Holland & Holland Royal 12 gauge sidelock ejector, perfect condition, antique & fully in proof
Description:
Holland & Holland Royal 12 gauge sidelock ejector, perfect condition, antique & fully in proof.
Upland wildfowling at its finest with Holland & Holland’s “Royal” model Best Quality Hammerless Ejector, this exceptional find is outstanding in every aspect. Lightweight even with 28 & 1/4” barrels and a 15” length of pull, this perfectly balanced Holland is an absolute pleasure to shoot, mounts effortlessly to the shoulder and moves like an extension of your arm. The slightly longer stock is perfectly suited to today’s taller shooters. And it’s priced so you can enjoy taking it into the field without the worry of a small mortgage in your hands.
This gun was completed in 1896 during the height of Holland & Holland's late Victorian production years and emergence as one of Britain’s premier gunmakers, with serial number 165xx. What makes Holland’s pedigree even more extraordinary is the fact that all shotgun manufacturing, engraving, fitting, etc., down to the thousandth of an inch, was hand-crafted without the assistance of automated machining, computer measurements, or electronic assistance. Absolute master craftsmen invested hundreds of hours into each shotgun they made by hand, with hundreds of more hours dedicated to the engraving, fitting and finishing of each masterpiece.
In extremely handsome condition, the sidelocks are hand-engraved in ornate and bold acanthus scrollwork with finely detailed border highlights throughout the locks, trigger guard, floorplate, top lever, and topstrap, with the maker’s name “HOLLAND & HOLLAND” bolstering each lock in an elaborate arched cartouche surrounded by fleur-de-lis type engraving. Floorplate has similar bold acanthus scrollwork bordered by geometric meander-style engraving, and “ROYAL HAMMERLESS EJECTOR” in a large cartouche at the top of the plate. Double-bite action locks up tight with absolutely no play or looseness. Matching serial numbers 165xx on the fore-end, action flats, and trigger guard. Top safety reads “SAFE” inlaid in gold, along with "PATENT EJECTOR” engraved on the toplever. Cocking indicators on each sidelock are also inlaid in gold. The fences are ornately engraved in a combination of bold acanthus scrollwork and foliage. The face, flats and action are spotless with just the faintest of wear on the faces. Southgate ejectors function powerfully and flawlessly.
This pre-1898 antique displays London proof house marks on both barrel flats and action flats when it was originally black powder proof, including the definitive proof marks “GP” under a crown, and the view mark “V” under a crown. Chokes are fixed and measure approximately ¼ for the right barrel and ½ for the left barrel. The 28 & 1/4” barrels with brass sight bead have outstanding measurements, and come in at 35 thousandth for both the right and left wall thickness and are even/consistent throughout the barrels.
London proof marks show that it has undergone British Nitro Proof (NP) testing, including the London heraldic marks of “NP” surmounted by an arm dexter in armor holding a scimitar, approved for contemporary nitro shells with pressures up to “3 TONS” noted on the barrel flats. Later re-testing marks are also present, with the London script “R” under a crown denoting reproof, as well as post-2005 testing as confirmed by the “STD” under a crown, all indicating Proof House re-proofing measurements and standard nitro proof compliance to accommodate modern 2 & 3/4” shells (“70MM” annotated on the flats showing 70 mm metric measurement).
Barrels have been sleeved to the highest standard by Holland & Holland themselves, essentially equivalent to having new barrels made by the maker. Jason Abbot, renowned gunmaker who co-founded Bonham’s gunroom and trained Nick Holt (of "Holt’s", the UK’s largest premier gun room), fully inspected this gun and stated this work by Holland & Holland is “One of the best sleeving jobs I’ve ever seen,” with the sleeving being completely invisible and offering perfectly consistent measurements throughout the walls. Full servicing, lubrication & cleaning by the maker was also accomplished when sleeving was completed, including the addition of their regulating stamp on the fore-end loop for service completed. The gun shows virtually no use since that time, in impeccable condition. These barrels reflect a mastery of barrel making; exceptional strength with lightweight and responsive handling better than Harry Potter’s wand. With continued good care and cleaning after each shoot, this collector’s item should offer great future hunting well into the next century – a future family heirloom for generations to come.
As Terry Wieland highlights in his book “Vintage British Shotguns,” he states “If you buy an English gun… and the proof marks show it has been nitro proofed – that is, proven with smokeless powder – you know it’s safe to shoot with loads of the length and gauge marked.” The interior of the bores are spotless mirrors. Zero handling marks on the exterior of the barrels. Completely clean action with no powder marks on the breech, flats, or face. Wieland also highlights that the model “Royal stands pre-eminent...this is Holland’s flagship sidelock double, in both rifles and shotguns. It uses an H&H-pattern lock, which has become the world standard for double guns...(as well as) its self-opening mechanism.”
The extremely well figured stock has nice checkering throughout the hand and a handsome and robust dark grain, no handling marks, and a brass oval on underside of stock suitable for engraving. The stock has an overall 15” length of pull. Nicely checkered splinter fore-end with an engraved base and tip, and Anson plunger release. Superb handling and responsiveness with an overall weight of only 6 lbs. 8 oz., the slightly longer barrels and stock offer well balanced shooting.
This collector’s item is housed in its leather guncase with Holland & Holland leather decal in the lid, H&H’s “Conditions of Acceptance” decal, brass lock, and leather straps with brass buckles. Interior in green baize has virtually no wear, and the maker’s decals are in excellent condition, albeit with some age-related staining to the “Conditions” paper decal. Exterior leather also in very good condition. Includes Holland & Holland oil bottle, Holland & Holland chrome snap-caps, two original turnscrews, cleaning rods and accessories.
In total, a perfectly functioning antique with no cosmetic blemishes on the gun despite being 125+ years old. Overall excellent, beautiful condition, with hand-made quality apparent throughout its manufacture. It’s also an investment-grade firearm that can be taken into the field without the worry or expense of a large five or six figure outlay, offering the opportunity to purchase a fully functional antique masterpiece by one of the world’s finest, if not arguably THE best, shotgun maker of all times. Noted British gun specialist Jack Rowe rates Holland & Holland as England’s top gun maker: “In my estimation, number one of the English gunmakers.” George Caswell, an American expert on British guns, agrees, stating “I feel H&H guns and rifles have contributed more to the British trade than those of any other maker,” and describes their “overall quality is excellent…and command a 20 to 30 percent premium.”
A fine example of the master craftsmanship in UK gun-making from one of the world’s best shotgun makers and premier member of the “Big 3” of Britain’s most famous craftsmen Holland and Holland, Purdey, and Boss & Co. With the growing popularity of wildfowling using classic British shotguns, this is a great combination of beauty and function without absolutely breaking the bank. Affordable luxury; ready for your next century of shooting! As previously mentioned, it has also been recently inspected & serviced by UK gunmaker and expert Jason Abbot, and is ready for the field.
This is a pre-1898 firearm and qualifies as an antique with direct shipment to the purchaser. We are a US military family stationed in the UK, and ship at an insured and flat rate of $125 because this package with the gun case is heavy; usually takes less than a month to arrive in the US. However, for purchases at or above listing price I will cover the cost of shipping. Online member since 2002 with 100% positive feedback. Payment via Zelle, PayPal or certified bank check accepted. Please note I am not a dealer and not an expert, but a private collector, have tried to enter all the details I am aware of for this gun, and will try to answer any questions as best I can. I am downsizing my collection and hope to find other US enthusiasts of classic English shotguns to re-home a few of these pieces. Thanks for your interest. Key words: sxs shotgun, side by side, British, English, double barrel, 12 gauge, 12 ga, 12g, 12 bore, side lock, sidelock, shotgun, shot gun.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer:
Holland & Holland
Model:
Royal
Serial Number:
165xx
Barrel Length:
28 & 1/4
Bore:
12 gauge
Chambers:
2 & 3/4
Ejectors:
yes
Condition:
superior
Wood Condition:
highly figured
Bore Condition:
mirror
Barrels:
sxs
Action:
sidelock ejector
Triggers:
2x
Stock:
English straight-hand
Stock Cast:
none
LOP:
15
Rib:
game
Weight:
6 lbs. 8 oz.
Manufacture Date:
1896
Chokes:
fixed
Choke Left:
1/2
Choke Right:
1/4
Engraving:
yes
Extras:
oil bottle, snap caps, tools
Case:
yes
Proof:Nitro:
yes