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Historic Victorian Era Firearms Owned by Famed Solider, Dignitary and Hunter General Sir Montagu Gilbert Gerard
General Sir Montagu Gilbert Gerard
LOT 1352
Rare Engraved John Dickson & Son 10 Bore Double Barrel Sidelever Big Game Hammer Rifle Made for Famous Victorian Soldier, Diplomat and Big Game Hunter General Sir Montagu Gilbert Gerard - Serial no. 3421, 10 Bore cal., 23 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. The maker’s records confirm this rifle was sold to a Captain M. Gerard on January 23, 1877. Sir Montagu Gilbert Gerard (1843-1905) was born at Edinburgh and led a very active military career. He was gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1864, and his first posting being garrison duty at Gibraltar. He transferred to field artillery in 1866 and was stationed in India before joining Sir Robert Napier’s Expedition to Abyssinia in 1868 where he was mentioned in despatches. In 1870, he joined the Bengal Staff Corps and was attached to the famous Central India Horse. Gerard was promoted to Captain in 1876, ordered this 10 bore rifle from Dicksons in 1877 and acted as a Brigade-Major throughout the Second Afghan War of 1878-80. He saw action at Deh Sarak, the second Bazar Valley expedition, took part in the defence of Jagdallak, accompanied Sir Charles Gough’s brigade to Sherpur and Lord Robert’s famous march from Kabul to Kandahar taking part in the battle at Kandahar on September 1, 1880.
Gerard wasn’t finished with British imperial conflict and served in the 1882 Egyptian Campaign
seeing action at Alexandria, Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir. By 1884, he was promoted to Major and
was Brevet-Colonel the following year. Beyond soldiering in the field, Gerard was sent on secret
missions to Persia in 1881 and 1885. He was back in India by 1890 and was placed in charge of
the Tsarevich’s (later Tsar Nicholas II of Russia) tour of India (December 1890-February 1891).
The pistols in the next lot are from just after this tour and just before his appointment in 1892
as a British Military Attache at St. Petersburg. He saw diplomatic service in the negotiations
between Britain and Russia over their respective spheres of influence in the Pamirs, part of what
is known as the Great Game. Gerard returned to India in 1896, was promoted to Major-General in 1897, Lieutenant-General in 1900 and finally a full General in 1904. Upon the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, he was sent to Manchuria as chief British Attache to the Russian Army, but his health declined during the campaign, and he died at Irkutsk on his way home. A testament to his standing
and reputation is that both Tsar Nicholas II and King Edward VII were represented at his requiem mass sung at the Catholic Church of St. Catherine’s in St. Petersburg. He was buried in Scotland later that
year. Gerard was a keen big game hunter and recorded his experiences in “Leaves from the Diaries of
a Soldier and a Sportsman, 1865-1885” which was published in 1903. A portrait photograph of Gerard holding a hammerless sidelever double rifle is retained in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG Ax39969). This rifle has browned Damascus barrels with Henry patent rifling marked
“JOHN DICKSON & SON” and 65 PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH.” on the left and right barrels respectively, with beaded blade front sight and one standing leaf, one folding leaf rear sight marked “50” and “100” respectively. Casehardened border and scroll engraved action with side clips, carved percussion fences, non-rebounding back action locks signed “JOHN DICKSON & SON” surrounded by fine scroll engraving throughout. Well-figured stock and forend with concealed Anson push button release, engraved steel grip cap, sling swivels, blank silver initial oval, and checkered horn buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine. Barrels retaining 65% rubbed older rebrowned finish, bold Damascus twist
pattern. Signatures softened. Henry patent rifling very clean. Traces of original casehardened
finish in sheltered areas such as within the carved percussion fences. Remainder of action, locks
and furniture a dull grey patina, engraving clear. Well-figured stock, forearm and pistol grip dark
with oil, some slight chipping at the right lockplate and top tang, and an insert of replacement
wood on the toe. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000
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