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Arrizabalaga SLE, Holland & Holland Scroll model, Best Gun 20 Ga. 26 1/2", Self-Opener, Cased, Near Mint
Guns International #: 101671801 Seller's Inventory #: 21-017
Category: Arrizabalaga Shotguns - Shotguns - Spanish Double
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: rcrwin70
Member Since: 9/26/07
First Name: Roger
State: Hawaii
Country: United States
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 0
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: cashiers check or money order or pay pal plus 3%
Description:
SOLD *** Arrizabalaga SLE, Holland & Holland Scroll model, Best 20 Ga., 26 1/2"- SELF-OPENER- Cased, Near Mint
Pedro Arrizabalaga, Sidelock Ejector SXS, 20 Ga., 26 1/2”, 2 ¾”, made by Pedro Arrizabalaga for J. Roberts & Son, London.* Straight Grip, splinter Forearm, hand-detachable gold washed 7-pin sidelocks, H&H self-opener, Churchill concave game rib, coin-finished receiver, H&H-style acanthus engraving (not the conservative Purdey rose and bouquet engraving), gold line cocking indicators, and articulated front trigger. Chokes: Right .611/.015 / IM & Left .610 / .016 IM. This gun is a clone of a H&H Royal, as explained in detail on my YouTube videos, Special Guns with Roger Rule, Episode 7.
A BEST GUN: The House of Pedro Arrizabalaga was one of the world’s best gun makers. They built a traditional Holland & Holland type sidelock easy-opening action. Their entire line of fine shotguns was top-of-the-line -- Best Guns; they did not make lower grades. This special order was ordered with H&H engraving and buffalo horn buttplate by the premiere Roberts of London.* .
Metal: Arrizabalagas were standard with traditional features of the highest quality guns, gold-washed 7-pin sidelocks with beaded fences, H&H type self-opening mechanisms, chopper lump chrome-lined barrels, automatic ejectors, H&H hand-detachable high-grade double seared sidelocks with an articulated front trigger, H&H Southgate ejectors, intercepting sears, bushed strikers, gas escape valves, and auto safety with SAFE in gold. These are features generally only found on Boss's, Purdey's and H&H Royal grade guns which cost new between 80K and 150K today!
Finish is Arrizabalaga’s lively polished coin-finished receiver with the upgrade of the finest heavy H&H acanthus scroll hand-engraving by an Eibar master. The deep rust blue process was used for the barrels and blued components. Try to find another Eibar double with self-opening and cocking indicators -- there are few. This is serial number 14152.
Stock: Select French walnut buttstock has light fiddleback figure with black streaks and a rich warm brown color with glossy French Polished oil, reminiscent of that found on Boss best guns. The checkering is executed flawlessly by hand in point pattern, 26 lpi – double border with faceted drop points…classic English styling fitted with a vacant inlaid silver oval, and forearm with an Anson push-button release in an inlaid engraved tip escutcheon. The stock has slight cast off (1/8”)for the right hand, 1 7/16” drop at comb, 2 1/16” at heel, finished with a checkered horn buttplate yielding an LOP of 14 ½ ” (special ordered horn buttplate is more durable than a checkered end-grain wood butt). Weight is 6 lbs.3 oz.
Overall:
The pleasing figure of the rich warm brown color of the oil-gloss French Walnut contrasts stunningly with the sharp coin-finished engraving of the frame and the deep rich blued barrels.
Condition:
The blue remains 100%, Wood at 99%%, and checkering is 100%. The bores are “as new” and the barrels remain tight on face. This gun has not been used.
A note from the owner, Roger Rule:
In the early 1990’s, I visited Rigby in London where I first learned of Arrizabalaga. The then-director, David Marx, gave me a personal tour of their facility. I saw an impressive wall of side-by-side shotguns all standing with the rich look of new guns and was told they were Arrizabalagas. He said, “the best guns made in Spain and there is no gun better made in London.” He said Rigby could sell them for 16,000 pounds instead of 65,000 pounds, the minimum for a comparable London gun at the time.
