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CM76
.300 member

Reged: 21/04/22
Posts: 101
Loc: Wollongong, NSW Australia

Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25"
#395218 - 23/12/25 01:13 PM

An interesting Thomas Bland take down rifle in 450/400 3.25 NE. The action is nickel plated, and appears to be the original finish, although I cannot confirm.

Chris

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IMG_3666 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3667 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3655 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3660 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3658 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3663 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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IMG_3657 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

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Waidmannsheil
.416 member

Reged: 19/04/13
Posts: 2568
Loc: Melbourne Australia

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: CM76]
#395234 - 23/12/25 10:54 PM

Certainly a very nice looking rifle in a great cartridge. Not sure though that the British would have ever had an action that shiny for use in the field, engraving wasn't just decorative it was also to dull any reflection. Still a great buy though, thanks for posting.

Matt.

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There is nothing wrong with vegetarian food, so long as there is meat with it.

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4668
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: Waidmannsheil]
#395252 - 24/12/25 07:39 AM

Quote:

Certainly a very nice looking rifle in a great cartridge. Not sure though that the British would have ever had an action that shiny for use in the field, engraving wasn't just decorative it was also to dull any reflection. Still a great buy though, thanks for posting.

Matt.

Well I was thinking along the same lines Matt - far too shiny for a field rifle!
Chris, you will have to slug your bore on this one, too many variations in bore size in this calibre.
Would love to see a range report on this one to shoot to the sights!
As an after though, was a Nickel finish used as a non rusting surface or just plain decorative only?
Great piece of kit by the way mate - she's a corker!

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3DogMike
.400 member

Reged: 29/01/15
Posts: 1504
Loc: Western Slope, Colorado USA

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: 93x64mm]
#395253 - 24/12/25 07:54 AM

Very nice kit no matter what the present finish!

That said, I would opine that the action was polished, engraving recut, then nickeled.
One can see slight dishing near one screw hole, faint scribed lines to align the Thomas Bland and Sons, as well as faint fore/aft streaks from polishing. The rear sight, if original unpolished finish, shows vestiges of old very thin pitting as well.
Of course I could be wrong, been before.
I suppose one "could" get the nickel stripped and the whole recase colored for some ungodly cost and if there were a reliable outfit to do proper case colors as St. Leger in the UK used to do.
- Mike

--------------------
"Will Rogers never met a fighter pilot"
- Anon

“Always carry a flask of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake."
-- W. C. Fields

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CM76
.300 member

Reged: 21/04/22
Posts: 101
Loc: Wollongong, NSW Australia

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: 3DogMike]
#395255 - 24/12/25 08:15 AM

Certainly a good conversation piece. I can only guess that the rifle was used as a decorative display at some point after going through the plating / engraving process, as no practical hunter would ever do that! Its origins lie in India prior to making its way to Australia at some point.

Chris

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Huvius
.416 member

Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3648
Loc: Colorado

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: CM76]
#395261 - 24/12/25 09:18 AM

I don’t think that when shooting from a howdah one was too concerned with how shiny their kit was.
I mean, if riding elephant back doesn’t give you away, what else could!

My Manton Farq is also nickel plated but duller than this Bland.

Superb rifle!

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

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Claydog
.400 member

Reged: 17/08/12
Posts: 1337
Loc: Katherine, Northern Territory ...

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: CM76]
#395262 - 24/12/25 09:21 AM

Yeah it is pretty interesting. Nice job on the case and all the accessories. Is there anything on the shield on the top of the butt stock?

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CM76
.300 member

Reged: 21/04/22
Posts: 101
Loc: Wollongong, NSW Australia

Re: Thomas Bland TD 450/400 3.25" [Re: Claydog]
#395266 - 24/12/25 01:37 PM

Quote:

Yeah it is pretty interesting. Nice job on the case and all the accessories. Is there anything on the shield on the top of the butt stock?

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IMG_3792 by Chris Mulholland, on Flickr[/image]

Only this.....

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