I have been frequenting gun auctions since the late 1990s and writing about them for the sporting press since 2003. Over those two decades, much has changed. It used to be accepted that attendance at the viewing days and the auction day itself was essential. Catalogues were sparsely illustrated and descriptions were deliberately brief. Much sold at auction was unsuitable for the general public. The auction was largely the preserve of the trade and some specialist collectors, who invariably had assistance from a trusted expert.
The internet did not have a significant influence on auctions in the early 2000s. However, it has since transformed them. Today, nicely photographed and