ARMY SELLING DUELLING PISTOLS AND OLD RIFLES

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28372, 3 September 1957, Page 12

ARMY SELLING DUELLING PISTOLS AND OLD RIFLES

Duelling pistols more than 150 years old, breech-loading carbines of the Crimean period, Boer, War Mauser rifles, and one of the illfamed German saw-edge bayonets first used in action in Flanders are among some of the choice lots in an outstanding collection of military small-arms which will be auctioned in Christchurch tomorrow.

Collectors and sportsmen are coming from all over the Dominion to attend the sale. One man called at the auction rooms yesterday to see the equipment, which is still being catalogued. It is being offered on account

of the Government Disposals Board, and has been received from the Southern Military District ordnance depot at Burnham Camp. How many of the old rifles and pistols came into the Army’s hands is not now known. The only records held by Major A. B. West, the officer in charge of the depot, were the numbers, types, dates and manufacturers. Some of them may have been confiscated about the time of World War I. Breastplates and Helmets Even among a collection such as this one lot stands out. It is a box of five breastplates and helmets of the first Elizabethan period. Two tried on yesterday, by Mr lan Ballinger, of the firm’s staff, seemed to be ill-matched. The helmet came down over his ears, but the breastplate barely covered his chest.

They were used for military tattoos about 30 years ago and were probably obtained from the British Army for that purpose. The flintlock pistols date from the period of George IV and are of the type used for duelling, but later models are Army issue, probably horse pistols. One has the old-style belt clip used before holsters were developed. A browse through the collection of muskets, rifles and carbines showed the development of the military weapon of this type. Two Snider .5 Tower muskets side by side were identical, except

that one had been fitted with breech loading. 36-inch Barrel One of the long rifles had a 36-inch barrel, and stood shoulderhigh against a short man. Mr A. H. Stonyer, the general manager, 1 emarked that it must have been most unwieldy when a bayonet was clipped on the end. The Mausers, dating from about 1895, are of .28 gauge and are still.. many of them, in excellent condition. One picked out at random showed rifling as good as in many modern weapons—the steel of the barrel was probably better. The barrels and actions can be reclaimed and new woodwork built round them for use by sportsmen looking for a handy .28 rifle. Few of the bayonets are col-

lector’s pieces, but the more modern ones—dating from about 1900 —could be cut down to make

fine hunting knives. There are 400 of them. Mr Stonyer said yesterday that he expected all the weapons—possibly even the duelling pistols, would have to be registered. “We have been making inquiries from the police and expect to have their answer from Wellington tomorrow.”