GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
FINE HOLLAND & HOLLAND "BEST" HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE IN .577 EXPRESS, ONCE BELONGING TO JACK LOTT, AND HIS PRIDE AND JOY, WITH DIES, BRASS AND BULLETS, AS WELL AS TWO CASES. HOLLAND & HOLLAND DOUBLE RIFLE 19208 577 Cal. .577 Express. 3" Chambers. This rifle was once the property of early double rifle guru Jack Lott and according to Craig Boddington was his "pride and joy, definitely his most prized possession". It has 26" Dovetailed steel bbls with full length rib (with dolls head extension), file cut behind one standing, two folding leaf rear sight, and again for 6" behind large faux ivory bead front. Tops of bbls are engraved "Holland & Holland 98 New Bond Street, London." and "Winners of all the "Field" Rifle Trials, London." Bbl flats are stamped with London black powder proofs. Bottoms of bbls stamped with SNs. A wide sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Round bodied Jones underlever action has very well filed fences, and with top strap which extends over comb. It is fitted with peninsula rebounding back locks with flat faced serpentine hammers with stylized dolphin heads. Action and locks are engraved with 80% coverage exceptionally well cut varying sized shaded scroll. "Holland & Holland" is in scroll and geometric device on each lockplate. Left side of action is engraved "Charge 6 Drams Case 3 Inches". Steel trigger guard has SN on tang which extends to engraved steel grip cap. Lightly figured and nicely streaked European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over Silver pad (orig ?), and features classic right hand shadow line cheekpiece, flat top point pattern checkering at grip, and a vacant gold oval and a sling eye, on toe line. Matching splinter forend has forward pivoting lever release. Drop at heel: approx 3", drop at comb: approx 2". Neutral cast. Weight: 12 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". Rifle is housed in a new oak and leather case with brass corners and canvas outer cover. Case is lined in burgundy cloth and has large reproduction H & H paper label in lid. Case contains an older brass and ebony cleaning rod, with mop, jag, and brush in leather container, rosewood handled dusting brush, 20 ga broken case extractor, gold plated square oil bottle, and a pair of gold plated snap caps. Also included is an old oak and canvas case with leather trim and brass corners with central leather rectangle on top embossed "J. P. L." Interior is lined in burgundy cloth and has an older H&H charge card SNed to this gun, and a reproduction H&H label in lid. Also included are a set of RCBS dies, a Lee factory crimp die, case trim die, shell holder, 3 boxes of GS Custom 640 grain solid copper bullets made specifically for this rifle, 2 boxes of Woodleigh 750 grain bullets, 6 boxes of Woodleigh 650 grain bullets, 6 bags of Kynoch wads, 4 boxes of Kynoch brass, two leather cartridge carriers (belt mount - one 10 rd, one 5 round) and a leather covered Pachmayr Decelerator pad. PROVENANCE: Letter from Craig Boddington to a previous owner relating his knowledge and interplay with Jack Lott discussing this rifle, and some shooting of it in the early days where Jack after shooting this rifle with a full house .577 "turned around to me, glasses cocked and beret askew, and with a beatific smile on his face he said "that's wonderful!"" Holland & Holland history indicating that this rifle was made in 1885 (antique). Copy of ledger page for this rifle. CONDITION: Good. Bbls retain most of an old re-black over numerous light marks and dents, with a considerable amount of subsequent wear. Action and locks are cleaned to a pleasing pewter gray, with traces of color present, mostly on trigger guard. Stocks retain most of an older oil finish, pad relatively new, checkering good, somewhat worn and dirty. Bores are very fine with strong rifling, frosted in grooves toward breech ends. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are excellent. New case is excellent inside and out. Old case is good, but lid about to detach, handle partially detached. Interior cloth is good, some partitions have been moved. Charge card foxed and soiled. This is an attractive, great handling hammer rifle and would be suitable for any big game with nitro for black loads and modern mono-metal bullets. 51769-1 MGM100 (15,000-25,000)