Holland & Holland,
98 New Bond Street, London
20 bore Back Action Hammergun
No. 4618
Year of manufacture: pre-1887
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
Click on these images for more detail.
|
Heritage Guns' Comment This gun is a gorgeous and very
rare, small bore example of the sporting hammergun from this illustrious
gunmaker. Retaining its original wood and barrels, it is in remarkably
fine condition for its age and we were delighted when we acquired
it as a stock item. The engraving is as fine an example of Best
foliate scroll as you will find anywhere, many traces of original
hardening colour remain in protected areas, the wood has lots
of figure and the damascus exhibits a lovely pattern of brown
and silver. Given the sidelever, the gun can be opened when the
right lock is cocked. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US. |
The action is of normal back
action design and features:
Considerable traces of hardening colour;
Percussion fences and long top strap;
Double triggers;
Stanton, back action locks;
Rebounding, high 'Dolphin' hammers with broad strikers;
Side lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Rare Scott push-in, snap, forend catch;
Engraved steel forend tip.
There is a slight 'flat' to the rounded bottom of the action, yet we
do not know how this came about nor if it in fact original.
Gun weight 5lb 9oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll with floral detail.
Finely chiselled percussion fences, engraved with stylised acanthus
leaves.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4lbs Rear
trigger 4 lbs
The re-browned Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered
for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail'
lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 2002.
Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
|
| Right Barrel |
15.9mm (0.626")
|
0.626"
|
0.024"
|
0.027" (IM)
|
| Left Barrel |
15.9mm (0.626")
|
0.623"
|
0.026"
|
0.020" (IM)
|
The Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast-off for
a right-handed Shot, features a white metal oval engraved 'GRC' and
an engraved iron butt plate. There is a small inlet repair to left
top horn above the lock plate and an antique pinned repair to forend
tip wood.
The forend features a finely engraved steel tip.
 |
Highly Figured
Walnut
|
 |
The approximately 20 lines per inch chequering
has been
freshened to a normal bordered sidelock design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based
preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers.
This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre,
only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.
Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:
|
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
|
Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
|
14 1/8"
|
14 1/2"
|
14 3/8"
|
14 7/8"
|
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
|
1 9/16"
|
1 3/4"
|
2 1/8"
|
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
|
Negligible
|
3/16"
approx.
|
For the purposes of these measurements,
'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular
to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8"
from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).
Patents Exhibited include:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Scott's forend fastener patent no. 3756 of 1873.