Holt’s sale of fine and modern antique guns on 20th March 2014 includes a peach for engraving spotters. Lot 1402 is a 12-bore sidelock ejector with automatic safety, chopperlump barrels, removable striker discs, articulated front trigger and well-figured stock of 14.5 inches but its notable feature is the acanthus scroll engraving.

The triggerplate is signed ‘PH Grifnee 75’. Grifnee studied under Rene Delcour at the Liege School of Engraving and later returned to the school to teach. He was retained by Holland & Holland and Purdey during his career and was honored by the Belgian government for his work.

Estimate £3,000 -£5,000