GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
VERY FINE HOLLAND & HOLLAND EXPRESS HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE AND ACCESSORIES. HOLLAND & HOLLAND SxS DBL RIFLE 17823 500/450 3 1/4 BPE (ca 1897) Cal. 500/450 3-1/4 BPE. 28" Dovetailed steel bbls are fitted with file cut quarter rib holding one standing, two folding leaf express rear sight with platinum lines marked for 100, 200, and 300 yards. Quarter rib has abrupt transition to classic mid-rib, which transitions to matted front ramp holding silver bead front sight. Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs for 450 express. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs. A wide sling loop is attached to bottom rib. Case hardened, round bodied, Jones underlever action with side clips, has top strap which extends over comb in classic H&H style. Fences are nicely filed. Peninsula back locks are fitted with flat-faced serpentine rebounding hammers, having dolphin heads and tall spurs. Action and locks are engraved with near full coverage exceptionally well cut varying sized open shaded scroll within geometric and scroll borders. "Holland & Holland" is in elongated device on each lockplate, and left side of action bar is engraved "Charge 4-1/2 Drams 500/450 Case 3-1/4 Inches". Case hardened trigger guard has SN on tang which extends to engraved steel grip cap. Well marbled, relatively dense, European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 13-1/2" over ribbed horn buttplate, and features classic right hand shadow line cheekpiece, flat top point pattern checkering at grip, as well as a vacant gold oval and sling loop matching that on bbl, on toe line. Matching splinter forend has front pivoting release. Drop at heel: approx 2-5/8", drop at comb: approx 1-3/4". Cast: neutral. Weight: 9 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 13-1/2". Fine quality makers oak and leather case with brass corners and round circular medallion, is lined in green cloth, and has silver embossed H&H black leather label in lid. Another label discusses extractors and cleaning. Charge card is for another rifle in 240 Apex, with this information scratched out, and information for this particular rifle inked in. Case contains exceptionally fine, bright polished H&H marked mold, stamped ".450", which casts a long conical bullet with single crimping groove. Hollow pointing pin is included along with base pour funnel. Other accessories include H&H marked brass grease wad plate, main spring vise, brass screw type capper/ decapper, pin type bullet fixer (also H&H marked), ebony handled striker key, crystal oil bottle, ebony wad rammer and case trimmer, ebony handled turnscrew, bone striker bottle with spare strikers, 3-pc brass cleaning rod by Dixon, box of Holland cordite cartridges, box of Kynoch 450 nitro express cartridges for black powder rifle, and an empty box of 500 450 cordite. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain essentially all of an exceptionally fine London black, which appears to be original, except engraving is a bit softened. File cutting of rib is still exceptionally sharp. Action retains well over 90% orig case hardening color, silvered a bit on high edges and fences. Locks retain nearly all of their color, silvered at tails and sharp edges. Trigger guard is silvered at grip. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig oil finish, with some oil added over the years as maintenance, over some old marks. Checkering lightly worn. Horn of buttplate is in exceptionally fine condition. There is an old filled hole on toe line, possibly sling loop was moved. Bores are excellent, bright, sharp, and shiny throughout. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Case leather is exceptionally clean with only slight discoloration and a few slight rubs. Handle has been repaired, reinforced, and wrapped with twine. A rectangular patch has been let in covering an old name on top. Interior cloth is fine with some rubs. Mold is excellent. Other accessories are very fine to excellent. Label is very fine with some rubs, charge card is foxed and slightly soiled. A lovely fine handling high quality black powder express rifle. 50496-4 MGM212 (12,000-18,000)