GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
HOLLAND & HOLLAND ROYAL EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE MADE FOR HIS HIGHNESS THE MAHARAJAH OF KOTA, WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. HOLLAND & HOLLAND SXS ROYAL EJECTOR DBL RIFLE 32088 .465 NE MODERN; IVORY (1939) Cal. .465 NE. 24" Chopper lump bbls are fitted with file cut quarter rib holding one standing, one folding leaf express rear sight. Standing leaf is marked for 50 and 200 yards, folding leaf for 300. Mid rib is engraved ".465 Bore Rim Cartridge." Front sight base with same style termination as quarter rib, holds brass bead. Flip-over "moon" bead nestles into groove in regulating blocks; muzzles protrude .172" past blocks. Tops of bbls are engraved "Holland & Holland" and "98. New Bond Street. London." Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 75 grains cordite and 480 grain bullet. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened Royal action with reinforcing bolsters is fitted with typical Royal back locks and has top tang which extends over comb. Rifle also features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, dbl triggers (front articulated), and H&H patent hand detachable locks. Action is engraved in typical Holland Royal style with near full coverage multi-sized well cut open shaded scroll with some strapwork highlights. "Holland & Holland" is in typical arched device on each lockplate. Bottom of action is engraved "ROYAL EJECTOR". Blued top lever and single beaded trigger guard are also scroll engraved. SN "71542" is on tang. (Rifle was made for Army Navy CSL, and this number was requested and entered in the records of both companies.) Tang extends to steel trap grip cap. Finely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/8" over dark brown leather covered pad, and features classic H&H right hand cheekpiece, drop points, and point pattern checkering. A gold oval engraved with the crest of the Maharajah of Kota (A 4 armed upper body rising from flames, holding various implements in its hands, wearing what appears to be a jesters cap over the initials "B.S"), along with a sling loop are on toe line. Splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 3", drop at comb: approx 1-13/16". Weight: 9 lbs. 10 oz. LOP: 14-1/8". High quality, oak and russet leather case with brass corners, is lined in green cloth. A gold embossed black leather H&H label along with charge card for this rifle, inscribed with Army Navy SN, are in lid. Case contains a pair of H&H marked horn handled turnscrews, unmarked but matching striker key, and a small ebony handled turnscrew, 2-pc vinyl covered steel cleaning rod with brass rotating head, with mop, jag, and brush in black morocco case marked "465", pull through cleaning brush (without wallet), striker bottle with spare strikers, and an auxiliary lock pin to be used in place of hand detachable lock pin, bottle is inscribed with this rifles SN. Also included are H&H marked round oil bottle, pair of snap caps, ivory handled dusting brush. This "certifiable pre-ban ivory" was supplied by the consignor and sourced from a large African elephant trophy tusk legally harvested by the consignor in 1980. Also included are two 5-round boxes of Kynoch ammunition (one with solid bullet, one with split bullet), as well as a key. PROVENANCE: H&H letter regarding sale of this rifle. Copies of Holland ledger page, shooting report, and Army Navy ledger (?). CONDITION: Excellent, as refurbished, most likely by the factory. Bbls retain nearly all of a fine re-black, engraving still clear. Action and lockplates retain approx 50% of their orig case hardening color, faded overall, silvered and graying on bottom and high points from normal hand wear. Top lever, forend iron, and trigger guard retain nearly all of their re-blue. Stocks retain nearly all of a good quality hand rubbed oil finish over numerous marks, spots, and a few bumps. There is an incipient stress crack behind right lockplate. Pad is new. Checkering re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright, sharp and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Newly made case leather is excellent, with a few light marks and knocks. Straps and handle are fine. Interior cloth is excellent with some very slight compressions. Labels are excellent. Accessories are very fine. An exceptional, well balanced Holland rifle. 49958-25 MGM91 (40,000-60,000)