April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
Made in 1954, this beautiful rifle features quarter raised rear rib with detachable scope mount and 400 yard flip up rear "V" sight with ramp front rib and blade sight. Tops of barrels marked "Holland & Holland" on right tube and "98 New Bond Street, London" on left tube. Center of rib with caliber marking ".244 H&H Magnum". Barrel flats with nitro proof markings, bottom rib with sling eye, and engraved "Made in England" towards lug and "Modele de luxe" towards muzzle. Small band of breech engraving. Gold plated checkered double triggers (front trigger articulated), auto ejectors, auto safety, bushed strikers. Splinter forend checkered in three point pattern with Anson type push button release which is engraved as is external forend iron. Buttstock is of fabulously figured European walnut and is checkered in two point pattern through the wrist with carved tear drops behind action. The steel pistol grip cap is engraved and case hardened with trap at center. Long trigger guard tang is beaded on right side and engraved in scroll pattern with serial number at tang. Left side of stock with beaded cheek piece. Gold oval near toe as well as sling mount and stock terminates in a small brown leather covered pad. The beaded and reinforced action is finely engraved with antelope in mountain scene on left, gold inlaid big horn sheep on bottom and Pacific Ocean scene on right all surrounded by well executed floral scroll engraving. Locks are hand detachable. The barrel bolsters are well sculptured in shaded floral pattern. Blued top lever is engraved in scroll pattern which extends on to the reinforced long top tang. "Safe" in gold in front of blued safety. Visible internal parts appear gold washed. Housed in its original oak and leather casing with canvas cover, proper makers label on top, and load information label, scope, snap caps, spare strikers, and other accessories also included in the case as well. CONDITION: Extremely fine as very lightly field used. The barrels retain 97-99% original blue which has turned a beautiful plum color. Action retains virtually all of its original case color. Stocks with a few light handling marks and impressions but overall very fine and retain nearly all of their original finish. There is a small set of impressions on the forend near the tip. Bores are good with strong lands and grooves. Mechanics are fine, action is tight from not having been used in more than 40 years. Case is very good with minor leather drying and minor soiling to the maroon interior. Canvas cover shows some wear. This is likely the very first Holland & Holland built in this caliber which was designed as a sheep gun for firing over long canyons with a very flat trajectory for over 300 yards. A stunning gun with an important place in the history of Holland and Holland!
Caliber/Bore
.244 H&H Magnum
Manufacturer
Holland and Holland