Press Release

New Hamburg, ON, Canada, October 8, 2025 -- An online-only Historic, Collector & Sporting Firearms auction featuring the longtime collection of Lorenz Werkmeister is planned for Saturday, October 25th, by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., starting promptly at 9am Eastern time. The sale is packed with 216 lots of mostly firearms and ammunition advertising, plus additional items.

“This highly anticipated sale features a diverse assortment of antique, collector and military firearms including an array of accessories and advertising,” said Paul Matheson, Consignment Director for the auction, adding, “Lorenz Werkmeister was a passionate and detail-oriented collector with a focus on historic military rifles. His outstanding collection is the headliner.”

Other offerings encompass a wonderful variety of fine sporting arms, antique cased pistols, bicycle rifles, pocket pistols, antique cartridge pistols, trade muskets, reloading tools, flintlocks, shotguns, important Canadian military rifles, historic sniper rifles, and documented Colt revolvers. “This sale is not to be missed,” Matheson said. “Collectors, mark your calendars.”

The sale’s expected top achiever is lot #45 – an exquisite cased and engraved James Purdey & Sons (British) double-barrel SxS hammerless 12 bore shotgun. Factory records indicate the shotgun was manufactured in November 1927 and was custom-built for a Mr. J. Hargreaves. The wood stock is spectacular, with lovely figuring, and the bores are excellent. Mechanically it’s excellent and measures 35 inches long with 30-inch twin barrels. Estimate: $35,000-$45,000.

All estimates quoted in this report are in Canadian dollars.

Lot #73 is a documented, cased and inscribed Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver presented to Lt. Alfred E. Rykert of the Prince of Wales’ Royal Canadian Regiment. The circa 1855, .36 caliber, six-shot percussion revolver has an octagonal barrel, walnut grips, a blued and color cased hardened finish and a factory silver plate on the trigger guard and backstrap. The bore is good, with strong rifling, and the case is fine, with all the dividers intact. Estimate: $16,000-$20,000.

Lot # 98 is a Canadian Small Arms Limited / Long Branch Lee-Enfield No. 4 sniper rifle in a transit chest, in unissued condition. The weapon, dated 1945, was manufactured at S.A.L.’s Long Branch factory as part of the 90L series of sniper rifles, of which around 1,588 were produced between 1942-1946. It boasts all correct Canadian sniper markings and is all matching. The 41-inch-long rifle has a 25-inch barrel. Scope optics are crisp and clear. Estimate: $16,000-$18,500.

Lot #15 is a Lower Canada .36 caliber Colt London Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver, a very scarce Lower Canada (Quebec) issued example and marked indicating St. Andrews Troop, pistol #44 of only around 53 received. Lower Canada received approximately 255 Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolvers across all units. The rifle has Colt patent markings, a cylinder scene and London proofs. It’s mechanically good and the bore is very good. Estimate: $9,500-$12,500.

Lot #44 is a British Holland and Holland converted No. 4 Mk I* (T) Lee-Enfield sniper rifle, in a matching transit chest. The .303 British caliber, No. 32 Mk. 3 scope rifle was manufactured by BSA Shirley (M47C) and converted by Holland and Holland in 1944. It has all correct sniper markings and the rifle itself is all matching, including the receiver, bolt, forend and magazine. The scope also matches. The good transit chest has the original labels. Estimate: $9,000-$12,500.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. and the online-only Historic, Collector & Sporting Firearms auction planned for Saturday, October 25th, visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com. Updates are posted often.

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