Cased William Mills 56 bore air rifle, originally the property of The Honourable Colonel Macadam Cathcart, 30 inch browned octagonal rifled Damascus barrel, engraved with scrollwork and leaves at the muzzle and breech, the top flat engraved W. Mills Improv'd 120 High Holborn London, fitted with blued three-leaf folding rear sight, walnut forend with white metal furniture and ramrod suspended by two pipes. The action with blued cocking indicator, engraved with the maker's name, and formal scrollwork arrangements. The original original owner's family crests of Cathcart (an arm grasping a moon) Macadam (a stag head) are entwined within the scrolling. The mahogany case with brass handle engraved with the original owner's name and two family crests, it has a blue baize interior and an embossed maker's label to the lid. It is fitted out to include two butt reservoirs for the rifle covered in patterned leather imitating burr wood. The accessories include a spare ramrod, bullet mould and tin of bullets, Damascus pump engraved with maker's name and address, also an octagonal take down key.

Frederick Cathcart of Craigangillan (1789 - 1865) was a Colonel in the British army having been born into a family of soldiers. His father was General William Cathcart, the first earl of Cathcart, his younger brother was General Charles Cathcart and his older brother Lieutenant Sir George Cathcart. Frederick was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary at the court of St Petersburg and Secretary of the British Embassy in Russia (1820) He was also awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne and served as Envoy Extraordinary to the German Confederation of in Frankfurt between 1824 and 1826. Frederick Cathcart married Jean MacAdam and changed his name to McAdam-Cathcart in order to gain title of the McAdam family estate located near Dalmellington.

Section 58 (2) Antique / obsolete calibre, can be owned without a licence. Buyer must be over the age of 18, age verification will be required if the lot is to be posted out.