Rarities on offer at Mitchells’ Country Sporting Sale – Cumbria Crack

A rare gun made in Whitehaven is just one of the highlights in Mitchells next Country Sporting Sale.
The Cockermouth saleroom’s auction, from Wednesday April 26 to Friday April 28, also features Wilk hunting cartoons, fishing items, artwork and taxidermy.
The rare Victorian W Horton of Whitehaven muzzle loading percussion shotgun is one of only a handful known to be in existence.
William Horton worked as a gun maker in Whitehaven from 1857 until 1864 when he moved to Glasgow.
Auctioneers have given the shotgun a conservative estimate of £200 to £300 however it could sell for considerably more given its rarity.
The most valuable lot in the sale is likely to be a pair of AYA No2 20 bore sidelock ejector shotguns with an auction estimate of £3,000 to £3,500.
Other notable shooting lots include a Victorian Bussey Gyro Pigeon launcher, an early form of clay pigeon device invented by Yorkshireman George Bussey in 1872, which is expected to sell for £450 to £500.
William Horton of Whitehaven muzzle loading shotgun
Bussey Gyro Pigeon Launcher
A pair of AYA shotguns
Gun case
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A fine Victorian oak and brass muzzle loader gun case with leather fitted interior by Joseph Harkom of Edinburgh has an estimate of £180 to £220.
Amongst the sporting artworks for sale are two Wilk cartoons by the Keswick illustrator John ‘Wilk’ Wilkinson (1906-1994) who was renowned for his caricatures of Lakeland characters.
One of the cartoons shows the Blencathra Foxhounds and a sporty old lady vexed at the slow progress of the hounds which has an estimate of £250 to £300.
Another showing Stan Elwood of the Black Coombe Beagles, Make way for the Mayor of Troutbeck, has an estimate of £180 to £220.
An interesting watercolour of Wilk himself by his son Billy Wilkinson is expected to sell for £70 to £100.
Wilk by his son
Wilk – Stan Elwood
Wilk – Blencathra
Mitchells Country Sale
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A fine 19th century oil on board painting of a pair of Grey Partridge by Thomas Target has a valuation of £350 to £550 and a pen and ink drawing of fallow deer by Neil Mcreddie which is printed in Richard Prior’s book Deer Watch has an estimate of £80 to £120.
A good quality gouache watercolour of a dog with an illegible signature should make £40 to £60. A Spode dinner service with hunting scenes has an estimate of £100 to £150.
Highlights amongt the fishing lots are a Hardy Fisherman’s carry all compendium with an estimate of £300 to £500, a Hardy Sirrus Salmon Fly reel which should make £150 to £200, a Sage Z-Axis 9’6” Trout fly rod estimated at £120 to £180 and a Hardy Sirrus trout fly rod and a Hardy Swift 9’6” trout fly rod, both with estimates of £100 to £150 each.
Also for sale is a Hardy Angel Trout fly reel line 6 to 7 with an estimate of £140 to £160.
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Hardy Angel trout fly reel
Hardy Sirrus trout fly rod
Among the taxidermy is a brown trout caught in Bassenthwaite Lake and mounted by Peter Scott, a respected local taxidermist from Barepot in Workington who recently passed away. The trout is expected to sell for £100 to £150.
A taxidermy by Tony Armistead, of Darlington, of a pair of Victorian Wryneck birds, recased with a watercolour background, is expected to make £300 to £400.
The first day of the sale on Wednesday April 26 will include guns and ammunition.
Day two on Thursday April 27 will feature shooting accessories, ceramics, books and pictures.
Fishing rods, reels and tackle will be sold on day three of the sale on Friday April 28.
An illustrated catalogue can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells where salegoers can also register to bid live online during the auction.
Alternatively lots can be viewed in person at Mitchells town centre saleroom in Cockermouth on Monday April 24 from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday April 25 from 10am until 7pm and throughout each day of the sale.
A printed, text only catalogue is available for £2 from the saleroom.
Anyone requiring further information about these and other lots featured in the auction are asked to contact auctioneer James Moore on 01900 827800.
Entries are now invited for Mitchells next Antiques & Fine Art Sale from June 14 to June 16 with a closing date for entries of Tuesday May 16.
For free valuations of items for sale contact Auctioneers James Forster and Mark Wise on 01900 827800.
For valuations in the South Lakes and wider area including Furness, North Lancashire and The Dales, contact Mitchells’ Windermere-based valuer David Brookes at [email protected]
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