Sir Michael Gambon antique firearms collection

[orpington]

In the third paragraph of the “Fell off the stage” section of this article, the following is mentioned: “Away from acting, he collected and restored antique guns…”

Obituary: Sir Michael Gambon - BBC News

The actor played memorable roles on film and TV but always professed that his stage work was most important.

www.bbc.com

Any idea what he collected?

 

[22250Rem]

I had no idea he collected & restored antique guns. None of the news stories that I have seen mentioned anything like that. They only covered his TV and film career with not much else mentioned. Would be interesting to get some details on his antique guns.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I didn't realize he'd passed -- too bad.

Among many other roles, he made a fine villian in the western Open Range, and an excellent Greek storyteller in Jim Henson's series of the same name.

 

[orpington]

I had no idea he collected & restored antique guns. None of the news stories that I have seen mentioned anything like that. They only covered his TV and film career with not much else mentioned. Would be interesting to get some details on his antique guns.

It may be a sign of the times, sadly. It just doesn’t match the ideals of mainstream media today to be labeled as a collector of or tinkerer of antique firearms, or even to be pro 2A. Being a Briton, the Second Amendment wouldn’t apply to Sir Michael Gambon, but the principle applies.

 

[Leon tP]

Michael Gambon also played a likable cannibal with a southern accent in The Book of Eli. Here he's standing next to Frances del la Tour in the background who plays his cannibal wife. Both Michael and Frances are in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

It's a shame that he's gone, I really liked his performance in Sleepy Hollow.

☹
He had such a tremendous skill set.

 

[Robert]

While it is a shame he is gone, let's stick to his interest in firearms. Anything else is off topic for THR.

 

[Ed4032]

In England what is considered antique? To me that means black powder. That would be fun restoring.

 

[earlthegoat2]

My gut instinct is that many of the firearms he collected were muzzleloading and/or black powder. In Britian, the term “antique” often means items much older than than what we consider antique.

I would imagine though, the items he had were of extraordinary rarity or provenance.

 

[orpington]

I just happened to watch this interview, not expecting Michael Gambon to address his antique firearms interest, and so he does, at about 27 min to 27 min and 30 seconds:

Michael Gambon | Full Q&A | Oxford Union

SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► http://is.gd/OxfordUnionOxford Union on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoxfordunionOxford Union on Twitter: @OxfordUnionW...

www.youtube.com

And that part, transcribed:

"You shouldn't mention...I collect antique firearms. People look at me a bit funny when I say that. But they're all from the 17th Century, mainly, so they're all old and not going to harm anyone but they're very beautiful things and I'm odd enough to collect them."

And so, accidentally this evening, I answered my own question.

But further commentary is welcome.