Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London
12 bore 'Royal’ Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 12988        No.1 of a Pair
Date of manufacture: 1891

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Heritage Guns' Comment Holland & Holland records show that this gun was ‘shot & regulated’ in January 1891 for ‘Rome’ as number one of a pair and it is a very lovely example of Holland & Holland's 'flag ship' gun. The actioner was John Robertson of Boss & Co fame as can be deduced from his initials stamped into the back of the action. The Maker’s records also mention that the gun was fitted with replacement steel barrels in 1909 by Squire, one of the top barrel-makers of the time. The original gun had considerable cast and a lightly swept action to accommodate this. The highly figured restock is thought to be quite recent but we have no indication of just when it was done, nor by whom. The stocking is the work of a very skilled craftsman and this leads 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 almost 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 a lightweight leather case, equipped with some accessories and fitted with a gold embossed, leather Maker’s 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;
‘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 13oz. 
Engraving style Best Open Foliate Scroll.
Under-bar engraved ‘ROYAL EJECTOR PATENT NO. 11623’.
Top lever engraved ‘PATENT EJECTOR’. Gold inlaid ‘SAFE’.
Beaded fences. Breech face stamped ‘PATENT GAS CHECK No H204’.
Gold inlaid ‘1’ on top rib and toplever.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs.
The Replacement Steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾ " (70mm) cartridges and are of dovetail lump construction with soft soldered ribs. 
Top rib is of smooth, concave game type.
Birmingham reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges 2021.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

The 22 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.