Product Details
FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF MAJOR ARCHIBALD "ARCHIE" COATS
P. ARRIZABALAGA
A PAIR OF 12-BORE SELF-OPENING SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 13669 / 70,
27 7/8in. nitro chopperlump barrels, ribs gold-inlaid '1' and '2' at the breech ends, tubes engraved 'PEDRO ARRIZABALAGA. EIBAR. DIANA TURBA. MADRID.', 2 3/4in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 1/2 choke, toplevers gold-inlaid '1' and '2', removable striker discs, automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, Holland & Holland type self-opening systems, articulated front triggers, rolled-edge triggerguards, acanthus scroll engraving with floral bouquets, retaining some original colour-hardening and finish, 14 3/8in. stock (No.1) and 15 1/4in. stock (No.2), both with gold-inset initials 'A J C', weight 6lb. 9oz. (No.1) and 6lb. 13oz. (No.2), in their brass-cornered leather case, the lid outer initialled 'A.J.C.'
Provenance:
Major Archibald James Coats
Born 2nd August 1916, died 21st August 1989
Major Coats is universally regarded as one of the most influential pigeon shots of all times and a pioneer in the field of the sport as we know it today. He is fondly remembered by many as a brilliant shot, a modest man and a great mentor in the art of pigeon shooting. He is credited with establishing the sport of pigeon shooting over decoys with its prerequisite knowledge of fieldcraft and 'bird psychology'. As a professional pigeon shooter, Archie averaged around 16,000 birds a year, often taking two to three hundred a day - and on one occasion held the record for a bag of 550 pigeons in a single day in 1962. A well respected author on the subject, with his book as relevant today as when he wrote it in 1963. A copy of his book will accompany the Lot.
Usually seen with his trusty Webley 700 boxlock ejector, these guns were gifted to him whilst on a shooting 'expedition' in Spain.
Major Archibald James Coats was born on 2 August 1916, son of Ernest Symington Coats and Nora Pountney. The Coats family ran the highly successful thread weaving business at Ferguslie Thread Works, Paisley, Scotland - where a connection with the de Ferranti family was formed (see previous Lot). Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti (a highly gifted electrical engineer - and responsible for the first modern power station supplying AC current) jointly patented "Improvements in and relating to Spinning, Twisting and Doubling Machinery' in 1903 with Ernest Symington Coats and J. & P. Coats Ltd.
He married, firstly, Virginia Ferrante di Ruffano. He married, secondly, Prudence Elizabeth Strettell, daughter of Colonel Eric Francis Dashwood Strettell, on 18 April 1952 at St. Columba's Church, Pont Street, London, England. He died on 21 August 1989 at age 73.
He gained the rank of Major in the service of the Scots Guards. On the 20th June 1941, as a 2nd Lieutenant he is listed as wounded in action whilst serving in the Western Desert.
John Batley, Director of the GTA (and himself a dedicated pigeon shot) kindly shared the following with us: "I was fortunate enough to have known Archie in his latter years and privileged enough to have shot with him, and we made a pigeon shooting video together for Holland & Holland.
These guns are a representation of a time when Archie, an extremely fine shot, was the doyen of the pigeon shooting world and a remarkable sporting gentleman."
Other Notes: The Lot comes with a copy of 'Pigeon Shooting' by Archie Coats, a large framed photograph of Archie in a pigeon hide holding the No.1 gun and two further pictures of Archie in the field
Please click HERE to view Terms & Conditions.
Estimate £2,500-3,500
S2