Pub gun revealed as true Turkish delight
PUBLICAN Colin Garlick used to tell his regulars at The Chequers Inn in Steyning High Street that the curious old gun hanging from one of the beams once belonged to a sheikh.
It had hung there as long as anyone can remember, and no-one doubted the story, although his wife, Sylvia (61) admitted this week that he was known to spin a tall tale.
Mr Garlick, who died in 2006, would have been amused to hear that specialist antique arms and armour auctioneer Thomas Del Mar had been able not only to identify the gun's owner '“ al-Hajj Husayn Agha '“ but also the Turkish gunsmith who made it.
As a result, bids of up to 2,500 are expected when the gold-and-silver-embellished gun comes up in a London auction today, Wednesday.
For full story see West Sussex Gazette June 25