Peter Binfield: Kempton Classic Arms Fair and me

Airgun World (AW): Who is Peter Binfield?

Peter Binfield (PB): I am a racecourse technician and organiser of the Kempton Classic Arms Fair. My passion for shooting air rifles began in my boyhood and has never ceased, although I’ve cheated of late with a scoped Air Arms S410, bought for me as a present by my wife Liz on my 50th birthday, some 18 years ago.

AW: When did you first become interested in airguns, and what was the first airgun you ever owned?

PB: I first got into airgun shooting some 60 years ago, when I was around eight years of age. I was lucky enough to be given an old tinplate rifle from the 1930s — a Diana Model 1 — along with a box of cat slugs, from my grandfather. Even though the power was so poor it could barely knock a tin can over at five yards, I thought it was fantastic. From around the age of 12, my mates from our small village would meet up at weekends and set targets in the woods. Our rifles included the BSA Light Pattern, Cadet, Cadet Major, Meteor and an Original. Nothing scoped in those days.

AW: What drew you towards collecting, and what did you look for at fairs?

PB: In my early shooting days, I had no intention of becoming a collector — I just loved the sport. When I was about 10, I swapped my bike for a tatty BSA Light Pattern, which only had a foresight. Despite this, I could consistently take out tin cans at 30 yards. Even today, I never bother with windage or mil-dot adjustments — I tend to judge mentally and aim above or below the target.

Up to around 1970, nobody would bat an eyelid at a couple of lads walking two miles from their village into Farnham to buy a tin of Marksman pellets, rifles over their shoulders. You wouldn’t get away with that now. I vividly remember, while buying my pellets, staring up at a BSA Airsporter and dreaming of owning it. Back then, it cost what a tradesman earned in a week — and today’s top-range air rifles are no different in relative cost.

I discovered beer and girls in my late teens, and shooting took a back seat. I started collecting seriously in the early 1980s after visiting trade fairs at Bisley. At one of these, I spotted and bought a Mk I BSA Airsporter — the very rifle I’d once dreamed of owning. The difference was that now I could afford it, and I remember smiling like a Cheshire cat on my way home. It’s the same expression you see on the faces of collectors leaving Kempton Classic Arms Fair with their childhood wishes finally satisfied.

AW: What did your early airgun collection look like, and what was your buying criteria?

PB: I mainly targeted BSA and Webley air rifles, as that suited my budget. I was governed by price back then — even with a seven-day-a-week paper round, I couldn’t afford the German rifles of the day.

AW: When did collecting go from a hobby to organising fairs?

PB: After the demise of the trade fairs at Bisley around 2015, the late Keith Bayliss — a good friend — suggested I organise an arms fair at a racecourse. I’ve worked on racecourses across the South of England for over 40 years, installing audio, video and integrity services. After a long discussion with Liz, we decided to give it a go and use a venue I knew well.

Keith was probably the biggest trader and collector in the UK at the time. Not only did he encourage me, but he supported our first fair with a 36-foot-long display consisting of hundreds of rifles and pistols.

Our first fair on 25 June 2017 exceeded all expectations. The public queue was “as long as a vet’s bill”, and after 20 minutes, more than 500 had passed through the turnstiles. We only planned to do one, but the traders and the public loved the venue, location and facilities, and persuaded us to do more. We went from just over 30 traders on about 50 tables to now hosting over 200 tables indoors, plus several outdoor traders.

AW: What were the earliest lessons you learned about hosting fairs?

PB: Having visited many militaria fairs, I had a good idea of what to expect. We pride ourselves on treating our traders well and now have a loyal following of respected and established dealers who have supported us for eight years. We’re extremely grateful to them for keeping the fairs successful.

AW: What are the biggest challenges when organising and hosting fairs?

PB: The only real challenge is the British weather. Although the venue has a massive indoor area, our outdoor traders can sometimes suffer, even though they’re under cover. We’re lucky to have a great team of staff and security, many of whom know the traders and public by name. Over the years, they’ve become friends.

AW: What effect have online auctions had on your business?

PB: Online auctions haven’t harmed us. Nothing beats handling a prospective purchase and bartering with a trader — plus, there’s no commission.

AW: What is your proudest achievement or most memorable moment so far?

PB: We now hold four fairs a year. Our September fair is dedicated to supporting a chosen charity. We’ve supported Prostate Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cancer Research, Macmillan Nurses, the British Heart Foundation and Samaritans, to name a few. Thanks to the wonderful generosity of our traders and the public, we’ve raised over £25,000 in donations. This year, we’re supporting a dementia charity.

AW: What advice would you give someone starting an antique collection from scratch?

PB: Here’s the golden rule: buy the best example you can afford. Although it’s nice to collect different models — say, of BSA — after buying an average rifle, you can bet you’ll see a better one later and end up selling the first at a loss.

AW: What are Kempton Classic Arms Fairs like, and what can visitors expect to find there?

PB: Kempton Classic Arms Fair is probably the biggest arms fair of its kind in Europe! There’s a large free car park, we’re outside the ULEZ zone, there’s a cash machine and catering on site, and hotels and a railway station nearby. It’s become a meeting point for like-minded collectors from across the UK and Europe. You’ll find cannons, cap badges and everything in between. Our traders offer a wide and varied selection, and with new traders regularly joining from our waiting list, there’s always something fresh.

AW: What are the dos and don’ts when visiting your fair?

PB: We have very few rules, but we insist that any purchased items must be covered or bagged. Permission must be granted before handling anything. Although we have excellent security, we always warn visitors to be vigilant against pickpockets.

AW: What’s one rare or antique airgun item you wish that you owned?

PB: My passion now is for Giffards and BSA Military Patterns, both of which I’ve been lucky enough to collect. The Giffards, generally, are of a quality and design 100 years ahead of their time. The pistol is the icing on the cake. The BSA Military Pattern, although it doesn’t shoot better than a BSA Standard, is just special in my eyes.