The gun featured here is similar to those I saw but special ordered in 1986 with the H&H engraving by the renowned London firm of J. Roberts & Son* located down the street from Rigby at the time -- a famous firm that is the procurer of only Best Guns for their special loyal and devoted aristocratic clientele.
On this gun, the rib is inscribed, “Especially made for J. Roberts & Son, King Street, London,” and it is cased with all the accessories. The label reads, J. Roberts & Son, Gun and Rifle Maker.
Eibar Spain Guns:
The House of Pedro Arrizabalaga stood out as a premier gun maker located in the Eibar region of Spain, the Pantheon of Spanish gun makers. Today, although some have closed their doors because of the high tariffs imposed for imports, the best products of these Eibar gun makers remain sought-after having become world famous for the best value in “Best Gun” quality sidelock actions for side-by-side shotguns. All of these Arrizabalaga Best Guns were internally a copy of the Holland & Holland Royal. They could be had with three choices of engraving.
Here’s a clip from Double Gun Journal Vol. 1 Issue 3 Summer 1990
“The House of Pedro Arrizabalaga” by Don Hardin
“Arrizabalaga is a custom maker, some have termed the house “The Purdey of Spain”…o n average (they build) less than 200 guns a year (nine artisans plus the head engraver). Currently the customer may choose from Holland & Holland, Purdey, or Boss engravings…
The wood is selected for the gun dependent on color and metal finish contrast. Wood is grown in the Pyrenees Mountains and is the same as the French walnut grown across the border.
Engraving is conservative and extremely well done.
I got the impression that the worker at Pedro Arrizabalaga felt that the gun he was producing was the best available. I agreed so much that I now own two guns from the House of Pedro Arrizabalaga.”
In the Blue Book of Gun Values, the last MSRP of the Arrizabalaga 12 gauge with Purdey rose & bouquet engraving was $27,595 with an add-on of 10% for 20 gauge… and other add-ons for H&H acanthus scroll engraving and buffalo horn checkered buttplate.
Priced here to move, at $10,450, this excellent-plus gun comes with factory trunk case with a label showing the custom order.
Buyer must furnish FFL for shipping, payment by money order or cashier’s check. Buyer pays $50 toward shipping. Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (pre-64 Winchester Model 70s) and will furnish a Letter of Provenance that this gun is from the author’s collection. Feedback can be checked on eBay under rcrwin70roger. 3-day non-firing return privilege, no questions asked. For questions, call (678)971-4173 and ask for Roger.
*Who is J.Roberts & Son?
If you are a wealthy hunter and live in London, you would not ask that question.
J.Roberts & Son, Gunmakers, located for years on King Street has moved to Soleland’s Farm, West Sussex. An old company, they are renowned as “the resource” for British hunters seeking expert and trustworthy advice in procuring the finest guns, either shotgun or rifle for their hunting needs.
J.Roberts & Son is famous for delivering gentlemen’s finest sportsman shotgun or rifle, known today as best guns. Their founder, John Roberts, had a life-long passion for hunting and using only the finest guns and rifles that could be found anywhere. Once you are the client of J. Roberts & Son, your shotgun or rifle procured through their firm has their lifelong support for maintenance. If you live in Great Britain and you wish to own a Purdey, a Holland & Holland, a Boss, a Rigby, or any of the products they carry, such as the renown Arrizabalaga and Rizzini shotguns imported into London, J.Roberts & Son can locate the quickest and best deals for their devoted clients – and have developed a reputation for doing just that. And J.Roberts & Son stands behind them, no matter which maker, as if they had built the gun or rifle themselves.
Besides these makers listed, J.Roberts & Son has close ties with a number of other continental gunmakers, principally Fabbrica Armi Bosis, Battista Rizzini, Fratelli Rizzini, Fabbri and Chapuis Armes. These remain an important part of their business and they are able to offer bespoke guns from these respected makers.They also offer storage facilities, gun and rifle cleaning, sales of all kinds of accessories. Their mission statement is to supply top quality sporting shotguns, rifles and hunting accessories supported by their extensive knowledge and superlative service.
SOLD