GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTRAORDINARY GOLDEN AGE HOLLAND & HOLLAND ROYAL DELUXE HAMMERLESS EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE IN .425 WESTLEY RICHARDS MADE FOR CAPT. HIS HIGHNESS SIR RANA RANJIT SINGHJI OF THE STATE OF BARWANI WITH CASE AND AMMUNITION.HOLLAND & HOLLANDROYAL DELUXE HAMMERLESS EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE32000.425 (ca 1928)MODERNCal. .425 (ca 1928) Westley Richards. Beautifully struck 26" chopper lump bbls are fitted with file cut quarter rib with Holland''s classic cove molding transition to sunken mid rib, with front ramp mirroring transition. Quarter rib is fitted with one standing, two folding leaf express rear sight,having platinum lines. Standing leaf is marked for 50 and 150 yards, and folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards. Front ramp holds small silver bead with flip-up porcelain night bead. Orig slip-on sight protector is present. Tops of bbls are engraved "Holland & Holland" and "98. New Bond Street London." Mid rib is engraved ".425 Bore Rimless, 300 Gr Bullet, Accelerated Express". Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 60 grains cordite and 410 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and left bbl with "H&H". A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Ejector legs are fitted with Holland''s special camming extractor lugs for rimless cartridges, which in this instance must extend very far to engage rebated cartridge groove. Robust, case hardened, back action sidelock (Brazier locks), Holland Royal action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), long top strap which extends over comb, bushed strikers, hidden third fastener, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, detachable sidelocks, and double triggers with front trigger checkered and articulated. Engraving on Holland deluxe guns is always unique, but follows a similar theme. Engraving on this gun is known as "Dragon Pattern" and depicts a panoply of mythical and actual scary beasts. Fences are wonderfully relief carved with sea monster heads with snakelike bodies trailing toward tops. Lockplates each portray a griffin, newt, snake with forked tongue, and bear type animal with tongue extended. These beasties peer forth from a background of open shaded acanthus scroll. Bottom of action is engraved "ROYAL EJECTOR" which is flanked by a pair of sea monsters and has foliate scroll extending toward trigger plate with face of horned greenman. Blued top lever is engraved "Modele - de - Luxe". Single beaded trigger guard has another sea monster on bow and with SN relief engraved on tang, which extends to steel grip cap with trap, engraved with another greenman. Dark and dense, nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4" over Silver type pad, and is styled in classic H&H manner with right hand shadow line cheekpiece having broad flaring transition to shadow, point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip, concave border at rear, and classic drop points. There is a sling loop on toe line matching that on bbl along with a gold oval engraved with initials "L. A. G". Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 2-15/16", drop at comb: approx 1-3/4". Weight: 10 lbs 15 oz. LOP: 14-1/4”. Exceptionally fine makers oak and leather case with brass corners has canvas outer cover with stitched leather trim. Case has large red leather label filling entire lid. Border is gold embossed with continuous scroll pattern, central portion gold embossed "Holland & Holland, Ltd." "By Special Appointment" "To His Majesty King George V" "Gun and Rifle Manufacturers" "98, New Bond St. London" "Established 1835". Bottom portion of case is lined in burgundy cloth, and contains 2-pc rubber coated steel cleaning rod with brass swivel head, brown leather wallet containing jag and mops, horn handled chamber brush, plated vaseline jar, H & H marked round oil bottle, pair of .425 snap caps, wide black leather carrying strap, horn striker block, and bone striker bottle containing a pair of spare strikers. Covered compartment in case contains screw to replace takedown screw for locks, some patches, and the key. Also included with rifle are a set of C-H dies, with a box of solid, another box of soft nose Westley Richards ammo loaded by Lee Gay, with his head stamp, and another box of Bertram unprimed cases. PROVENANCE: H & H factory "weapon history" along with ledger page where it states client was "Barwani" most likely Sir Rana Ranjit Singhji (1894-1930), K.C.I.E. Bahadur of the state of Barwani of south central India, along with copy of listing where this rifle is offered for sale at $159000.00, and a history of the state of Barwani. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished, most likely by factory. Bbls retain essentially all of a fine London re-black with a few subsequent light marks, engraving remains sharp and clear. Action and lockplates retain 85 - 90% of their orig case hardening color, slightly silvered on high points from normal hand wear, which only accentuates the exceptional engraving. Top lever and trigger guard retain nearly all of a correct re-black, trigger guard tang slightly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of an old oil refinish of exceptional quality. Checkering is slightly gummed, and does not appear to have been re-cut. Pad is relatively new, most likely replaced at time of stock refinish. Bores are excellent. shiny, with strong rifling throughout, and just a hint of cordite burn at throats. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Relatively new case is excellent, with only a few light scratches and rubs on edges, as mostly protected by its canvas outer cover, which shows some slight fading, and rubs on leather. Interior of case is excellent with a dimple in leather on lid from contact with edge of cheekpiece. Interior cloth shows some rubs and light soiling from contact with action and bbls. Accessories are excellent. Ammo is excellent. An incredible Holland rifle, possibly the only one made in this caliber. 49183-8 MGM26 (45,000-75,000)