A 138-year-old shotgun once owned by the railway magnate, Baron Anthony Nathan de Rothschild, will be sold at auction next month.

The gun, which is expected to fetch between £3,000 and £4,000, is being sold by Bonhams in Knightsbridge on April 2.

According to the auctioneers, it is a fine 16-bore hammer gun by J. Purdey, no. 8297, weighing 6lb. 2oz.

The gun has a 141/2in. stock, 30in. barrels, and comes with a brass-mounted leather case with J. Purdey trade-label.

The makers have confirmed that the gun was completed in 1870 for Baron de Rothschild.

Anthony Nathan de Rothschild, 1st Baronet of Tring Park was born in London in 1810, he was educated at the Univerties of Göttingen and Strasbourg before joining the family firm in London.

In 1836 he was made a partner and, working with his brother Lionel and his cousin James, in Paris, helped to create the Chemin de Fer du Nord, the family's rail transport business in France.

He was also involved in financing several other European railways. In 1847 he was created a peer, and in 1852 played a part in the negotiations which led to Rothschilds taking over the running of the Royal Mint in London.

It was around this time that he purchased Aston Clinton House, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, where he enjoyed riding and hunting as well as breeding horses.

He was well known for his philanthropic works in London, particularly for the Jewish community. He died in 1876, and was interred in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery.

Patrick Hawes, head of sporting guns at Bonhams, said: "This is a fine weapon with impeccable historic provenance, once owned by a leading financier and sportsman. It will doubtless attract much interest."