LONDON.- An exquisite and very rare rifle engraved for the Australian market with scenes of kangaroos and emus in the Outback is among 240 of the Finest Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns and Rifles which will be offered for sale in Gavin Gardiner’s annual auction which will be held in association with Sotheby's. The sale, now in its 45th year, will take place on the evening of Monday, August 20, 2012 at the prestigious Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland.

The Fine and Rare “RFHT 60 ROYAL” grade .310 cadet boxlock ejector sporting rifle is one of only three known to exist and is among many fine rifles, which will be offered at the start of the auction. Dating from 1912, it was made for the Australian market by Birmingham-maker WW Greener and is estimated at £7,000-9,000.

Also among the rifles is a Fine and Rare .22 double barrel example, which was made for the Marchioness of Londonderry in 1935 by E J Churchill and again, only a handful are known to exist. The Marchioness is particularly known for her work during World War 1, when she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the Women’s Volunteer Reserve, which was subsequently renamed The Women’s Legion in 1914 and by the end of the war, was significant in size with tens of thousands of volunteers. The Rifle comes with a light-weight case, which is embossed in gold on the lid with the Marchioness of Londonderry (Est: £10,000-15,000).

Elsewhere a fine .450 hammer rifle is one of several examples by Scottish gunsmith Alex Henry in the auction. Engraved Maker to their Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh, it is expected to fetch £4,000-6,000.

Highlights from the sale will be on view at Sotheby’s New Bond Street, London on Monday & Tuesday, August 13 & 14 with viewing at The Gleneagles Hotel starting on Saturday, August 18.

It only seems appropriate that there are several guns by the fine Scottish makers such as John Dickson and David McKay Brown will be offered for sale. A fine 12- bore single trigger round action over and under ejector gun by David McKay Brown, completed only two years ago and appears virtually unused is estimated at £30,000-40,000. A pair of 12-bore round-action ejector guns by Edinburgh-based Dickson are estimated at £12,000-15,000.

Sporting Guns include pieces by the great London Gunmakers. A pair of 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector guns by James Purdey & Sons that were made in 1889 for Baron Schroder – son of the founder of the famous bank is estimated at £26,000-32,000, while a 12-bore sidelock ejector over and under gun made by J Woodward & Sons in 1922 carries an estimate of £28,000-34,000.

Gavin Gardiner said “I am delighted to be returning to Scotland for my annual sale at The Gleneagles Hotel. This world renowned and historic auction is held eight days into the grouseshooting season and is a sporting highlight for shooting enthusiasts and collectors from all over the world. I am extremely pleased to say that more World Record Prices for Sporting Firearms have been achieved at this venue than at any other and the quality of the guns offered always reflects the stunning location in which the auction is held.”