(.450 member)

17/06/13 11:22 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Superb, lovely looking gun in an unusual configuration.

Thanks for posting.

Matabele

(.300 member)

17/06/13 05:36 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Fantastic! How does she shoot?

CptCurl

(.450 member)

17/06/13 09:03 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

That's a lovely rifle and appears almost new!

Thanks for sharing.

Curl

bonanza

(.400 member)

18/06/13 05:55 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Welcome to the Big Bore Double Rifle Club.

This is the one from Champlins. It's a 3.25" BPE. I reckon it will shoot the 440 grain Woodliegh NFB quite nicely and could get nearly 2000 fps out of the Cast Performance 435 solid. Cape Buffalo anyone?

(.450 member)

18/06/13 06:01 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I reckon it should do quite well on large sized animals.

(.416 member)

18/06/13 09:29 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Wow that's really nice.
I look forward to seeing how it shoots.

Congrats!

Cheers
Tinker

Chasseur

(.375 member)

21/06/13 05:36 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Nice to see you at the range yesterday! That is a wonderful looking rifle in excellent condition. I look forward to seeing her on the range soon

rigbymauser

(.400 member)

22/06/13 06:25 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Absolutely a fine piece. I saw it GI(which I still believe hasn't been removed from yet) and thought such gun would one day become a good choice for a medium bore candidate. Beautiful rifle in the right configuration, right caliber, right condition etc.
It doesn't become more superb than this.

Congratulations.

aromakr

(.375 member)

23/06/13 03:40 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I didn't realize a gun from 1905 would have bushed firing pins, that blew me away.
Bob

jcorry

(.275 member)

26/06/13 07:41 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Painfully beautiful

bonanza

(.400 member)

26/06/13 09:41 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I've recently traded a .577 bpe for a .500 bpe Webly hammerless. I was unsatisfied with the accuracy of the .577 and unwilling to push an old damascus rifle. I really made out. The .500 is flawless and shoots extreemly well.

I've ordered the 350 and 430 grain wide flat profectiles from cast performance to try out. As many of you are aware, these bullets are legendary performers.

I should be able to achive 2000 fps with the 350 and 1700 fps with the 430.

DarylS

(.700 member)

27/06/13 06:03 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Beautiful - and amazingly preserved.

Chasseur

(.375 member)

25/07/13 07:03 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I had the real pleasure of both seeing and shooting this rifle today. It really has to be seen in person to see how both how beautifully made and in what great condition it is in!

Nordmann

(.300 member)

26/07/13 01:06 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

It looks great, especially love the shape of the cheek piece and the profile of the rifle. Is it cased?

(.275 member)

26/07/13 08:22 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Chasseur can shoot this gun a lot better than I can, he put two rounds with in an inch of each other
at a 50 yard target just below the point of aim. Some guys can just shoot, see his shooting results
with a Alex Henry at 100 yards. Just fantastic.

As you wish, here is a pic of the leather bound oak case with brass corners. Gold plated snap caps,
turn screw drivers, nickel plated oil bottle, and water funnel.

(.275 member)

26/07/13 08:47 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I have a correction to be added, this is a copy of the Holland build sheet on this gun. It was
born on Dec. 16, 1898, not the 1905 as I reported. And I have a copy of the Catalog advertising this
type of under lever 500 BPE from the turn of the century.

(.450 member)

26/07/13 11:48 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Oahu

Interesting choice of words in the log book entry.

With the date it was made,and finished, any marks on it
to indicate if this is a Scott rifle.

Also, any marks on the barrels to see who made them ?

Lovely rifle.

Huvius

(.416 member)

27/07/13 02:05 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I do enjoy reading the ledger pages of the British gunmakers.
H&H seem to get to the point while at the same time conveying the pertinent information about the gun.

Some translation:
Log - lever over guard (meaning the underlever)
lever forepart - the "Rigby" style forend release
h. p. ring bullet - must refer to the hollow point greased bullet H&H used

One thing I don't know is the powder after the dram charge "5 drams". Looks like a 9 or could be a "B" for Black powder.
I always thought that Curtiss & Harvey's No.6 was the standard black of the day. Maybe there was a different powder used at the tail end of the BP cartridge era.

(.450 member)

27/07/13 02:24 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Are you sure it doesn't say a "2" or part of
where discussing the Black Powder ?

(.275 member)

27/07/13 04:31 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I cannot see any marks on the barrels except the matching serial number.

As per Champlins this has locks made by "Joseph Brazier".

Anjin

(.224 member)

27/07/13 04:16 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I too have a copy of the H&H ledger page for my double 500/450 3-1/4" sidelock which was made in 1905 and shows my number as 1908x.

If this one, serial number 19037, was made in 1898, that means H&H only made about 50 rifles in the intervening seven years.

Mine is the plainer version, and was ordered from India by an Englishman, then brought to the US by Jim Bell of Bell Extrusion Laboratories, Ltd. in the 1970's when he served in the Peace Corps there and picked up several old doubles.

It also has splendid case coloring, but I think that is because it was refreshed by H&H at Jim's request. He also had Al Biesen install a LH butt stock, so it is in fantastic condition. Unfortunately, it is in storage in the US and I cannot show pictures. Yes, it shoots well, too.

Huvius

(.416 member)

28/07/13 12:15 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Quote:

If this one, serial number 19037, was made in 1898, that means H&H only made about 50 rifles in the intervening seven years.

Might be that your gun was held in stock for a few years before being purchased.
H&H certainly made many more guns than that in the 1898-1905 period.

