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English Sporting Rifles

When the subject of English rifles comes up, many think of names like Lee-Enfield, Holland & Holland, and Martini Henry. English sporting rifles are designed for hunting and slow-fire target competitions. Often, the caliber depends on the role the rifle will serve. Most competition shooting is done with small-bore rifles and hunting of large and dangerous game with large-bore magnum rounds. English sporting rifles have a long tradition of being overbuilt and well-designed functional firearms

Companies including Holland & Holland have greatly added to the mystique and class that surrounds the English sporting rifle. These rifles are often built to a standard rarely seen in other areas of manufacturing.

English sporting rifles are not highly functional, but often aesthetically pleasing. Rifle shooters in England face a wall of red tape to acquire a firearm, so when they purchase a one, it’s intended to last decades. English sporting rifles are sometimes status pieces and other times, the only rifle that can get the job done.


Quick Facts

  • John Patterson, the famed hunter of the Tsavo lions, used numerous English sporting rifles during his lion hunts
  • Theodore Roosevelt once said about Holland & Holland rifles, “I do not believe there exists a better weapon for heavy game”
  • English sporting rifle maker Westley Richards received eight royal warrants from multiple royal families

Recommended Items at Auction

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Custom Bsa Martini Cadet Rifle
Jun 27, 10:00 AM MST
Custom Bsa Martini Cadet Rifle
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$1807 Bids
FIREARMS CO. ENGLAND MODEL 98 BOLT ACTION.
Jun 28, 10:00 AM EDT
FIREARMS CO. ENGLAND MODEL 98 BOLT ACTION.
by Milestone Auctions
Est: $300- $600
$1501 Bid
AN 18 BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE SIGNED C. HEWSON, LONDON, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Jun 26, 11:00 AM BST
AN 18 BORE FLINTLOCK SPORTING RIFLE SIGNED C. HEWSON, LONDON, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
by Olympia Auctions
Est: £2,000- £3,000
£1,0000 Bids
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BEEMAN R9 AND WEBLEY MARK 3 AIR RIFLES
Jun 14, 9:00 AM EDT
BEEMAN R9 AND WEBLEY MARK 3 AIR RIFLES
by Centurion Auctions
Est: $200- $300
$1500 Bids
A. HENRY, EDINBURGH A CASED BEST QUALITY .451 PERCUSSION SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 575,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A. HENRY, EDINBURGH A CASED BEST QUALITY .451 PERCUSSION SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 575,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £3,000- £5,000
£3,0000 Bids
A .22 BSA MERLIN MKI UNDER-LEVER JUNIOR AIR-RIFLE, serial no. L459,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A .22 BSA MERLIN MKI UNDER-LEVER JUNIOR AIR-RIFLE, serial no. L459,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £80- £120
£800 Bids
A CASED .177 BSA R10 THUMBHOLE PRE-CHARGED PNEUMATIC AIR-RIFLE, serial no. RTH770105-MN,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A CASED .177 BSA R10 THUMBHOLE PRE-CHARGED PNEUMATIC AIR-RIFLE, serial no. RTH770105-MN,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £400- £600
£4000 Bids
MANTON & CO. A .470 (3 1/4IN.) NITRO EXPRESS BOXLOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 13592,
Jul 08, 10:00 AM BST
MANTON & CO. A .470 (3 1/4IN.) NITRO EXPRESS BOXLOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 13592,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £6,000- £8,000
£6,0000 Bids
A .461 PERCUSSION SPORTING MATCH RIFLE SIGNED JAMES BRAID, no visible serial number,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A .461 PERCUSSION SPORTING MATCH RIFLE SIGNED JAMES BRAID, no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £500- £700
£5000 Bids
A CASED .177 BONEHILL BRITANNIA ANGLO SURE-SHOT MKI AIR-RIFLE, serial no. 1325,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A CASED .177 BONEHILL BRITANNIA ANGLO SURE-SHOT MKI AIR-RIFLE, serial no. 1325,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £300- £500
£3000 Bids
A SCARCE .177 LANES BROS. MUSKETEER BREAK-BARREL AIR-RIFLE, serial no. 1650,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A SCARCE .177 LANES BROS. MUSKETEER BREAK-BARREL AIR-RIFLE, serial no. 1650,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £150- £250
£1500 Bids
A FINE 30-BORE CAPPING BREECH-LOADING TERRY'S PATENT DELUXE SPORTING RIFLE RETAILED BY BEATTIE, serial no. 560,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
A FINE 30-BORE CAPPING BREECH-LOADING TERRY'S PATENT DELUXE SPORTING RIFLE RETAILED BY BEATTIE, serial no. 560,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £2,000- £2,500
£2,0000 Bids
DAVID LLOYD A .270 WIN. BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. DLK1,
Jul 08, 10:00 AM BST
DAVID LLOYD A .270 WIN. BOLT-MAGAZINE SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. DLK1,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £700- £900
£7000 Bids
* A .577-450 (M/H) SWINBURN'S PATENT SPORTING RIFLE SIGNED V.R. BLAKEMORE, LONDON, serial no. 4675,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
* A .577-450 (M/H) SWINBURN'S PATENT SPORTING RIFLE SIGNED V.R. BLAKEMORE, LONDON, serial no. 4675,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £700- £900
£7000 Bids
E. PATON, PERTH A 14-BORE PINFIRE SINGLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, no visible serial number,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
E. PATON, PERTH A 14-BORE PINFIRE SINGLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £300- £500
£3000 Bids
CHARLES LANCASTER, LONDON A 14-BORE PINFIRE DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, serial no. 4338,
Jul 07, 10:00 AM BST
CHARLES LANCASTER, LONDON A 14-BORE PINFIRE DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING GUN, serial no. 4338,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £800- £1,200
£8000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell English Sporting Rifles


Holts Auctioneers

Holts Auctioneers

Olympia Auctions

Olympia Auctions

Centurion Auctions

Centurion Auctions

EJ'S Auction & Appraisal

EJ'S Auction & Appraisal