Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street,
London
16 bore 'Royal' Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 11956
Date of manufacture: 1892
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
Holland & Holland records show
that this gun was finished in 1892 for 'Baker' but what the sparse
entry does not mention is that the group of gun numbers 11500
- 11999 were reserved for guns using the 'Paradox' patent, i.e.
a smooth-bored shotgun with a rifled choke. As the numbers were
reserved for these special guns, often no mention of Paradox is
found and from the entry alone, this gun was simply H&H's
normal top-of-the-range SLE.
Quite how it came to lose its chokes (or gain a new set of shotgun
barrels) is unknown but interestingly the record notes that in
December 1892 the choke in the right barrel was reduced and shot
counts are only recorded for this barrel which does lend credence
to the belief that at that time it still had its rifled chokes.
Other indications of its 'Paradox' heritage come in the form of
a long top strap, unusual in a Royal shotgun of the period, substantial
weight and its swept top strap, lockplates and trigger plate.
These features all add strength to the gun; very important in
one designed to handle heavy recoil. When we came upon the gun,
the barrels were a hopeless case and we had the gun TIG sleeved
to 16b.
With its excellent weight, interceptor sears, long stock and barrel
dimensions, this gun would make a fine target or game gun for
the discerning shooter.
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 combined Holland
& Robertson design and features:
Bar action;
'Dip Edge' locks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Breech face 'Gas Checks';
'Patent Block Safety' interceptor sears;
Top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle'; Top
rib extension providing a 3rd bite; Holland & Robertson's patent
ejector
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 15oz
Engraving style Best Fine Bouquet & Scroll. 'ROYAL EJECTOR
PATENT No. 11623' on underside of action; Top lever engraved 'PATENT
EJECTOR'. Fences chiselled with bold acanthus leaves.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4lbs Rear
trigger 4 1/4lbs
The TIG sleeved barrels are 30" in length, chambered for
2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction
with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, 'swamped' type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2013.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
16.9mm
(0.665")
|
0.665"
|
0.033"
|
0.010" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
16.9mm
(0.665")
|
0.666"
|
0.033"
|
0.020" (Mod)
|
Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from well figured walnut. There is one small inlet repair
to the forend edge. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot, features
a vacant yellow metal oval, well defined drop points and is finished
with a 1" leather covered recoil pad.
The 24 approx lines per inch chequering has
been freshened to the original pattern.
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 7/8"
|
15 1/8"
|
15"
|
15 1/4"
|
Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 5/8"
|
1 11/16"
|
2 3/8"
|
Cast at Comb
|
Cast at Heel
|
1/4" (approximate)
|
1/2" (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:
Scott's gas check patent no. 617 of 1882,
Needham & Hinton interceptor sears patent no. 706 of 1879,
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 11623 of 1887,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875,
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.