Phil,

Some info about the origins of “your” rifle’s maker…..

Alfred B. Hollis, the proprietor of A. Hollis & Co, came from the same gunmaking family as Isaac Hollis, the owner of the more well know I. Hollis concern.

While having his origins in the Birmingham gun trade, he was an inveterate traveler, and while in India in 1885 set up in Bombay as a gundealer.

Although he signed his guns “A. Hollis & Co – London”, it seems, despite being a trained gunmaker, he was merely a distributor and repairer during this phase, in the same manner of other India based firms such as Mantons, Lyon & Lyon, Rodda, P. Orr & Son, etc.

He counted among his customer the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Duke of Connaught; there are some rifles around that carry the legend “Rifle Maker to the Duke of Connaught”

This reference as a “rifle maker” probably explains why A. Hollis shotguns are rarely encountered. Or alternatively, unlike rifles (excepting .303’s), shotguns have been a prohibited export from India for many years.