*INCREDIBLE GOLDEN AGE HOLLAND & HOLLAND ROYAL DELUXE HAMMERLESS EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE IN .577 NITRO EXPRESS MOST LIKELY MADE FOR HIS HIGHNESS SIR RANA RANJIT SINGHJI OF THE STATE OF BARWANI WITH CASE AND AMMUNITION.
SN 30337. Cal. .577 NE (Made ca 1928) Beautifully struck 26″ chopper lump bbls are fitted with file cut quarter rib with Holland’s classic cove molding transition to sunken mid rib, with front ramp mirroring transition. Quarter rib is fitted with one standing, two folding leaf express rear sight, having platinum lines. Standing leaf is marked for 100 yards, and folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards. Front ramp holds small silver bead with flip-up porcelain night bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “Holland & Holland” and “98. New Bond Street London.” Mid rib is engraved “.577 Bore”. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 90 grains cordite and 750 grain bullet. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and left bbl with “H&H”. A sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Robust, case hardened, back action sidelock (Brazier locks), Holland Royal action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), long top strap which extends over comb, bushed strikers, hidden third fastener, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, detachable sidelocks, and dbl triggers with front trigger checkered and articulated. Engraving on Holland “Deluxe” guns is always unique, but follows a similar theme. Engraving on this gun is known as “Dragon Pattern” and depicts a panoply of mythical and actual scary beasts. Fences are wonderfully relief carved with kelpies with snakelike bodies trailing toward bottoms. Lockplates each portray a griffin, newt, snake with forked tongue, and bear type animal with tongue extended. These beasties peer forth from a background of open shaded acanthus scroll. Bottom of action is engraved “ROYAL EJECTOR” which is flanked by a pair of sea monsters and has foliate scroll extending toward trigger plate with face of horned greenman. This engraving is exceptionally well cut and nicely detailed. Blued top lever is engraved “Modele – de – Luxe”. Single beaded trigger guard has another sea monster on bow and with SN engraved on tang, which extends to steel grip cap with trap, engraved with another greenman (a spare front sight is in trap). Dark and dense, nicely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over Silver type pad, and is styled in classic H&H manner with right hand shadow line cheekpiece having broad flaring transition to shadow, point pattern flat top checkering with mullered borders at grip, concave border at rear, and classic drop points. There is a sling loop on toe line matching that on bbl, along with a gold oval engraved with a tiger rampant over a banner inscribed in Indian script. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 3″, drop at comb: approx 1-7/8″ (Factory specs state 1-5/8 and 2-5/8. These are indeed the correct measurements without sights. The stocker measures bend from sight bases, not blades and beads.). Weight: 12 lbs 11 oz. LOP: 14-1/4”. Factory orig leather case has green canvas outer cover with brown leather trim. Case is lined in burgundy cloth, with gold embossed H&H black leather label in lid, along with charge card for this particular rifle, and another label regarding cleaning. Case contains 2-pc wood covered steel cleaning rod with brass swivel head, with brush, jag and mop, H & H marked round oil bottle, bone striker bottle with this guns SN, containing spare strikers, snap caps, lock swivels, and replacement screw when hand detachable screw not in use, horn handled striker key, and three turnscrews, one marked Holland & Holland. A covered compartment holds the key. Also included with rifle are two red and yellow boxes of Kynoch “577” solids. PROVENANCE: Correspondence between Mr. West and H & H regarding this rifle, and purchase of accessories. Copy of ledger page where it states orig client was “Barwani” (most likely Sir Rana Ranjit Singhji (1894-1930), K.C.I.E. Bahadur of the state of Barwani of south central India). Wm. West Estate Collection. CONDITION: Excellent, essentially as new, appears nearly unfired since proof. Metal parts have slight silvering on high edges, and a few light scratches and marks. Stocks are also excellent with one or two very light handling marks in what may be a very light refinish. There is an old stable stress crack behind left lockplate. Bores are superb. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather is excellent, with only a few minor scuffs and rubs. Newer straps are excellent, handle has been reattached. Outer cover is excellent. Interior cloth is very fine with some minor rubs from action and bbls, a few rubs through at rear of bbl compartment. Accessories are fine. The Holy Grail of Holland & Holland rifles, it’s hard to imagine that a finer example exists. 49479-3 MGM256 (60,000-100,000) – Lot 2214
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