Holland & Holland,
98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Hammergun
No. 8667, No. 2 of Pair
Date of manufacture: 1885
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This gun is a gorgeous example
of a 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 restoration
project. The engraving is as fine an example of 'Bouquet and Scroll'
as you will find anywhere, the wood has lots of dark figure and
the damascus exhibits a lovely pattern of brown and silver. The
gun can be opened when the right lock is cocked. All this coupled
with our sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty, safe and
highly 'shootable' gun.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action is of normal bar
action design and features:
Double triggers,
Bar action locks, Rebounding 'Dolphin' hammers,
'4 Pin' bridles, Sprung strikers,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' via a 'Scott Spindle',
Deeley forend catch, Engraved metal forend tip, Percussion fences.
One hammer is a very well matched, antique replacement.
Gun weight 6 lb 2 1/2 oz
Engraving style Best Bouquet & Scroll.
Top rib engraved 'WINNER OF ALL THE 'FIELD' RIFLE TRIALS, LONDON 1883'.
No. '2' engraved on top rib and trigger guard.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/2lbs Rear
trigger 4 lbs
The Damascus barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2
¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction
with soft soldered ribs. Some vestigial pitting remains just forward
of the RH chamber forcing cone, otherwise the bores are clean.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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Right Barrel |
18.7 mm (0.736")
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0.737"
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0.024"
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0.004" (Skeet)
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Left Barrel |
18.7 mm (0.736")
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0.737"
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0.023"
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0.025" (Imp Mod)
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The Straight Hand Stock and Splinter
Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly
cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval,
well defined drop-points and a horn butt plate secured with engraved
screws. There are 2 small inlet repairs to the forend's edge and it
features an engraved metal tip.
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
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 1/4"
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14 1/2"
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14 3/8"
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14 3/4"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 7/16"
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1 9/16"
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2"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible
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1/16" (approximate)
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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,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865.