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An interesting piece coming up at Holt's in December
Sale A1048 Lot 1210

FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF HRH PRINCE YUGALA DIGHAMBARA OF SIAM
HOLLAND & HOLLAND
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 28-BORE 'ROYAL'1885 FOSBERY PATENT 'PARADOX' RIFLED-CHOKE SIDELOCK EJECTOR SHOT AND BALL GUN, serial no. 15834,
28in. nitro reproved barrels (in 2010) with matt sight rib, folding leaf sights for 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards with white metal-inlaid sighting lines and detachable bead foresight, tubes engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98, NEW BOND STREET. LONDON. "NITRO-PARADOX" FOSBERY PATENT.' (engraving refreshed), 2 1/2in. chambers, Col. G.Vincent Fosbery V.C. patent rifled chokes, patent no. 7568 of 1885, elongated top-strap, automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, removable striker discs with locking screws, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, action body with lightly rounded bar, chequered front trigger, best bold scroll engraving with feathered borders, the underside engraved 'ROYAL HAMMERLESS EJECTOR', retaining traces of renewed colour-hardening and finish, 13 1/2in. well-figured diamond grip stock, including horn buttplate, weight 5lb. 7oz.

Provenance: The makers have kindly confirmed that the Paradox was completed in 1907 for a Mr Clark, but was subsequently re-regulated and sold by them to HRH Prince Yugala Dighambara , Prince of Lopburi, son of HM King Chulalongkorn of Siam.

Literature: The rifle features in the new book "PARADOX - The Story of Col. G.V. Fosbery, Holland & Holland, and the Paradox by David J. Baker & Roger E. Lake".

In the research undertaken for the book, Mssrs. Baker and Lake confirm that just eight Paradox rifles were made in 28-bore, making it the rarest of all the calibres and also the smallest. It was the last Paradox calibre developed and manufactured by Holland & Holland. Their theory as to the scarcity of 28-bore Paradox infers that the relative ineffectiveness of the 28-bore shot cartridges of the day made it less versatile than its larger calibre versions. Westley Richards had a similar experience with their 'Fauneta' shot and ball guns, with only ten 28-bore versions being built.

Other Notes: The Lot comes with a quantity of Eley brass 28-bore cases suitable for use with this gun
Estimate £25,000-30,000

Edited by CptCurl (31/10/10 12:00 AM)

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