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FINE HIGH CONDITION PAIR OF HOLLAND & HOLLAND

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
FINE HIGH CONDITION PAIR OF HOLLAND & HOLLAND

GRADE “B” OR “2” SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME GUNS WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. Cal. 12 Ga., 2 1/2". S# 21564, 21565. Bbls. 30". The Grade B or No. 2 was Holland & Holland's 2nd grade, one step under the “Royal” & is nicely finished but simply does not have as much embellishment. This pair of guns have 30" dovetailed steel bbls. fitted w/ narrow swamped game ribs, the numbers “1” & “2” are gold inlaid respectively on breech ends, as well as on top levers & forend latches, denoting a true pair. Bbl. tops are stamped w/ “Holland & Holland” & “98. New Bond Street. London”. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London nitro proofs 2 1/2" chambers. S#s are on the bottom of each bbls. Bottom of each left bbl. is engraved “B GRADE”. Case hardened Royal pattern sidelock actions are fitted w/ non automatic safeties (“Safe” inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators & dbl. triggers. Actions are engraved in Grade B or No. 2 style w/ splashes of well cut scroll as counter point to line borders. Beads are nicely filed. Each lockplate is engraved w/ maker's name. Bottoms of actions are engraved “Patent” “Ejector”. Blued top levers & triggerguards are engraved to match. S#s are on triggerguard tangs. Well streaked & lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks that match very well, measure 13 3/4" over ribbed horn buttplates & feature drop points, point pattern checkering w/ mullered borders on diamond hands & vacant silver ovals on toelines. Matching splinter “AB” ejector forends have inlet steel tips & Deeley type releases. MEASUREMENTS: (S# 21564) BORE DIAMETER: .729 left, .729 right. BORE RESTRICTIONS: .007 IC left, .002 IC right. WALL THICKNESS: .023 left, .026 right. DAC: 1 5/8". DAH: 2 13/16". Cast: off 1/2". WEIGHT: 6 lbs 9 oz. (S#21565) BORE DIAMETER: .729 left, .729 right. BORE RESTRICTIONS: .009 left IC, .002 right IC. WALL THICKNESS: .025 left, .027 right. DAH: 2 13/16". DAC: 1 5/8". Cast: 1/2" off. WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 8 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: guns are housed in their original 2 gun oak & leather case w/ brass corners. A brass plaque on top is engraved “Gioacchino Del Balzo”. Case is lined in scarlet cloth & has gold embossed black leather Holland & Holland label in lid along w/ charge card for these particular guns & “AB” ejector maintenance card. Bottom compartment is separated by a folding dust leaf & has space for both guns & their bbls. Case contains 2 pair of Holland & Holland marked snap caps, 2 pull through cleaning kits in black Morocco wallets & another leather wallet containing spare strikers for both guns. Another covered compartment holds Mop, Jag & Turks head. An open compartment holds a leather carrying sling. CONDITION: very fine, mostly original, “as found”. Both sets of bbls. retaining nearly all of a professional reblack; engraving somewhat softened. Action & lockplates retain approx. 70% original case hardening color silvered on high edges, beads & fences. Thinning somewhat at bottoms & sides from normal hand wear. Lock plates retain over 80% of their color. Top levers & trigger guards reblued, engraving softened. Stocks retain nearly all of their original rubbed oil finish w/ a good scattering of light marks & some areas dulled. Checkering lightly worn. Bores are bright & shiny w/ a few minor striations in right bbl. of gun #2. Actions are tight. Bbls. are on face. AB ejectors are typically strong & in time. Case leather is still relatively light in color has numerous bumps & rubs & has some water stains. Straps & handle are good. Interior cloth shows some soiling & rubs but is generally fine. Leather label shows some mildew. Paper labels are good but somewhat foxed. Lower compartment partitions are solid. Cloth has some rubs through along w/ marks & stains, but is generally very good. Accessories are good. This lovely pair of guns were made as a pair, however the owner wanted a 3rd gun to match & this 3rd gun is the next lot in the auction. (21-3948 & 21-3949/MGM). CURIOS. $15,000-20,000.