A LONG-LOST big game gun specially made for renowned Victorian explorer Sir Samuel Baker from Newton Abbot has been bagged at a bargain price by a collector originally from Dawlish.

Retired Parkhurst Prison officer David Neale was chuffed to bits when he picked up the prestigious Holland and Holland ‘Paradox’ weapon at auction in London for a few hundred pounds with a maiden bid.

The prize had been languishing in his burgeoning collection for 13 years when he discovered the rare acquisition was much more special – and valuable – than he could ever have imagined.

He was reading a book about the Paradox – of which only 21 were made – which put him on the road for further exciting inquiries.

His detective work has now rewarded him with the certain knowledge that the bespoke weapon was commissioned by Baker whose pioneering travels in Africa are mentioned in the same breath as David Livingstone, Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, who discovered the source of the Nile.

David, who used to work as a butcher in the resort and whose parents Ivor and Pat ran a dog training school locally, is still recovering from the shock of owning an important item in the history of British exploration.

‘It’s got to be the best find I’ve had in all my years as a collector,’ said a delighted David, who is now 58 and lives on the Isle of Wight.

He revealed how Baker, when living at Sampford Orleigh on the edge of Newton Abbot, ordered the substantial piece at a cost of £55 from famous gunsmiths Holland and Holland with the provision they made it with extra clout.

The town’s famous son even paid a further £1 to have the weapon lavishly decorated.

But, just six years later in 1893, Baker breathed his last and his singular possession vanished from view...until it came into David’s sights in 2004.

It was only this year that he chanced on a book in which he found there was much more to his gun than met the eye.

He contacted the co-author in Texas who confirmed that David was sitting on a treasure with a value running into five figures.

But the proud owner has no intention of parting with his Baker beauty, which is likely to feature in future reference works by big game shooting historians.

‘A number of authors on both sides of the Atlantic have requested rights for publication,’ revealed David.

The gun was a fearsome piece of kit.

Baker, in one of his books, dubiously recalled shooting a bear with the awesome weapon… and another one sadly standing behind its luckless mate.

David told the Mid-Devon Advertiser: ‘It just shows that treasures are still out there to be found for all those dreaming of finding something of value in our modern world.’