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.

[13] It was the largest exhibition of antique firearms ever held in London, and included a drop-down breech-action rifle from 1660 as well as guns made by Joseph Manton, all in working order.

[1][6] Instead, he became a regular visitor to the United States where he sold antique firearms on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Warfare, the currency raised then being used to purchase modern handguns for use by the Special Operations Executive.

[15] It was also the centre of learning where a series of standard reference works mainly on British firearms were produced, nearly all in collaboration with his friend David Henry Lempriere Back, which are now regarded as the definitive on their subject.

[1][6] Every firearm was stripped and cleaned, nearly always by himself, according to his own system, after which it was ready to fire at a moment's notice – usually at Colonel Peter Hawker's iron target which stood on the lawn outside the drawing room.