GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
GROUP OF THREE HOLLAND & HOLLAND SESQUICENTENNIAL SHOTGUNS, TWO OF A THREE GUN SET, WHICH COMMEMORATED THE EVOLUTION OF HOLLAND & HOLLAND GUNS, A PERCUSSION 10 BORE AND A 12 GAUGE BAR-IN-WOOD HAMMER GUN; ALONG WITH 20 GAUGE BAR-IN-WOOD HAMMER GUN, WHICH IS NO. 11 OF A LIMITED RUN OF 15.HOLLAND & HOLLANDSXS HAMMER41020/41021/4101510/12/203 GUN SETMODERN; C&RSN: 41020. Cal. 10 ga. Percussion Shotgun. 30" Twist bbls are engraved "Holland & Holland" and "33 Bruton Street, London." on tops. Concave game rib is gold inlaid "THE 1985 SESQUICENTENNIAL SET OF THREE". Bottoms of bbls are stamped with 1985 London black powder proofs for 4 drams of black powder, and with SNs. An ebony ramrod with German silver head and tail (steel worm under cap) is held by two plain pipes. Nicely filed case hardened patent breeches have platinum blow-outs. Breech iron with integral fences is nicely scroll engraved. Bar locks with tall round bodied serpentine hammers with dolphin heads, are engraved with well cut scroll surrounding nicely cut vignettes of gentlemen shooters in percussion era attire, shooting and loading a percussion gun. Forward portion of locks are engraved with game birds over "Holland & Holland". Trigger plate has fancy filed pineapple finial which matches thimble. Trigger guard and long spurred steel buttplate are also scroll engraved. SN is in gold on trigger guard tang. Classically shaped and finished stock is of fiddle figured and nicely marbled European walnut, and is classically checkered at grip and forepiece. Stock attaches to bbls with captive side bolt through oval steel escutcheons. Bore diameter: left -.773, right - .768. Wall thickness: left - .026, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-3/16", drop at comb: 1-3/8". Cast: neutral. Weight: 7 lbs. 11 oz. LOP: 14-3/4".
SN: 41021. 12 ga. Bar-in-wood hammer gun: Although Holland & Holland was never known to have made bar-in-wood guns, they used this distinctive styling for this showpiece of their sesquicentennial. This particular gun has 29" chopper lump bbls with H&H name and address engraved on tops. Game rib is gold inlaid "THE 1985 SESQUICENTENNIAL SET OF THREE". Bbl flats are stamped with 1985 London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. Top lever action is case hardened and fitted with rebounding bar locks with flat faced serpentine hammers. Action is engraved with sprays of scroll and "Holland & Holland" on each side of bar. Locks are engraved with scroll, repeating the theme on the percussion gun, but with Edwardian attired sportsmen at rear portions of plates, reloading and shooting breechloading guns. Front portions of locks are engraved with rabbits. Trigger plate has large round finial with feather engraved spur. Single beaded trigger guard with scroll on bow has SN in gold on tang. Fiddle figured and nicely marbled European walnut straight grip buttstock matches wood found on the percussion gun very well, and features classic Holland & Holland drop points and diamond hand. Gun is finished with point pattern checkering at grip, and checkered wood butt. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.724, right - .725. Bore restrictions: left - .034 (full), right - .018 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .030, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: neutral. Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz. LOP: 14-3/4".
SN: 41015. 20 ga. Bar-in-Wood Hammer Gun: This gun has 28" chopper lump bbls with H&H name and address engraved on tops. Game rib is silver inlaid "THE 1985 SESQUICENTENNIAL HAMMER GUN NO. 11 OF 15". Bbl flats are stamped with 1985 London nitro proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. SNs are on bottoms of bbls. Top lever action is case hardened and fitted with rebounding bar locks with flat faced serpentine hammers. Action is engraved with sprays of scroll with rose bouquet highlights. This treatment extends to locks and hammers. "Holland & Holland" is at the front of each lockplate. Trigger plate has large round finial with feather engraved spur. Single beaded trigger guard with scroll on bow has SN in gold on tang. Intricately marbled and stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-5/8" over checkered wood butt, and features classic drop points, diamond hand with point pattern checkered grip, and a vacant silver oval on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.615, right - .615. Bore restrictions: left - .024 (Imod), right: .015 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .024, right - .022. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-3/8". Cast: neutral. Weight: 5 lbs. 6 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". CONDITION: Excellent, essentially as new, with only a few light handling marks in all wood and metal finishes. Guns appear unfired except for the 20 bore which shows evidence of light field use, with a few nicks in bbl blue, and some brush marks and light dings on butt. There is a scrape in finish of forend tip. Mechanically excellent, but sluggish due to congealed oil. A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire some unique Holland guns. 53052-4 mgm10 (30,000-50,000)