I recall sometime back that Rad Walters was the highest scoring tanker in the Canadian Army in ww2, something like 25 German tanks knocked out, considering that the Gremans had better tanks than our guys, this is quite a feat :lol:maple_leaf_eh said:
Value of Inglis Hi Power with history
- Thread starter Major Mike
- Start date
Lets get something straight right now people. "IF" I should ever let this pistol go it will most assuredly GO either to a museum right here in CANADA or else to another CANADIAN collector(hopefully with a military background) period ! End of story. Mike
Major Mike said:
Proper thing too, Mike. But as admirable as your ultimate aims may be, don't let that dissuade you from attempting to determine the transferable value of what you have. There are plenty of folks who share your sentiments regarding the ultimate resting place of that particular pistol, but who would also pay dearly for the distinction of owning it beforehand.
Unlike a bunch of other firearms, that Inglis BHP is still fully-transferable. And as such, it will only continue to accrue value. Museums be damned for the time being. You own a living piece of history. My (worthless) advice is to hang on to it and let the value rise. Heck - if I owned it I would shoot it just to add my name to the ledger. But that's just me.
Either way, you own a serious piece of Canadian military history in that service pistol. Knowing that, what you choose to do with it is entirely your choice. Just don't sell it cheap. If you decide to donate it to a museum then fine. Just understand that most (including the National War Museum) already have more than they can use. If you want it in a museum, then you need to contact Radley Walters' parent regiment.
Otherwise, sell it to a suitably appreciable collector. A plain jane Inglis HP sells for $500 to $600 these days. Your BHP with its lineage should sell for considerably more. How much more? I can't say. That is for the experts to determine. And those experts reside here on CGN. Be advised that just about any established dealer will soak you, and that is no lie. Take what Clive Law has to say for the gospel of Inglis Hi-Powers.
If you don't run into Clive here, then shoot him an e-mail. He is the man. You can reach him at: clive@servicepub.com
FWIW,
Mark C
Not to denigrate the condition of Major Mike's pistol, nor its documented connection to a prominant Canadian Military officer, but in discussions of value and historical significance the fact should not be lost sight of that, as mentioned at the outset, this was not General Walters' personal sidearm during the war or at any other time during his military career - rather it was apparently given to him upon his retirement. (As borne out by the 1993 issue date of the old "green slip" registration certificate.)
I was kinda thinking the same thing about the green slip. It also says obtained from "Jack Holbrook" like GrantR said in 1993.
So I guess the thing that I am wondering, was this firearm a service issue/used firearm, or simply a firearm at one time owned by RW??? Was is a presentation gift??
Please don't take my thoughts as belittling or degrading the firearm or it's historical impact, just my thoughts/questions as a fellow collector always looking at as much as I can.
So I guess the thing that I am wondering, was this firearm a service issue/used firearm, or simply a firearm at one time owned by RW??? Was is a presentation gift??
Please don't take my thoughts as belittling or degrading the firearm or it's historical impact, just my thoughts/questions as a fellow collector always looking at as much as I can.
GrantR and Koldt have both raised some valid questions that will only get answered through some research ! I will have to talk to Grant (Rads son) and see if he can shed some light on them or point me towards someone who would know like Mr Holbrook for instance. I will post the answers as soon as I get some. Mike
