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Specialist firearms auction house has ceased to trade

Scotarms, one of the longest-serving specialist firearms auctioneers in the UK, has ceased trading.

All consigned items have been transferred to Lonsdales Auctioneers, which also specialises in firearms, and will be put up for sale across three major auctions. 

John Tamlin, managing director of Lonsdales, said: “Scotarms ceased to trade due to founder Mike Scott’s ill health so we offered our help and support. We will be honouring clients’ terms agreed with Scotarms. Our thanks go to Nottingham Police and Scotarms, which have ensured that the transition of consignments over to Lonsdales has run smoothly.“ 

The first auction of Scotarms stock will be held on 19 October and will focus on fine and sporting arms. A highlight of the first sale is a Winchester A Model 1873 .44 underlever rifle, which John Tamlin describes as “very pleasing indeed”. 

Subsequent auctions of trade firearms and associated parts, as well as ammunition, accessories and bladed items, to be held by Lonsdales will take place on 14 November and 7 December respectively. 

More than 800 guns will be available for purchase across the upcoming sales, both live in the auction room and on Lonsdales’s digital platform.