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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Single Shots & Combination Guns

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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 638
Loc: Boulder Colorado
303 Holland/Woodward
      #393761 - 11/10/25 10:31 AM

This rifle is extensively documented in the Wal Winfer book on Holland single shot rifles, the 3rd rifle built on the patent, finished in 1896. The rifle was re-barreled by Holland at a later date. It was the original sighting equipment that drew me to the rifle, barrel sights, a peep in the tang and a scope, the fact that it is a .303 did not hurt in my mind. I knew the rifle would need to be stocked someday when I bought it, it broke during shipping so that was a disappointment but it did create a sense or urgency for the project. The broken stock was one of many issues the rifle had, the firing pin was broken and deformed on both ends, the under lever was bent and its latch was broken, both the top and bottom rear tangs were damaged, the rear express sight was loose in its slot, the action was extremely difficult to cock. There was some good news, the bore remains strong, the scope is tight, the external pitting was minimal and it was what I felt to be a very worthy project.












I started with the repairing the stock so it could be shot, and it would later become my pattern stock. The metal work then began, a new firing pin was made, the under lever was straightened, I TIG welded the latch and refit it but it still cocked verry hard. A close inspection revealed that the ejector spring appeared to be replacement and literally sent the spent cases yards over your shoulder, not ideal for a reloader. I reduced the size and strength of the spring and the action now functions smoothly as it should. The action was sent out for micro-welding and re-engraving, while he had it he addressed several small areas of pitting along the action edges so I had nice clean lines to fit the new wood up against.







A nice piece of Tessier French walnut selected and set up in the pantograph, then the hand inletting began.







The new stock was fit up, a new fore end was made, the original buttplate and grip cap were moved over to the new stock, new screws were made and then engraved.









red oil, then Daly's and Alkenet root, I'm not 100% happy with the finial wood finish but I will keep working on it.



Checkering by the same anonymous craftsman that does my engraving. I added some sling swivels, slow rust blued the barrel and blended out the areas on the action where the welding and engraving was done.















--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com


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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4549
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393762 - 11/10/25 12:25 PM

Absolutely first rate work to restore this old girl!
Looks just as good if not better than the day she was made Bouldersmith!
Will be good for another 130+ years


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fjrdoc
.333 member


Reged: 20/05/22
Posts: 270
Loc: United States
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: 93x64mm]
      #393770 - 11/10/25 09:57 PM

Beautiful and sexy!

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85lc
.400 member


Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1269
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: fjrdoc]
      #393771 - 12/10/25 01:32 AM

Steve,

Thank you for posting. I enjoyed your write up with pictures of the rifle and your work to restore it, Your work is great.

Was the action actually made by Holland or was it one of the modified Farquharson actions made in Belgium that Westley Richards and others used?

--------------------
RB


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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 638
Loc: Boulder Colorado
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: 85lc]
      #393772 - 12/10/25 01:39 AM

This rifle is one of the estimated 140 actions that Holland built in house on the Holland/Woodward patent.

I have a Holland built PD Farquharson in .30 Super Flanged as well

--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com


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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5351
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393776 - 12/10/25 03:05 AM

Nice work, Steve. I just saw this on the ASSRA forum and posted there also.

Will it have a new home???

Curly

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27906
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393777 - 12/10/25 03:13 AM

That is a wonderful example of a beautiful stalking rifle.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 638
Loc: Boulder Colorado
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: DarylS]
      #393781 - 12/10/25 03:25 AM

Hi Curly,
I responded over on ASSRA, this one is staying with me for the foreseeable future. I hope to take it back to Africa where the original owner used it with great success.



--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com


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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5351
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393782 - 12/10/25 03:48 AM

Gee Steve, you look a little different from the last time I saw you.





Curly

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 638
Loc: Boulder Colorado
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: CptCurl]
      #393783 - 12/10/25 03:58 AM

It's the middle age spread and facial hair

--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com


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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5351
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393784 - 12/10/25 05:05 AM

Quote:

It's the middle age spread and facial hair






Yeah, and eyestrain from working late at night on old broken guns under nothing but candle light.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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HuviusModerator
.416 member


Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3625
Loc: Colorado
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: CptCurl]
      #393785 - 12/10/25 07:34 AM

What’s remarkable restoration!
A scoped 303 falling block is as good as it gets in my opinion and being a Holland Woodward, well, that’s something else entirely.
Remind me why we couldn’t get you to restock my 450? Other than my complete inability to choose a blank?!!

--------------------
He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.


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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40906
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393793 - 12/10/25 02:40 PM

Quote:

Hi Curly,
I responded over on ASSRA, this one is staying with me for the foreseeable future. I hope to take it back to Africa where the original owner used it with great success.







Is that the original owner? Who was he?

We should all work to create grand old manly photos with our classic firearms for posterity. To be associated with our tenure of our classic firearms when some new old fart owns them in the future hundred years.

I think this Holland Woodward .303 with scope should be taken Red stag stalking in Scotland. As well as springbok, impala and assorted beasties of Africa. Maybe an exotic Texas ranch for black buck, simulating India.

Looks like a lovely rifle after all the work. Maybe the bore is good because is rarely been used, something always broken.

Wonderful work. Thanks for posting it for all our mutual enjoyment. In the future hopefully a springbok stag or even just a Whitetail, Muley buck or Pronghorn! Good luck.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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Kdgj
.224 member


Reged: 11/03/19
Posts: 26
Loc: CO
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: NitroX]
      #393807 - 13/10/25 01:31 AM

John,

The original owner was Surgeon Major David Bruce. An interesting Dr in the early 1900s working on tropical diseases.



Ken


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85lc
.400 member


Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1269
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: Kdgj]
      #393813 - 13/10/25 06:47 AM

Ken,
What a neat hat. That is a great picture.

--------------------
RB


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85lc
.400 member


Reged: 19/01/18
Posts: 1269
Loc: Georgia, USA
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: 85lc]
      #393816 - 13/10/25 06:54 AM

Steve,

Does the Holland/Woodward patent action use a firing pin retractor that goes thru a slot milled into the firing pin? If so, that seems quite difficult to get the timing just right.

I ask because I have a Jeffery PD that I am replacing a missing firing pin that has a slot milled for the retractor. It is difficult for me to determine the exact dimensions of the slot.

--------------------
RB


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bouldersmith
.375 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 638
Loc: Boulder Colorado
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: 85lc]
      #393818 - 13/10/25 07:23 AM

Yes, the firing pin is slotted and uses a bump to extract the pin, just like on a PD or early Gibbs. They are pretty miserable to make, this one took me two attempts. Removing the barrel really helps. If you need some pointers, give me a call.

--------------------
New website http://www.bertramandco.com


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Claydog
.400 member


Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1228
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: bouldersmith]
      #393820 - 13/10/25 08:56 AM

Beautiful job. What an awesome rifle.

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40906
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: 303 Holland/Woodward [Re: Kdgj]
      #393833 - 13/10/25 09:40 PM

Thanks for the answer. It's nice to know the history of ones classic firearms.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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