Diggory Hadoke throws his head back and draws in a deep draught of that old, familiar smell… What is it? Why, freedom of course! June saw Holt’s return with a flourish and a full sale, held over two days on…
Holt’s
The latest on gun auctions during Covid-19
Diggory Hadoke takes a virtual tour of the month’s sales, and finds that the gun trade is booming. Many industries have suffered catastrophic damage during the turbulent summer of COVID-19. However, it seems that auctions are weathering the unsettled period…
Tagged with: auction, bids, covid-19, diggory hadoke, Gavin Gardiner, gun trade, Holt's, rifle
Posted in News
Posted in News
Lockdown and beyond: How will gun auctions be affected?
Diggory Hadoke is finding that lockdown is the mother of invention, as he ponders what the future may hold for our industry. The early spring has been gloriously sunny, though my young trees need a good drenching to keep them…
Tagged with: air rifles, auction, coronavirus, diggy hadoke, firearms, gun, gun shop, guns, Holt's, industry, lockdown, RFD, rifles, southams, winchester
Posted in News
Posted in News
Gun auction latest: Multi-stock and WWII rifle
A rare multi-shot flintlock and a rifle once owned by a World War II hero make noise during recent gun auctions, writes Michael E. Haskew Recent Holt’s and Gavin Gardiner auctions brought a pair of guns with stimulating provenance to…
Tagged with: bidders, gavin gardner, gun, gun auction, guns, Holt's, nock gun, rifle, shotgun, shotguns, sideplate, underbarrel
Posted in Features
Posted in Features
A discerning duo
Michael E Haskew returns to share the provenance of a shotgun and a rifle coming up for sale: a handsome Hereward and a princely Purdey The Holt’s December auction and Gavin Gardiner’s Bond Street event feature an outstanding shotgun and…
Trading places
We look back on a summer of deals, and with business deals signed, sealed and delivered at the Game Fair, Diggory Hadoke shares a refreshing take on the industry The Game Fair The weather was varied, the crowds reasonable and…
Tagged with: bonhams, British Game Alliance, business, deals, diggory hadoke, fieldsports, game fair, Gavin Gardiner, gta, gun trade, guns, Holt's, industry, Purdey, shooting, southams, sporting guns
Posted in News
Posted in News
Reaping the rewards with Diggory Hadoke
With the first auctions of the year looming, Diggory Hadoke reflects on the frustrations, tribulations and ultimate rewards of the auction circuit. As I write this in February is beginning to fade into memory, the weather is feeling pretty wintery…
Tagged with: auctions, bonhams, diggory hadoke, Holt's, j-p daeschler, perugini & visini, the army reserve centre, watson bros
Posted in Comment
Posted in Comment
The Viennese faults
Diggory Hadoke explores the possibility of European auction houses usurping classic British sales. An interesting letter appeared on my desk recently. It was from a European auction house and it was asking for consignments from the UK. The auction house…
Wild wild west Kensington
Holt’s have enjoyed big sales of late – and with a change of address and even more hammer action on the horizon, Jonathan Downs gathers for a Holt’s extravaganza. Holt’s Blackheath, London – 13 December 2018 …
Tagged with: 20-bore, buyer, churchill gunmakers, high st kensington, holland & hollandm sporting model, Holt's, John Rigby, jonathan downs, nitro express, sales, sidelock, top seller
Posted in News
Posted in News
‘Hidden gems’ are no longer so hidden, says Diggory Hadoke
‘Hidden gems’ are no longer as elusive as they once were and, as Diggory Hadoke explains, lots from the provincial auctions may be worth the gamble A surprising number of people seem to be buying guns unseen from provincial auctions…
Posted in Comment