Holland & Holland,
98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore Backaction hammer gun
no. 8698
Date of manufacture: 1885

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This gun is an extraordinarily fine example of a sporting hammergun from this illustrious gunmaker. There is a substantial amount of antique patina on the locks and action and this coupled with our sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun. Ordered by an E Prince Esq. at the height of the centrefire hammergun's popularity, it is a very highly specified gun, featuring Brazier locks and a most unusual extended top strap, most usually seen on double rifles. Stock dimensions closely match the 'maker's original specification and with good barrel measurements and recent nitro proof, it is a very rare opportunity to buy such a fine specimen.

WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers,
Back action Brazier locks with low, rebounding hammers and broad strikers,
Percussion fences.
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' via a 'Scott Spindle',
Three point bolting including 'doll's head' top extension,
Deeley forend catch, Extended top strap, Engraved metal forend tip.
Gun weight 6lb 12oz
Engraving style Best fine Bouquet & Scroll, Stylized Fern Frond Fences.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/2lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The Damascus barrels are 28" 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. London reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges in 2005.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.7mm (0.736")
0.735"
0.025"+
0.002" (Cyl)
Left Barrel
18.7mm (0.736")
0.737"
0.025"
0.020" (1/2)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. Both the forend and stock are considered to be the original wood. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot.
Highly figured walnut
The approximately 20 lines per inch chequering has been cut to a normal backlock 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 1/4"
14 3/8"
14 3/4"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 13/16"
2 3/16"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
3/16" (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:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867,
'Purdey's Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Deeley's forend fastener patent no. 1422 of 1873,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Scott's top extension patent no. 1902 of 1875.