Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
'The Royal Patent Safety Hammerless Ejector'
12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 12456

Date of manufacture: 1889

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

Holland & Holland records show that this gun was finished in 1889 for 'A Jessal', it is in unusually good condition for its age and is a very lovely example of Holland & Holland's 'flag ship' gun.

As with so many older guns, the damascus barrels had been soft solder sleeved and we have recently re-sleeved the gun using the so-called 'Invisible Sleeving' TIG welding method and re-proofed it for 2 3/4" cartridges. The original case accompanied this gun when we purchased it and would be available to the purchaser, relined and equipped with some accessories, at additional cost.

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.

 

The action is of combined Holland & Robertson design and features:
Traces of original colour hardening;
'Dip Edge' lockplates;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Bar action locks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
Holland & Robertson 's cocking levers;
Breech face 'Gas Checks';
'Patent Safety Lock' 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 split extractors
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 7lb 1oz
Engraving style
Best Fine Foliate Scroll. 'WINNER OF ALL THE "FIELD" RIFLE TRIALS, LONDON' on top rib;'THE "ROYAL" PATENT SAFETY HAMMERLESS EJECTOR'
on underside of action; Top lever engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND PATENT NO 23'
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 3/4 lbs Rear trigger 4lbs
The damascus to steel 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, concave game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.


Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.727"
0.031" Minimum
0.010" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.727"
0.033" Minimum
0.017" (Mod)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. There are 3 small repair inlet to the forend wood edge.

Highly figured walnut

The approx 24 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to normal sidelock pattern. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval and well defined drop points and is finished with a horn butt plate secured by engraved screws. Although not the original wood, we believe it was probably restocked by a H&H craftsman as it has both a diamond grip and swept comb, both traditional H&H features. The inletting is of very good quality. The gun balances about 1" in front of the hinge pin.
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"
15 1/8"
15"
15 1/2"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 9/16"
1 3/4"
2 7/16"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/4" (approximate)
7/16" (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:
Scott's gas check patent no. 617 of 1882,
Holland & Robertson's cocking lever patent no. 23 of 1883,
Holland & Robertson's interceptor sears patent no. 5834 of 1887,
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 16691 of 1888,
'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.