Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore 'Royal’ Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 12561
Date of manufacture: 1889-90

    

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Heritage Guns' Comment

The entry in the Holland & Holland records for this gun is not dated but we can deduce from other close records that it was completed in either 1889 or 1890. It was ordered by ‘Holham’ and what is certain is that it is a very lovely example of Holland & Holland's 'flag ship' gun.
The gun was supplied originally with damascus barrels but was rebarrelled by the makers with 30” steel around 1905 and a further set of 30” steel barrels were supplied by Holloway & Sons who were Hollands preferred barrelmaker in Birmingham, possibly in 1912.
The nicely figured replacement stock is thought to be quite recent but we have no indication of just when it was done, nor by whom. Whoever it was, they did a lovely job and the work is of very high quality. With its excellent weight and balance, interceptor sears, fine stock and barrel dimensions, this gun would make a superb target or game gun for the discerning shooter.
Presented in a leather case, relined with burgundy all-wool baize, blocked to accommodate both barrel sets, with some accessories and fitted with the Maker’s gold embossed, black leather label.

A really impressive gun at only £9450

The action is of combined Holland & Robertson design and features:
Rounded action bar;
Baraction, 'Dip Edge', 9 pin locks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
‘Block Patent Safety' interceptor sears;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Breech face 'Patent Gas Check';
Top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Top rib extension providing a 3rd bite;
Holland & Robertson's patent ejector;
Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight with London 30”: 6 lb 12oz; with Birmingham 30”: 6 lb 10oz
Engraving style Very Best Bouquet & Scroll. Gold inlaid SAFE. Beaded fences.
Under-bar engraved ’THE ROYAL’ PATENT SAFETY HAMMERLESS EJECTOR’.
Top lever engraved ‘HOLLAND & HOLLAND PATENT No 23’.
Locks signed ‘HOLLAND & HOLLAND’.
Breech face stamped ‘PAT GAS CHECK No. H140’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs.
Both replacement steel barrels are 30" in length.
Both barrel sets are of dovetail lump construction with soft soldered ribs
and top ribs are of smooth, concave game type.
The London barrels were proofed in London for 2 ½” nitro cartridges in 1904-25.
The Birmingham barrels were reproofed in Birmingham for 76mm nitro powder cartridges 2023.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9"
from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction

London Barrels R/L
Both 12 (0.729")
0.735"/0.732"
0.024/0.029"
0.007" (IC)/0.010" (IC)

Birmingham Barrels R/L
Both 18.6mm (0.732")
Both 0.737"
0.029"/0.030"
0.008" (IC)/0.010" (IC)

Replacement Straight Hand Stock and original (or vintage replacement) Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut. The stock is very lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval, well defined drop points and is finished with a 1” leather covered recoil pad.
The forend is fitted with a finely engraved steel forend tip and diamond and has two inlet repairs to its forward edge.

Well Figured Walnut

The approx. 24 lines per inch chequering has been refreshed to its 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"
14 7/8"
14 3/8"
15 1/4"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 3/4"
1 7/8"
2 3/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
1/8" Approximate

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.