GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EXTRAORDINARY TRUE PAIR OF HOLLAND & HOLLAND "ROYAL" EJECTOR 12 BORE HEAVY PROOF GAME SHOTGUNS IN MAKERS CASE WITH ACCESSORIES, MADE FOR NATHANIEL C. NASH, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. IN 1905.HOLLAND & HOLLANDROYAL23867/2386812 GAW/CASE, ACCESSMODERN; C&RCal. 12 ga. 30" Dovetailed steel bbls with slightly raised game ribs are engraved "Holland & Holland. 98. New Bond Street, London." "Made of Sir Joseph Whitworth's Fluid Pressed Steel". Rear portions of ribs are scroll engraved and gold inlaid with numbers "1" and "2" which also appears on top levers and on forend tips, denoting a true pair. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers and 1-1/4 ounces of shot. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and Whitworth sheaf of wheat trademarks. Case hardened "Royal" sidelock actions are stocked to the fences and feature automatic safeties (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and dbl triggers. Actions and locks are engraved in traditional Holland & Holland house style with near full coverage exceptionally well cut varying sized, but mostly large, open shaded acanthus scroll. "Holland & Holland" is in classic arched device on each lockplate. Bottoms of actions are engraved "Royal" "Hammerless" "Ejector". Blued top levers are engraved "Patent Ejector". Trigger guards are engraved with open scroll and have SNs on short tangs. Well matched dark finely marbled and nicely stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks measure 14-1/4" over orig ribbed horn buttplates. Stocks feature classic Holland styling with drop points and point pattern checkering on diamond hands. Gold ovals on toe lines are engraved with monogram "NCN". Matching splinter AB ejector forends have Anson releases. Gun "1": Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .730. Bore restrictions: left - .035 (full), right - .015 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .026, right - .027. Drop at heel: 2-7/8", drop at comb: 1-5/8"+. Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". Gun "2": Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .729. Bore restrictions: left - .036 (full), right - .016 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .022, right - .024. Drop at heel: 2-13/16", drop at comb: 1-5/8". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 7 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/4". Original makers oak and leather 2-gun case with shaped brass corners and circular central medallion, is lined in scarlet cloth, and has dust divider between lid and bottom compartment in typical Holland "Best" manner. Gold embossed black leather H&H label along with orig charge card for this particular pair of guns is in lid. Bottom compartment contains orig complement of high quality accessories semi-French fitted, including 2-pc ebony and brass cleaning rod with 7" handle, pair of horn handled H&H marked turnscrews, 2 pairs of snap caps, round pewter oil bottle, 12 bore pull through field cleaning kit, tan leather wallet containing two sets of spare strikers, brushes and mops, H&H bench cloth, and the key. 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; Copy of factory ledger page indicating guns were made in 1905. CONDITION: Absolutely phenomenal, original, as found, very close to new, with only a few very light handling and assembly marks in all orig finishes. Gun "2" shows evidence of light field use, with a touch of silvering on fences, and firing halos on breechface. Bores are excellent. Mechanically crisp. Case leather is still light in color, with some scrapes and rubs, and a touch of soiling. Straps and handle are very fine. Interior cloth is excellent with marks and light compressions from contents, with a bit of soiling where actions rest. Accessories are excellent. Reference specimens! 53184-1 mgm172 (45,000-65,000)