an easy process for you. We will ask you to repay to us costs incurred in delivering your items to you and these will be clearly identified and added to your invoice.
Before bidding in any of HOLTS auctions please first download and read our terms and conditions:
Collection & Shipping
FIREARMS SHIPPING PROCEDURE - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
The Auctioneers need to be advised if shipping is not required. For all licensable weapons and modern air weapons, buyers will need to nominate a Registered Firearms Dealer in their locality. The nominated RFD will be required to supply a copy of their RFD certificate to HOLTS by email or post.
Where required, the purchaser must send his/her Firearm or Shotgun certificate by recorded post to: HOLTS Auctioneers, Church Farm Barns, Wolferton, Norfolk, PE31 6HA
On receipt of the necessary certificate(s), the Lot(s) will be packed and the purchaser will be invoiced. Upon receipt of payment, the Lot(s) will be entered onto the purchaser’s certificate and will be shipped to the nominated RFD with the purchaser’s certificate(s).
All firearms, including modern air weapons and antique guns will be packed by HOLTS and shipped via Parcel Force using the standard ExpressAM service.
For firearms export outside the UK please contact:
Greg Morleysmith
Chordline www.chordline.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1306 628 067
Email: info@chordline.co.uk
For delivery to The USA:
Peter Johansen: +44 (0)7962 240 4682
peter@ep-international.biz
PBS International Freight: info@pbs-int.co.uk
PDQ Freight: www.pdq.uk.com - info@pdq.uk.com
For delivery to France, Monaco:
Armurerie du Forestier: +33 (0) 554546022
Abel Davis: +33 (0) 778517105
shipping@armurerieduforestier.fr
Armurerie du Forestier: armurerieduforestier.fr
For delivery to Germany, Austria & Switzerland:
Franziska & Hans Forster
+49 (0) 9181/50958-0
info@krico.eu
Weltweite Spezial-Logistik für den Waffenmarkt: krico.eu
For more detailed information about purchasing at a HOLTS auction and shipping to the U.S.A. please view the following video:
Sundry Lots that do not require a licence (i.e. not guns or ammunition) will be shipped by HOLTS upon shipping request at payment.
COLLECTIONS
Purchases can be collected, by appointment, from HOLTS premises after full settlement of invoice:
Monday to Thursday 12:00 - 17:00
Friday All Day
Excludes UK public holidays
Please ensure you bring all relevant licences & documents as stated in Licence requirements above.
★ Licences with no available space will not be accepted ★
STANDARD UK DELIVERY CHARGES - INCLUDING V.A.T.
Packing & Shipping of:
1-3 guns within Zone 1* Parcelforce Express - £50.00; £10.00 per gun thereafter + insurance (optional)
*Zone 1 – England, Wales & Scotland (excluding Highlands & Islands)
Northern Ireland
1-3 guns within Zone 1* Parcelforce Express - £60.00; £10.00 per gun thereafter + insurance (optional)
Air weapons
Pre 1939 manufacture date – direct to home address – 1-3 guns within Zone 1* Parcelforce Express - £40.00; £10.00 per gun thereafter + insurance (optional)
Post 1939 manufacture date – to RFD only - 1-3 guns within Zone 1* Parcelforce Express - £40.00; £10.00 per gun thereafter + insurance (optional)
Non-Licenseable firearms / anitiques (signed copy of invoice to cover Section 21 / Section 58)
Long Arms (1-3 guns) £40.00; £10.00 per gun thereafter + insurance (optional)
Pistols & Revolvers (1-3 guns) £40.00 per gun + insurance (optional)
Gun Cases
1-3 cases £25.00; £5.00 per case thereafter + insurance (optional)
Walking Sticks
1-5 sticks £20.00 per stick + insurance (optional)
Spears & fishing rods
£25.00
Accessories
Small £15; Medium £20; Large £25
Enquiries – logistics@holtsauctioneers.com
INSURANCE
Insurance is optional. It will be automaticallly applied and removed on request. The maximum cover with Parcelforce is £2,500 for any one package.
(There is no VAT on insurance).
Value of one package:
- Value up to £500 = £4.00
- £500 - £1000 = £8.00
- £1,000 - £1,500 = £12.00
- £1,500 - £2,000 = £16.00
- £2000 - £2,500 = £20.00
If you request we ship and insure a package over £2,500 in value, it is 1.5% of the total value.
Export of Goods - CITES Restrictions
As you may be aware several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, such as but not limited to rhino horn, ivory, coral tortoiseshell and Rosewood (all species). If you are interested in bidding on a lot containing these materials please make sure you are familiar with all relevant local customs regulations prior to bidding.It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to obtain any relevant export or import licence.
If you have any questions regarding import/export of possible CITES restricted items please contact Maxim at worldwide@holtsauctioneers.com before bidding.
Proof and Condition of Firearms
Firearms sold with a Certificate of Unprovability or Proof Exemption have been examined by a Proof House but not subsequently proved. These firearms are being sold as items of interest or curiosity and are not to be considered as safe to use.
Guns sold as Stock, Action and Fore-end only are sold WITHOUT the barrels.
The original barrels may be available for sleeving purposes, but will only be released cut in the approved manner as per Proof House guidelines.
There is a charge of £5 per item for this service.
THIS APPLIES TO ALL BUYERS REGARDLESS OF LICENCE HELD OR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION.
The Wish List
With a worldwide network of representatives, we are confident that we will be able to assist you in sourcing the perfect gun for you.
The process is very straightforward, let us know your details, together with what you are looking for (with a minimum spend of £1,000) by filling in the form and leaving the rest to us.