"Stand and Deliver" as weapons go to auction

A collection of weapons amassed during a lifetime is to be sold by Chilcotts Auctioneers in Honiton on September 9.

The impressive, eclectic collection includes military and non-military weaponry from a range of historical periods, from muskets, shotguns and flintlocks to tribal items, military swords and daggers; it will appeal to any buyer interested in weapons through the ages.

The collection includes several blunderbusses. This type of gun features heavily in the Pirates of the Caribbean series and similar productions, and was designed to scare aggressors rather than hurt them.

Auctioneer, Duncan Chilcott explained: “The word ‘blunder’ means to confuse – which is how a sheep rustler looking down the muzzle of a blunderbuss would have felt, as if he was looking down the barrel of a cannon.

“On a mail coach, the large blunderbuss would throw a highwayman out of sorts, whilst for back up the passengers would carry far deadlier flintlock pistols.”

Many items in the collection are intriguing: a gamblers pistol that would have been kept tucked into a waistcoat ready to challenge gambling cheats, and a seemingly innocuous walking stick can be swiftly opened to reveal a dagger - perfect for protection when walking the streets of Victorian London.

A selection of weapons from WW2 also feature in the collection. The vendor first used Chilcotts not long after the auction business opened, back in 2004. He says he was so impressed with figures achieved in recent sales that he decided to entrust the entire collection to the Honiton auctioneers.

There are so many pieces that the Chilcotts team, with the vendor’s blessing, decided that the collection should be split and lots sold quarterly. The first selection comprising sixty lots will be auctioned at Chilcotts Fine Art, Antiques and Collectors Items sale. Estimates range from £30 to £1,500 (plus 19.5% Buyer’s Premium), so there is something for all pockets.