September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
Manufactured 1896 per letter from Holland & Holland. 26" dovetail lump barrels with a solid rib, file cut matting at either extremity with 10 - 3/4" left smooth ahead of rear sight. Rear sight is a 3 leaf express rear, one standing leaf marked for 50 and 150 yards, and two folding leaves marked for 200 and 250. Front sight is a bead on a slightly raised base with a moon front sight and relieved for a hood. Tubes are engraved on tops for H&H's 98 New Bond address and Field trial information. Breeches with dressed floral engraving at edges, slightly relieved for sideclips, and fit with extractors. Barrel flats with view and proof marks, and "500 EX"; tubes with matching serial number and a small "H&H" on bottom of left tube near rib. Sling loop on island soldered to bottom rib. Splinter forearm with turn-off release, engraved in English arabesque scroll with floral edging; exterior iron with arabesque scroll, tip with floral leaves. Interior iron with serial number. Sidelock action is engraved in English arabesque scroll with strapwork at the edges, gold line cocking indicators, and "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" in a vignette with pointed ends. Underside is engraved "Charges 5 Drams / Case 3 1/4 Inches". Recoil shields engraved en suite with slightly raised fences, sideclips engraved with shell motif. Disc set strikers, automatic safety with "SAFE" inlaid in gold. Trigger guard engraved en suite, protecting double triggers with the front trigger checkered. Long tang runs to pistol grip cap, engraved en suite, while top tang runs over top of comb. Well-marbled streaky walnut stock with checkering about the pistol grip wrist. Teardrops behind action. Golden oval in toe line, vacant, sling lood on stud, shadowline cheekpiece, and serrated horn buttplate. Housed in leather-wrapped brass tabbed case with H&H trade label in lid, charge card for this gun, partitioned to hold gun when broken apart, and compartmentalized for accessories, currently containing a sling, rag, and 2 fired slugs. Accompanied by 3 boxes of ammo, 1 box of 20 rounds Superior Ammo with load data for "500x3.25 N.E. 44GR WOODLIEH SN"; 2 boxes reloads that should be considered components only, but components appear serviceable. Letter indicates configuration and stock measurements, but does not have any indication of remediation, although H&H notes that the records can be difficult to trace. Accompanied by the award for winner of the Double Gun Journal Award for Best Double Rifle for North American game at the second Gold Medal Concours d'Elegance at the Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds, listing this gun by serial number, and scans of the H&H ledger. CONDITION: Excellent, with barrels retaining the vast majority of their black with some minor marks from handling and storage, a few minor marks silvering towards muzzle; legends are crisp. Forearm is very good with crisp checkering, metal largely dove grey with good case colors under the loading lever, and on interior. Action is very good with much of fading case color, perhaps as much as 40%, with crisp engraving and typical silvering to high edges and high traffic areas. Some oil staining at triggers and long tang. Stock is very good with strong checkering and some minor marks from handling and storage, but free of cracks or chips. Mechanically fine, bores have strong rifling with some minor frosting. Case is very good with some minor nips to trade label and some areas of rubs through cloth, moreso in a compartment with action. Other typical compressions and rubs with some patch repairs. Exterior with some scuffs, but strong, and leather pliable.
Item Dimensions: 33 x 11 x 4"
Caliber/Bore
.500 3 - 1/4" BPE
Manufacturer
Holland & Holland
Paperwork
Award, Documentation