Vintageguns CO Uk

Vintage Guns Ltd is a specialist dealer and restorer based near Ludlow in Shropshire, dedicated to preserving and promoting the continued use of British shotguns and rifles. They buy, sell, repair, and customize vintage sporting firearms—from Victorian hammer guns to early 20th-century Rigbys, Purdeys, and Powells.

"A gentleman and a scholar. Keeping the gunmaking art of our forefathers alive one beautiful piece at a time." — Bob Blair

• •Gun Sales — Sidelocks, boxlocks, hammer guns, and rifles across all eras. Their inventory reflects the golden age of British gunmaking (1890s-1940s), when makers like Rigby, Purdey, Powell, Westley Richards, and Pape set the standard.

• •Restoration & Renovation — Full strip-and-clean work, dent raising, barrel polishing, re-browning, woodwork restoration, and action work. They take guns from neglected condition and bring them back to functional, field-ready condition while preserving original character and patina.

• •Gun Customization — Fitting scope mounts, upgrading triggers (while keeping original trigger blades for authenticity), installing modern optics, and modifying rifles for contemporary stalking use. Their work balances modern performance with period-correct aesthetics.

• •New Build Guns — Custom commissions built to specification.

• •Valuation & Appraisal — Expert assessment and documentation of vintage firearms.

• •Gun Finding — Help locating specific rifles or shotguns for clients.

• •Deceased Estates — Handling gun collections from estate sales.

• •Gun Storage — Secure storage solutions for firearms collections.

They publish a free monthly magazine covering British guns, gunmaking history, restoration techniques, shooting sports, market analysis, and profiles of gunmakers and shooters. January 2026 featured articles on Rigby .275 modification, Powell hammer gun restoration, and tariff impacts on American buyers importing British firearms.

Their testimonials reveal deep specialist knowledge:

"You will not find a more knowledgeable expert on hammer guns anywhere on the planet." — Mark Peters

They maintain access to original Rigby ledgers and manufacturing records, can trace rifle provenance and original specifications, and understand the technical minutiae of Victorian and Edwardian action design, Damascus barrels, and period ammunition.

They're equally honest about what's worth restoring: A Powell 16-bore arriving in their workshop dirty and neglected still showed quality work deserving restoration—original chequer clear, case color visible, synchronized locks, crisp triggers—while a mid-range Rigby modified over decades becomes a practical deer-stalking rifle worth a third the cost of a new Highland Stalker.

They actively engage with current issues affecting vintage gun owners—from Trump-era tariffs (10% on pre-1898 "antiques" that were previously duty-free, adding ~£1,000-£2,500 to imports) to upcoming ammunition restrictions (lead shot ban after Summer 2026).

British gunmaking—the craftsmanship, design innovation, and mechanical engineering—is heritage worth preserving. Vintage Guns recognizes that vintage guns aren't museum pieces; they're working tools that perform better when properly restored and sensibly modernized. A 1914 Rigby .275 that's been carefully modified for scope mounting and upgraded triggers still looks period-correct and functions more efficiently as a modern stalking rifle.