John Wilkes Flintlock Shotgun

woodoctor

July 01, 2010 17:17

[img][/img][http://s685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/woodoctor/?action=view&current=100_3944.jpg&newest=1[img][/imhttp://s685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/woodoctor/?action=view&current=100_3951.jpg&newest=1g]mg]]/img] Hello, I was recently asked to value my step fathers gun collection after he passed away. This one is out of my league, I could use any help you all can give me on history and possible value. It is marked only John Wilkes London in gold. The workmanship is first rate to say the least. My step father hunted pheasant with this in the 60's but no one seems to know where he got it.[/img]

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  perry shooter

  July 01, 2010 17:26

  WOWYou need to find someone that deals in Vintage High End items David Condon in Middleburg Va. comes to mind but. He is a Jerk. Maybe Cheery's fine guns in Greensboro N.C.

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  rufe-snow

  July 01, 2010 17:26

  

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  woodoctor

  July 01, 2010 17:42

  Thanks, all the guns will be inherited by his son, who will most likely sell them. Of course I will suggest Gunbroker, but we may have to take this one out to Middleburg just to get an idea. We are located in Northern Virginia.

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  rufe-snow

  July 01, 2010 18:00

  I wouldn't just rely on the opinion of one dealer, regarding the fouling piece. There are a number of high end antique gunshows in the mid Atlantic area of the East Coast. These shows attract many wealthy collectors and dealers not only from the U.S. but also from the U.K. and Europe. Likely something like this would be much more valuable to a collector from the U.K. then one here in the States, IMHO.

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  martinphoto1

  July 01, 2010 19:09

  There are very good and qualified experts on this link on the Antiqueguns.com forums: http://www.antiqueguns.com/phorum/list.php?6
  particularly one of the moderators that goes by the handle NORD. He's very good on old shotguns and flinters especially. I'd post on that forum to find out what you actually have.
  
  Marty

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  MP

  July 01, 2010 20:40

  Please don't take this wrong but you need to take some good pictures and send the pictures, along with all the info like proof marks to Wilkes and ask for an evaluation. If you don't know how to safely remove the barrels to get the proof marks, do nothing.
  
  John Wilkes
  79 Beak Street
  London W1R 3LF
  Tel: (020) 7437 6539

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  woodoctor

  July 02, 2010 00:53

  Thanks for the response, you have all been a big help. I'll continue my research....

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  nmyers

  July 02, 2010 11:14

  If you can wait until next year, this is one of the top antique shows in the country:
  
  http://www.baltimoreshow.com/
  
  You can take it with you & get opinions from collectors &/or dealers.
  
  Neal
  
  EDIT: If you want to use email to collectors/dealers for help, you really need good photos. I have found that most wedding photographers also have "studio" experience & can take the high quality photos you want.

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  rhmc24

  July 03, 2010 05:59

  I would talk to some dealers about the gun. They are always interested in superb pieces like yours. You may get a good offer that will give you some info as to present value. Whatever a dealer offers, you can add 50% to know approx what he would price it for.
  Two reliable dealers come to mind: ken-drake.com & collectorsfirearms.com

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  woodoctor

  July 04, 2010 05:22

  Thanks; you have given me some good places to start.

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