Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore 'Royal’ Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 12817
Date of manufacture: 1890

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Heritage Guns' Comment Holland & Holland records show that this gun was finished in July, 1890 for ‘Drucker’ as no. 2 of a pair but there are virtually no further details of its specification, only a note on gun no. 12816’s record that its barrels were shortened to 29” in December 1901. This begs the question of whether the pair had been split by then and the second name on 12816’s record of ‘Jung’ (?) was the new owner. The lack of any original details does suggest that these guns may have been built for stock and only finished off when purchased. Regardless, the original damascus barrels of 12817 have survived the intervening years brilliantly and, although we can’t be certain, our guess is that the chokes were originally something like IC & 1/2, or in US parlance Skeet & Mod. There are traces of original hardening colour on lockplates and protected parts of the action and the engraving is of much better quality that many examples we have seen. The boldly figured stock & forend are thought to be original, are in fine condition and the gun balances almost exactly on the knuckle. 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 dark blue baize, equipped with some accessories and fitted with a reproduction label. 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;
Baraction, 'Dip Edge', 9 pin locks with bolstered tumbler pivots and gold washed tumblers;
‘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
and Anson's push rod forend catch.

Gun weight 6lb 9oz. 
Engraving style Best Bold Bouquet & Scroll.
Under-bar engraved ‘“THE ROYAL” PATENT SAFETY HAMMERLESS EJECTOR’.
F’end iron engraved and top lever and top rib gold inlaid ‘2’. Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’.
Beaded fences. Breech face stamped ‘PAT.GAS CHECK’ and use number 4112.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs.
The rebrowned damascus steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ½ " (65mm) cartridges and are of dovetail lump construction with soft soldered ribs. 
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 65mm nitro powder cartridges between 1925-54.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

The 24 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.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

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.