*EXCEPTIONAL, SPECIAL ORDER HOLLAND & HOLLAND “ROYAL DELUXE” DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE.

SN 35432. (ca 1968) Cal. .458 Winchester Magnum. This is the first .458 magnum rifle made by Holland & Holland, and it was made for John H. Batten, a Holland & Holland director at the time. It has 24″ chopper lump bbls fitted with classically filed, matted, quarter rib, sighted with one standing, two folding leaf express rear, and gold bead front in ramp base with flip-over “moon” bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “Holland & Holland” “13 Bruton Street, London.” Caliber is engraved on mid rib. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for .458 at 2.5″ and 22 tons. Bottom rib is engraved “Made in England” where covered by forend, and “The Royal” in front of soldered on sling eye. French greyed Royal sidelock action with top strap extending over comb, and reinforcing bolsters, features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, hand detachable Brazier locks, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved with near full coverage exceptionally fine varying sized shaded open scroll surrounding exceptional scenes of cape buffalo and elephant. These well detailed animals are modeled after etchings in “MEINE TIERE” by Wilhelm Kuhnert, orig published in 1925. A cape buffalo stands in open mopane woodlands on left lockplate, with flat top mountain in background, and an elephant is running across opening with sinilar background on right lock. A trumpeting elephant, head raised, front feet off the ground, is on bottom of action. “Holland & Holland” is on double ended pennants on each reinforcing bolster. (No engravers signature found) Blued and scroll engraved single beaded trigger guard has SN on tang, which extends to steel grip cap with trap, which is engraved to match action. Trap cover is engraved with charging rhinoceros. Beautifully marbled, dark and dense European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over russet brown leather covered pad, and features classic right hand H&H style shadow line cheekpiece, point pattern checkering, and drop points. A sling eye matching that on bbl is on toe line, along with individual inlet gold initials “J H B”. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 2-15/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 10 lbs. 1 oz. LOP: 14-7/8″. Original makers green canvas case with brass corners and leather trim, is embossed “JOHN H. BATTEN” “3030, MICHIGAN BLVD.” “RACINE, WISCONSIN.” “U.S.A.” Interior is lined in green cloth, and has gold embossed H&H label in lid. Case contains 2-pc yellow plastic coated cleaning rod, with mops, brushes, and pull-through in black morocco wallet, H&H marked round oil bottle, horn handled striker key, small horn handled turnscrew, horn striker case with spare strikers, and a pair of snap caps. Also included is a tooled leather “Cobra” type carrying sling and a cartridge belt with space for four cartridges. PROVENANCE: Factory correspondence dated Aug 1968 stating that this is the first H&H dbl rifle made in .458, and confirming engraving choices, and thanks for a letter of appreciation. Another letter dated 1983 stating that by this time H&H had made 49 .458 rifles. CONDITION: Excellent, showing evidence of limited field use, perhaps one safari. Bbls retain approx 90% orig blue with high edge wear and some silvering on sides at muzzles, and at normal position and balance point toward action. Action retains nearly all of its orig French grey finish, silvered on top strap, and on action beads. Stocks have a number of light marks and scratches in their orig hand rubbed oil finish, checkering lightly worn, with some deep dents in checkering at bottom of forend. Leather of pad is scuffed, considerably at heel, and slightly at toe. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are a touch off face (jointed on circle ?). Ejectors are strong and in time. Case is good, with some scuffs and rubs (some through), in canvas. Some leather trim renewed. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is fine with some rubs and soiling. Partitions are good. Accessories are fine. A nicely balanced fast handling double in a caliber readily found throughout the hunting grounds of Africa. 50242-1 MGM275 (40,000-60,000) – Lot 2375

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Auction: Firearms - March 2016

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2375	$40,250.00	EXCEPTIONAL, SPECIAL ORDER HOLLAND & HOLLAND “ROYAL DELUXE” DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE. SN 35432. (ca 1968) Cal. .458 Winchester Magnum. This is the first .458 magnum rifle made by Holland & Holland, and it was made for John H. Batten, a Holland & Holland director at the time. It has 24″ chopper lump bbls fitted with classically filed, matted, quarter rib, sighted with one standing, two folding leaf express rear, and gold bead front in ramp base with flip-over “moon” bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “Holland & Holland” “13 Bruton Street, London.” Caliber is engraved on mid rib. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for .458 at 2.5″ and 22 tons. Bottom rib is engraved “Made in England” where covered by forend, and “The Royal” in front of soldered on sling eye. French greyed Royal sidelock action with top strap extending over comb, and reinforcing bolsters, features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), hidden third fastener, bushed strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, hand detachable Brazier locks, and dbl triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved with near full coverage exceptionally fine varying sized shaded open scroll surrounding exceptional scenes of cape buffalo and elephant. These well detailed animals are modeled after etchings in “MEINE TIERE” by Wilhelm Kuhnert, orig published in 1925. A cape buffalo stands in open mopane woodlands on left lockplate, with flat top mountain in background, and an elephant is running across opening with sinilar background on right lock. A trumpeting elephant, head raised, front feet off the ground, is on bottom of action. “Holland & Holland” is on double ended pennants on each reinforcing bolster. (No engravers signature found) Blued and scroll engraved single beaded trigger guard has SN on tang, which extends to steel grip cap with trap, which is engraved to match action. Trap cover is engraved with charging rhinoceros. Beautifully marbled, dark and dense European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over russet brown leather covered pad, and features classic right hand H&H style shadow line cheekpiece, point pattern checkering, and drop points. A sling eye matching that on bbl is on toe line, along with individual inlet gold initials “J H B”. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Drop at heel: approx 2-15/16″, drop at comb: approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 10 lbs. 1 oz. LOP: 14-7/8″. Original makers green canvas case with brass corners and leather trim, is embossed “JOHN H. BATTEN” “3030, MICHIGAN BLVD.” “RACINE, WISCONSIN.” “U.S.A.” Interior is lined in green cloth, and has gold embossed H&H label in lid. Case contains 2-pc yellow plastic coated cleaning rod, with mops, brushes, and pull-through in black morocco wallet, H&H marked round oil bottle, horn handled striker key, small horn handled turnscrew, horn striker case with spare strikers, and a pair of snap caps. Also included is a tooled leather “Cobra” type carrying sling and a cartridge belt with space for four cartridges. PROVENANCE: Factory correspondence dated Aug 1968 stating that this is the first H&H dbl rifle made in .458, and confirming engraving choices, and thanks for a letter of appreciation. Another letter dated 1983 stating that by this time H&H had made 49 .458 rifles. CONDITION: Excellent, showing evidence of limited field use, perhaps one safari. Bbls retain approx 90% orig blue with high edge wear and some silvering on sides at muzzles, and at normal position and balance point toward action. Action retains nearly all of its orig French grey finish, silvered on top strap, and on action beads. Stocks have a number of light marks and scratches in their orig hand rubbed oil finish, checkering lightly worn, with some deep dents in checkering at bottom of forend. Leather of pad is scuffed, considerably at heel, and slightly at toe. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are a touch off face (jointed on circle ?). Ejectors are strong and in time. Case is good, with some scuffs and rubs (some through), in canvas. Some leather trim renewed. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is fine with some rubs and soiling. Partitions are good. Accessories are fine. A nicely balanced fast handling double in a caliber readily found throughout the hunting grounds of Africa. 50242-1 MGM275 (40,000-60,000) – Lot 2375 \| Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*EXCEPTIONAL, SPECIAL ORDER HOLLAND & HOLLAND “ROYAL DELUXE” DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE.