Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
16 bore 'Royal’ Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 11159
 Date of manufacture: 1887

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Heritage Guns' Comment

Holland & Holland records show that this gun was finished in 1887 as one of a pair and it is a spectacular example of Holland & Holland's 'flag ship' gun.
Made as a non-ejector, it was converted to ejector in the early C20th with a Deeley ejector box, tripped by slides pinned to the tumblers, all of which has been very beautifully finished. The new chopperlump barrels were fitted in 2003 and we suspect that the fabulous new stock and forend were executed at the same time.
The locks are very interesting as they exhibit the earlier method of securing the mainspring: a collar at the front of the lock bar and the top limb of the spring riding on a recessed roller, cut into the tumbler anvil, hence no locating pin.
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 contemporary leather & brass case, relined with ‘Light Navy’ all wool baize, equipped with some accessories and fitted with a reproduction Maker’s label.

A spectacular gun, fantastic value at only £7995

The action is of combined Holland & Robertson design and features:
Baraction 'Dip Edge' 8 pin locks;
‘Block Patent Safety' interceptor sears;
Patent no.23 cocking levers;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Chequered front trigger;
Breech face 'Patent Gas Check';
Slim top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Deeley ejector box and
Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 5oz. 
Engraving style Fluted & Beaded fences. Best Bouquet & Scroll.
Under-bar engraved ‘THE ROYAL PATENT SAFETY HAMMERLESS’.
Top lever engraved ‘HOLLAND & HOLLAND PATENT No 23’.
Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’.
Action flats, forend iron, triggerguard & barrels marked ‘11159’.
Breech face stamped ‘PATENT GAS CHECK 2638’.
Some traces of historic surface corrosion on external surfaces.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¾ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs.
The Replacement Steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ " (70mm) cartridges and are of chopperlump construction with soft soldered ribs. 
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges 2024.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

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


Right Barrel

 17.0mm (0.669")
0.669"
0.022"
0.010 (IC)

Left Barrel

 17.0mm (0.669")
0.670"
0.024"
0.017" (Mod)

Replacement 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 is finished with a hand chequered butt.
The matching forend is fitted with a finely engraved steel forend tip and diamond.
The gun balances 5/8” behind the hinge centre.


Highly Figured Walnut

The 24 lines per inch chequering has been cut to a traditional H&H sidelock 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
15 3/8"
15 1/2"
15 3/8"
15 5/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 11/16"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" (approximate)
3/8" (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 cocking patent no. 23 of 1883;
 Deeley ejector patent no. 14526 of 1884;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865
Anson’s forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.