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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5268
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle
      #270449 - 14/09/15 06:18 AM

In May of this year I happened upon this most delightful double rifle and was fortunate to bring it into the fold.

It is a Holland & Holland, completed January 15, 1901 a week before Queen Victoria's death. Although the H&H flagship at that time was the Royal Hammerless Ejector, this rifle was ordered as a toplever, back-action hammer rifle. Let me remind you that there still was suspicion and doubt about the hammerless guns and rifles at the turn of the 20th century. The "old timers" believed hammerless guns to be unsafe. Nobody would walk around carrying a gun or rifle with the hammers back, but that's exactly what is going on with the new hammerless weapons.

So here we see a rifle built as what was then an obsolete design, and chambered for arguably the most modern British cartridge of the day.

This rifle is absolutely superb. It has seen little use and remains in excellent original condition. Its bores are virtually new. It resides in its original case.

Regulated for the original 215 grain .303 load, it still is wonderfully accurate with my present-day load of 38.5 grains of IMR4895, a Woodleigh 215 grain bullet, and a Federal 210 primer.

So here it is.

































































































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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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MikeRowe
.333 member


Reged: 23/11/11
Posts: 478
Loc: Arkansas, USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: CptCurl]
      #270452 - 14/09/15 07:09 AM

What a stunning rifle! You really hit the jackpot this time, Capt.

And just in time to get a little practice time in before deer season. Is that a wood covered rod I spy in the case with her?

Those guns with no hammers are just a passing fad, you know......


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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 3954
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: CptCurl]
      #270453 - 14/09/15 07:19 AM

Well Capt you certainly know how to pick them!
Absolute gem that one mate, all of us here very envious but happy that such a wonderful piece of history has found a good home.
Make a great little hunting rifle, two very quick shots if needed.
Congrats
93x64mm


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Rockdoc
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Reged: 07/12/06
Posts: 1212
Loc: NSW, Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: 93x64mm]
      #270456 - 14/09/15 08:50 AM

What a cracker!

Congratulations.

Have had a hankering for a little double 'Spanie lwith ears' and that is sweet!

Cheers, Chris


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LesLeeSpeed
.300 member


Reged: 14/11/13
Posts: 223
Loc: Queensland Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Rockdoc]
      #270457 - 14/09/15 09:40 AM

All I can say is WOW!!!
Congratulations on a wonderful acquisition.
LesLeeSpeed


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Iowa_303s
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Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1014
Loc: Iowa, USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: LesLeeSpeed]
      #270459 - 14/09/15 10:53 AM

What a top notch piece of kit!
Absolutely stunning!
Thank you for sharing with us mere mortals.

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"


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underlever
.300 member


Reged: 01/02/07
Posts: 164
Loc: N.S.W Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #270460 - 14/09/15 12:55 PM

dear oh dear oh dear, just when I was starting to sleep well again. What a beauty.
Thanks for sharing and the great quality of the pics.
regards,
Underlever


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eagle27
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Reged: 24/01/09
Posts: 1108
Loc: Nelson, New Zealand
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: underlever]
      #270463 - 14/09/15 04:22 PM

That is a superb find and brings back memories of an identical gun I shot on a range in Germany back in the early 80's. I can't remember all the details but it had an aged patina about it compared with yours. It was in perfect order and was a very nice balanced gun, easy to shoot and seemed to group quite well. I don't recall what ammo we were using but likely would have been the 215gr cartridge.

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Mike_Bailey
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Reged: 26/02/07
Posts: 2289
Loc: GB
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: eagle27]
      #270465 - 14/09/15 05:33 PM

What a rifle !! Absolutely gorgeous and in an eminently all round usable calibre. Lucky man Sir

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Huvius
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Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3517
Loc: Colorado
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Mike_Bailey]
      #270471 - 14/09/15 10:34 PM

Perfect, just perfect.
What a beautiful rifle!

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


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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39061
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Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Huvius]
      #270476 - 15/09/15 01:22 AM

Quote:

The "old timers" believed hammerless guns to be unsafe. Nobody would walk around carrying a gun or rifle with the hammers back, but that's exactly what is going on with the new hammerless weapons.




Bloody old timers !

However it seems the wheel has turned and many are coming back to this view, with break open guns and rifles having decocking mechanisms. When they are well made and work well, a great idea.

Fantastic rifle Curl. Well done. Lovely and a great rifle. What are your first plans for it, what hunt?



--------------------
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"


Edited by NitroX (15/09/15 01:23 AM)


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Watson577
.300 member


Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 132
Loc: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: NitroX]
      #270501 - 15/09/15 06:43 AM

Absolutely gorgeous! I love those hammer rifles! - Jim

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CHAPUISARMES
.416 member


Reged: 16/01/08
Posts: 2908
Loc: DUBBO, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Watson577]
      #270504 - 15/09/15 07:07 AM

Congratulation Curl on this recent acquisition. Your collection of these fine weapons makes us poor owners green with envy.

It is marvelous though, how quality finds quality as is shown by your acquisitions.

Well done Curl,

Jeff



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AkMike
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Reged: 19/11/05
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Loc: Anchorage, Alaska
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: CHAPUISARMES]
      #270567 - 16/09/15 02:05 PM

That's quite a find Curl! Congratulations!!

