Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore 'Royal' Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 12536

Date of manufacture: 1889

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Heritage Guns' Comment

Holland & Holland records show that this gun was finished in 1889 for 'Elliot' and is a very lovely example of Holland & Holland's 'flag ship' gun. The origin of the replacement barrels is unknown but we know from the proof marks that they were made some time 1954 and 1972. Records of rebarrelling of these early Royals is notoriously patchy and all we can say is that the work is of top quality and may have been done in house by the Makers. The restocking is thought to be more recent but we have no indication of just when it was done. However it is the work of a professional and very experienced stocker and this might lead one to assume that the work was done by a stocker with considerable experience of H&H stocks, maybe even an ex-H&H worker. The gun balances exactly on the hinge 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 Maker's leather case with some accessories.

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:
Rounded action;
Bar action, 'Dip Edge', nine pin locks with bolstered tumbler pivots;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Breech face 'Gas Checks'; 'Block Patent Safety' interceptor sears;
Top lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle';
Top rib extension providing a 3rd bite;
Holland's patent cocking levers;
Holland & Robertson's patent ejector
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Cased in Maker's leather & brass case with some accessories.
Gun weight 7lb.
Engraving style Best Fine Bouquet & Scroll.
'"THE ROYAL" PATENT SAFETY HAMMERLESS EJECTOR' on underside of action;
Top lever engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND PATENT NO.23'. Gold inlaid 'SAFE'.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4lbs.
The replacement steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of concave game type. Bores are clean and bright.
London proof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges 1954-72.


Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
0.729"
0.730"
0.030"
0.09" (IC)
Left Barrel
0.729"
0.730"
0.031"
0.026" (Mod)

The Replacement Straight Hand Stock and Original Splinter Forend are crafted from boldly 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 1 ¼" leather covered recoil pad. There is one small inlet repair to the forend edge and a second at the knuckle. The forend is fitted with a finely engraved, steel forend tip, diamond and Anson pushrod tip.
The 26 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to normal 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.

Boldly Figured Walnut

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 3/4"
14 7/8"
14 13/16"
15 1/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 9/16"
1 3/4"
2 3/8"
Cast-off at Comb
Cast-off 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:
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.