Marrakai

(.416 member)

05/09/13 11:15 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

G'day OahuKaneohe:
Can't help wondering whether "Orr" on the build sheet is the original intended recipient of the gun.

If you do end up getting the records from the sales ledger, I would be very interested to know who this gentleman was!

Always keen to discover the sporting interests of my potential ancestors!

Cheers

(.275 member)

06/09/13 05:25 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I believe the gun was intended for the Indian retailer P. Orr.

The barrels have the usual "Holland & Holland, 98 New Bond Street, London; Winners Of All The
Field Rifle Trials, London:" on top

And in matching lettering:

" Rajah V. Venkatakristna Yachendra Bahadur - 5th Brother of the Rajah Venkatagiri K.C.I.E."

Link to their history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venkatagiri_estate

Nordmann

(.300 member)

06/09/13 06:18 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Oahukaneohe ...Reading all that about Ventatagiri has made me hungry for a good Curry, preferably Madras or Vindaloo!

Like your rifle, it has a fabulous contemporary look.

On the image of the baseplate, there looks to be a fair bit of pitting in the engraving on the top side of the picture, which is not consistent with the condition of the rest of the action and locks ? What is that ?

(.450 member)

06/09/13 06:25 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Nordmann

I saw that as well.

I Reckon it had a small amount of moisture on it
when put away once and it pitted.

Funny how it is in that one area and doesn't
extend around to the lock as far as my eyes
can tell.

(.275 member)

06/09/13 07:57 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

That was a bad out of focus picture. There is no pitting or rust, the surface, engraving and CCH are like new. I have added more photos, I hope show how pristine it is. I am using an old point
and shoot Canon G9.

(.450 member)

06/09/13 08:03 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

I see.

Something the smallest amount of oil reflects the light
that makes it look bad.

Anyway, superb gun.

CptCurl

(.450 member)

06/09/13 11:00 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

The rifle was re-done and advertised as such.

There are bound to be some vestiges of wear and neglect under the new finish.

Curl

(.416 member)

06/09/13 12:34 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Wow
Looks fantastic!

Cheers
Tinker

470evans

(.333 member)

26/10/13 08:50 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Holland's serial #s are not in exact numeric order. I just picked up #1922x, an underlever hammer rifle 577 3" bpe and it was finished January of 1899. My 500/450 Royal, serial # 1798x was finished in 1901.

You have a beautiful rifle there.

gwh

(.333 member)

26/10/13 09:33 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

A very nice rifle.

feinejagdwaffen

(.224 member)

12/02/14 12:33 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

strange with the serial numbers. i have a H&H royal in .500/450 with
sn 17989 with confirmation letter from H&H that the gun was built in
1905

(.333 member)

12/02/14 01:43 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Serial numbers have never been in strict sequence. Purdey are currently building a battery of guns ranging in serial numbers 31010------31022-----31028-----31122-----31300-----31303-----31375-----31500-----31600.

feinejagdwaffen

(.224 member)

12/02/14 02:27 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

similar to rigby's with the prewar mausers.

(.416 member)

12/02/14 02:30 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Ahmed-

I'd like a crystal ball view into that work order to the Purdey shop!

Cheers
Tinker

MikeRowe

(.333 member)

12/02/14 03:12 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Serial numbers being out of an organised order is very common. I am very familiar with the order book of a well known maker, and have seen numbers over a decade out of logical sequence. A lot of this had to do with guns being actioned,or made up in the white, and put "into stock" while work was a little slow in the workshop.

NitroX

(.700 member)

12/02/14 11:54 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Quote:

Ahmed-

I'd like a crystal ball view into that work order to the Purdey shop!

Cheers
Tinker

You may well in the future get your wish.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:18 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n 31010. 10bore SxS 32 inch smooth bore barrels & 27 inch rifled choke barrels.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:22 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n 31022. 22sav hp SxS scoped.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:24 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n 31028. 28bore S/S.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:27 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n 31122. 22hornet single barrel rook style (single side lock). Scoped 3/4 inch tube.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:29 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n31300. 300H&H fl SxS. Scoped.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:31 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n31303. 303brit SxS.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 08:36 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

S/n31375. 375H&H fl. S/n31500. 500nitro. S/n31600. 600nitro. All guns with exception of 303 being built with similar DNA. Guns are all best and being built to hunt with before senility takes complete hold.

(.333 member)

14/02/14 11:38 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Apologise for so many entries am new to email machine will try to learn to send photos.

CptCurl

(.450 member)

15/02/14 12:46 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Wow! Which lottery did you hit?

Can't wait to see these. How long has it been since H&H has built a .303 Brit. DR?

You are my new hero and object of green envy.

Curl

(.333 member)

15/02/14 12:55 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Cptcurl. Battery of 9 are purdey guns. Don't be green with envy eventually these guns may belong to lots of enthusiasts like ourselves.

NitroX

(.700 member)

15/02/14 02:01 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Quote:

Apologise for so many entries am new to email machine will try to learn to send photos.

I will be checking my email box to see if any have been sent yet. I can give lots of help as needed. Thanks.

(.416 member)

15/02/14 05:53 AM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Sounds like a great pile of sporting iron.
I applaud the race against age.
I have seen far too many men expire before their hunting wish list expires.
Go get it!

Cheers
Tinker

NitroX

(.700 member)

16/02/14 05:36 PM

Re: My H & H Royal side lock 500 BPE

Quote:

I have seen far too many men expire before their hunting wish list expires.
Go get it!

But that is the way it should be. Keeping active, keeping having ambitions to the end.