Guns from the American West to go on display

The Royal Armouries has received a collection of historic guns, originating from the American West. The weapons – dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries – will be added to the national collection of firearms, with some set to go on public display.

Worth an estimated £40,000, the 40 guns were handed over by police, following a court case involving the illegal possession of firearms. The defendant agreed to disclaim the guns and they are now stored at the National Firearms Centre (NFC), part of the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Mark Murray Flutter, the Royal Armouries’ Senior Curator of Firearms and Weapons, said, “We are delighted to receive the guns as they will enhance the national collection and help to fill any gaps for the purposes of exploring and illustrating the American West in our exhibitions and displays.

“They are in good condition and have clearly been well looked after. It is now early days, and we need to conduct more investigations into their history, but some will go on public display in the future.”

The NFC are custodians of the national firearms collection, holding several thousand weapons in a secure environment. The collection is arguably the most extensive and varied of its type in the world. For more information about the Royal Armouries, and the NFC, visit www.royalarmouries.org