I have been acting as a consultant on the guns they are sending from the UK and will be helping with the appraisal of guns consigned from the US.

It will be a 'Christie's size' sale this December but the plan is for rapid expansion and Charlton Hall are ambitious about being able to provide an interesting sale annually that American buyers can actually attend, should they wish.

A lot of Americans still buy guns in the London auctions and this simply provides an alternative, stateside venue for those planning to consign guns. The benefit for those consigned in the US is that re-import duty and VAT are not applied, as they are when sent back to London.

It is an interesting project and time will tell if it has legs.

www.vintageguns.co.uk