W. Keith Neal | |
|---|---|
 W. Keith Neal with Probin gun at Bishopstrow House, Wiltshire, 1969 | |
| Born | William Keith Neal 11 November 1905[1] Boxmoor, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 10 April 1990 (aged 84)[2] Guernsey, Channel Islands |
| Occupation | Antique gun collector |
| Spouse | Jane Erskine-Murray |
| Children | Diana Margaret Jane |
William Keith Neal (11 November 1905 – 10 April 1990) was an English writer, collector and enthusiast who amassed what is considered to be one of the greatest private collections of antique firearms ever assembled.[1][3][4] During his lifetime he was regarded as the leading authority on antique firearms in Britain and co-authored "the standard reference work" on the history of British gunmaking between the 16th and late 19th centuries.[1][5][6][7] A Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, his collection of around 2,000 firearms included six items "from the gun cabinet of Louis XIII" and two miniature, gold-inlaid pistols that were reportedly "the last gift Napoléon Bonaparte gave to his three-year-old son before military defeat and subsequent exile."[6][7][8]
- ^ a b c "Obituary: W. Keith Neal". The Times. No. 63683. London. 18 April 1990. p. 14.
- ^ "Deaths". The Times. No. 63678. London. 12 April 1990. p. 15.
- ^ Windsor, John (29 October 1995). "Crown jewels of the wire". The Independent. London. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ Bridge, Mark (11 October 2012). "Guns with a right royal heritage". Antique Trades Gazette. London. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ Hillier, Bevis (14 February 1976). "A saga of a firearms obsession". The Times. No. 59628. London. p. 11.
- ^ a b de Burton, Simon; Milner, Catherine (15 October 2000). "Apathy blamed for dispersal of gun treasures". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ a b Chu, Christie (12 June 2015). "Sotheby's to Auction Pistols Napoléon Gave His 3-Year-Old Son". artnet. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 55234. London. 9 November 1961. p. 14.