Firearms History And Collecting
Major Antique Firearms Collection Heads to Auction
Olympia Auctions to offer rare 17th–18th century weapons from late Canadian scholar’s estate
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍London, UK
One of the most significant collections of early English firearms in decades is headed to the auction block later this month. Olympia Auctions in London will present the collection of the late Professor David S. Weaver (19392023), a Canadian mechanical engineering professor at McMaster University and renowned authority on historical firearms. His estate represents more than six decades of collecting, study, and passion for the craftsmanship of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Professor Weaver was widely recognized for his scholarship in arms history. He served as President of the Canadian Guild of Arms Historians and was an active member of the American Society of Arms. In 2023, he received the Research Medal from the Arms and Armour Society in England shortly before his death, underscoring his international reputation. Many of the items in his collection have been unseen for generations, with experts calling it one of the most important private holdings of early pistols and long guns outside major museum collections. Highlights include a rare gun from the armoury of the Earls of Dunmore, estimated between 2,000 and 3,000, with direct ties to Colonial America through John Murray, the last British Governor of Virginia. Another standout is a fine 16-bore flintlock sporting gun by Griffin & Tow, dated 1771, complete with intact silver hallmarks and valued at up to 10,000. Dutch gunmaker Andreas Dolep is represented by a rare pair of silver-mounted flintlock holster pistols circa 1710, estimated between 6,000 and 8,000, showcasing the cross-European influence on Londons firearms trade. The sale also includes politically connected artifacts, such as a flintlock by E. Newton linked to Charles Watson Wentworth, the 2nd Marquis of Rockingham, who twice served as Britains Prime Minister. In addition, collectors will see pistols from George Wallis, a celebrated gunsmith known for both his private collection and innovative air rifles, and duelling pistols by Harvey Walklate Mortimer, appointed Gunmaker to King George III in 1783. Provenance plays a central role in the collections significance. Several pieces trace back to the Clay Bedford Collection and were exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1971. These include a pair of 20-bore pistols by James Grice with silver mounts by noted Georgian silversmith Michael Barnett, estimated up to 15,000. Technical innovations appear as well, such as an 80-bore four-barrel pistol by John Probin of Birmingham, produced around 1770 from the durable alloy tutenag, and valued at up to 5,000. Beyond value, the collection tells a story of craftsmanship, aristocratic patronage, and technological innovation. Weaver continued adding to it until his final weeks, acquiring a pair of LeMaire pistols shortly before his death. Experts note that its scope and quality rival institutional holdings and provide a window into the artistry and historical contexts that shaped firearms development. The Professor David S. Weaver Collection of Fine Antique Firearms will be auctioned on September 24, 2025, at Olympia Auctions, offering collectors and institutions a rare opportunity to acquire examples that blend history, politics, and art. With estimates ranging from modest four-figure sums to 15,000, the sale is expected to draw international attention from museums, private collectors, and scholars alike.