A 12-bore Purdey gun given to British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan during a visit to the Soviet Union in 1959 auctioned in the UK yesterday (April 18).
The historic gun brought £18,000 ($27,416).
 The Russian-made gun was created to Purdey specifications in the Tula State Armoury on behalf of the post war Krushchev government |
Russian president Nikita Krushchev presented Macmillan with the gun at the height of the cold war. Built to Purdey specifications by the state Tula army, the gun remains unused and in excellent condition. It was offered at Gavin Gardiner Limited with its original presentation case and inscribed gold plaque.
The 1959 ministerial visit occurred during a period of extreme tension between the communist East and the capitalist West. The visit was remarkable as it represented the first time a major Western leader had entered the USSR since the second world war.
Somewhat ironically, considering the gift he received, Macmillan was committed to curbing the arms race.
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