GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
SUPERB ORIGINAL CONDITION HOLLAND & HOLLAND "ROYAL" .375 NITRO EXPRESS DOUBLE RIFLE IN ORIGINAL MAKER'S CASE WITH ACCESSORIES, MADE FOR NATHANIEL C. NASH, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. IN 1905.HOLLAND & HOLLANDROYAL19309375W/CASE, ACCESSMODERN; C&R; ESACal. .375 Flanged NE. 2-1/2". This fine condition rifle has 26" chopper lump bbls fitted with file cut H & H style quarter rib with one standing, two folding leaf express sight with ivory triangle inset in standing leaf. Matching front ramp is fitted with enamel bead and flip-up night sight, as well as slip-on sight protector. 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 nitro proofs for 40 grains cordite and 320 grain bullet. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. Case hardened action with slightly rounded bar, is fitted with back locks in usual double rifle manner. Top strap extends over comb, and is fitted with folding peep sight which nestles into recess in strap. Action also features automatic bolted safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), hidden third fastener, disc set strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and dbl triggers (front checkered and "loose"). Action and locks are engraved in early Holland & Holland style with interplay of large open strapwork scroll in background of varying sized shaded scroll. "Holland & Holland" is in scroll flanked device at front of lockplates. Fences are more deeply engraved with scroll. Bottom of action is engraved "The Royal" and "Hammerless". Blued top lever is scroll engraved and trigger guard is engraved with non-shaded open scroll with SN on tang which extends to case hardened trap steel grip cap (containing spare strikers and front sight). Nicely marbled and stump figured European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over orig ribbed horn buttplate. Stock features classic Holland styling, with drop points, point pattern checkering at grip which has reverse curve to rear line, and superbly sculpted right hand shadow line cheekpiece. A gold oval engraved with monogram "NCN" and sling loop matching that on bbl, are on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 2-7/8", drop at comb: approx 1-7/8". Cast: approx 1/4 off. Weight: 9 lbs. 5 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". Orig makers oak and leather case with brass corners and central medallion is lined in scarlet cloth, and has dust divider between lid and bottom compartment. Gold embossed H&H label as well as charge card for this particular rifle, are in lid. Bottom compartment contains an assemblage of orig accessories French-fitted including 3 horn handled turnscrews marked Holland & Holland, and a horn handled striker key, H&H marked round oil bottle, pair of snap caps, pull through cleaning kit in black morocco wallet, lace on leather muzzle protector, carrying sling, broken case extractor, bone striker bottle with ivory fore sight, and wood covered steel cleaning rod, with 1 brush in covered compartment which also contains two keys. PROVENANCE: Nathaniel Cushing Nash; Nathaniel Cushing Jr.; The prestigious personal collection of 4-time Oscar-winning Visual Effects Icon, Richard Edlund; Special Gold Medal winner at first CA Side-by-Side Society Concours d'Elegance of Fine Guns in 2000; Copies of ledger pages indicating that this rifle was finished in July 1905. CONDITION: Excellent, with evidence of casual field use, with silvering and thinning of case hardening colors on fences, beads, and on bottom of action and forend iron as well as top tang, from normal hand wear, otherwise bbls and stocks have only a few handling and assembly marks. Bores are excellent. Mechanically excellent. Case leather is still light in color, has some light staining, and a few marks and rubs. Straps and handle are fine. Interior cloth is excellent with compressions and rubs. Labels and accessories are excellent. 53184-3 mgm176 (30,000-50,000)