Antique Guns and Gun Collecting [antikvár]

Interest in firearms as collectors' pieces is no new fad, for they have been collected almost from the time that they were first invented in the 14th century. New collectors join a distinguished company which has included kings and emperors among its ranks. The Emperor Maximilian maintained a large armoury, and an illustrated hst of the weapons survives. Louis XIII of France (reigned 1610-1643) gathered together a prime selection known today as the Cabinet d'Armes, and not only has the inventory survived but so have many of the weapons. In England the Prince Regent (1762-1830), later to become George IV (reigned 1820-1830), purchased a number of fine weapons which figure on the inventory of Carlton House. However, it must be admitted that prior to the 19th century it was very much a minority pastime; weapons were regarded by most people simply as tools, and it was not until later in the century that a more academic approach began to develop. There was a romantic interest in the Middle Ages, helped by the novels of Sir Walter Scott; swords and armour became popular, and some of this interest was channelled into the collecting of firearms. One of the finest private collections was that built up by the Marquess of Hertford and his son Sir Richard Wallace in the 19th century, and today the Wallace Collection in London houses some of the finest examples of the gun-maker's art from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Collecting was still very limited until early this century when Major H. B. C. Pollard published, in 1926, his book A History of Firearms. Although much of the material is now inaccurate and many of his conclusions were based on insufficient or wrong information, this does not disgrace the author, for he was one of the first to explore the whole history of firearms and encourage their collection. Today original editions of this and other books by Pollard are much sought after. In 1938 another standard work English Pistols and Revolvers by J. N. George was published, and this corrected some errors and went into more detail. In 1942 George was killed in action in North Africa, and his second book, English Guns and Rifles, was completed by S. B. Haw and published in 1947, Both are still very readable and offer a good general grounding in the study of antique firearms. The information in them is still largely relevant, and the illustrations of George's collection have proved invaluable for later students. In the same year there also appeared a small booklet by James Frith entitled Pistols, Their History and Development, which gave some advice on collecting, and today this paperback is prized by collectors. During World War II, from 1942 onwards, England suffered an invasion which was peaceful and welcome, for into this country flooded a large number of Americans. Perhaps because of their long frontier tradition and the Civil War of 1861-1865, the Americans have always been interested in firearms. For many of them one of the first calls in this country was to the antique shops, and they found, to their delight, that there was a plentiful supply of antique firearms. They bore off their treasures with joy, the increasing demand stimulated the dealers to look further afield and seek fresh stock, and so began the spiralling of interest which continues today. Following 1945 there came the demobilisation of millions of men who had served in the war and, as a result, had more than a nodding acquaintance with firearms. Some interest remained, many began to collect, and gradually this growth of interest percolated through the antique trade. The number of auctions dealing with arms and armour increased, and publishers of books on antiques realised the potential market. In 1961 H. Blackmore's British Military Firearms was pubUshed, and this book remains today a classic, with its carefully documented identification of weapons of various patterns. Greater demand resulted in higher prices, which in turn created a bigger demand for knowledge. More books appeared, and this greater flow of knowledge only increased the demand, so that the price of firearms has now reached quite startling levels. What, then, is it that arouses such interest in these lethal weapons? First of all, it must be stressed that for the great majority of collectors the purpose of the weapon is of very minor importance. Many say that this is an escapist approach, as indeed it probably is, but very few collectors see these items as being intended to maim or kill. They are viewed purely, almost exclusively, as artistic objects in their own right; they are valued for their mechanical design and for their aesthetic appeal-Interest in a firearm may be aroused by many things, but most of the collectors, if they are honest, would admit that there is in them an element of romance. A