--------------------
"When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal not in goods, but in favors; you may know that your society is doomed." Ayn Rand


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CptCurlAdministrator
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Reged: 01/05/04
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Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: AkMike]
      #270597 - 16/09/15 11:48 PM

My thanks to all for your kind compliments.

Quote:

Those guns with no hammers are just a passing fad, you know......




How true! But Mike, do you remember about 15 years ago when Purdey tried to make a batch of hammer shotguns? They really didn’t look like a vintage Purdey at all. Kind of clunky. I’m afraid the skill is lost to the passage of time.

Let me point out one discrepancy: In their “Weapon History” above, they state the weight of the gun as 9 lbs. 14 oz. This is a mis-read of the ledger entry. You can see from my scan of the ledger entry that the weight was stated as 9 lbs. 1-1/4 oz. That is the true weight. Just a hair over 9 lbs. When I saw the weight stated in the Weapon History I was startled. I knew the rifle is not that heavy. Putting it on scales and a careful read of the ledger entry revealed the mistake.

I’m curious to know whether anybody has encountered another Holland & Holland double rifle similar to this one. I’m not asking about H&H hammer rifles from the black powder era. I’m asking about any nitro rifles built on this toplever back action hammer pattern. I don’t recall seeing another just like this one.

I just love this rifle! It really shoots well. Maybe a white tail deer in November!

Curl

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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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MikeRowe
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Reged: 23/11/11
Posts: 478
Loc: Arkansas, USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: CptCurl]
      #270611 - 17/09/15 10:16 AM

Capt. I have a dear friend who has kind of half of what you have there.

It's a lovely Holland single of a similar vintage, back action hammer .303. He had me make a new safety bolt for the lock, which was missing when the rifle was purchased.


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Well_Well_Well
.333 member


Reged: 03/01/07
Posts: 305
Loc: Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: MikeRowe]
      #270613 - 17/09/15 11:03 AM

Curl,

About that adoption we discussed.......


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Buchsemann
.333 member


Reged: 12/12/08
Posts: 439
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Well_Well_Well]
      #270615 - 17/09/15 12:29 PM

Curl,

Yet another beautiful .303, congratulations. Curious, does H&H refer to such actions as "long bars"?

If not, I'd like to know what H&H's terminology for the long action is?

Best regards,

Mark

--------------------
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

- John Dryden


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Iowa_303s
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Reged: 22/03/13
Posts: 1014
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Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: MikeRowe]
      #270616 - 17/09/15 01:30 PM

Quote:

Capt. I have a dear friend who has kind of half of what you have there.

It's a lovely Holland single of a similar vintage, back action hammer .303. He had me make a new safety bolt for the lock, which was missing when the rifle was purchased.



Now that would be the one to "blow MY hair back". I really love the singleshots!

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"


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CptCurlAdministrator
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Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5268
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Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Buchsemann]
      #270624 - 17/09/15 08:05 PM

Quote:

Curl,

Yet another beautiful .303, congratulations. Curious, does H&H refer to such actions as "long bars"?

If not, I'd like to know what H&H's terminology for the long action is?

Best regards,

Mark




Mark,

The only answer I have is that which is stated in the ledger entry above. You can see the entry is ".303 DB hammer rifle." There is no reference to the style of lock.

Maybe somebody else has more information, though nobody from 1900-1901 is here to tell us.





Mike,

What do you suppose happened to the other half of your client's rifle? He should have been concerned to have you make more than just the safety bolt!

Curl

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

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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gwh
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Reged: 28/01/08
Posts: 277
Loc: Cairns Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: CptCurl]
      #270627 - 17/09/15 09:39 PM

Very very nice

--------------------
Hunt hard, shoot straight

"I speak of Africa and golden joys; the joy of wandering through lonely lands; the joy of hunting the mighty and terrible lords of the wilderness, the cunning, the wary and the grim"

Theodore Roosevelt, Khartoum, 1910


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rigbymauser
.400 member


Reged: 15/05/05
Posts: 1970
Loc: Denmark
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: gwh]
      #270630 - 17/09/15 11:59 PM


Just beautiful!!.


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Buchsemann
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Reged: 12/12/08
Posts: 439
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: rigbymauser]
      #270647 - 18/09/15 08:24 AM

Curl,

I was referring to the length of the receiver (center of hinge pin to breech face) not the back action locks, sorry for not specifying.

Again, a most beautiful gun.

Regards,

Mark

--------------------
Happy the man, and happy he alone,
He who can call today his own:
He who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.

- John Dryden


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ChrisPer
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Reged: 12/05/08
Posts: 235
Loc: Australia
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: Buchsemann]
      #270654 - 18/09/15 10:36 AM

My congratulations.
That is the most desirable vintage double I have ever seen.
Well acquired, I hope you have a ball shooting it.


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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 662
Loc: Texas
Re: Holland & Holland .303 Hammer Double Rifle [Re: ChrisPer]
      #270670 - 18/09/15 11:25 PM

The "Old Timers" were correct . It's just perfect , thanks for sharing it.
Robert


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