doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com I CUT DOWN MY H&H ROYAL TO MAKE A HOWDAH RIFLE

Whoever owns the gun has the right to decide what happens to it. If we insist "we" have this right, we have to agree "they" also have it.
Mike

It was Marks_21 that discovered my secret .... now that the cat is out of the bag. .....

This has been a fun posting .. and yes ... I did actually cut off the barrel(s) and obtained an NFA license for a short barrel rifle. I called Holland and Holland, and a set of replacement barrels would cost $40,000 pounds - that's $52,000 in U.S. dollars, and 2 years to complete the new barrels. (I'm 75) My hacksaw was free. So now the fun is over, and just like Paul Harvey's Radio Talk Show, "... Now you know the rest of the story..."

SEE THIS LINK -
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1149509900

I have now told the whole story, and have enjoyed all the criticism before doing so.

Apparently the gun was blown up many, many, years ago when trying to regulate it for U.S. loaded ammo. According to the lady that consigned it for sale ... after it blew up, her Great Grandfather put it away, and her Grandfather never did anything with it either, and neither did her Dad, (who passed away) and then it sat for many more years until she sent it for sale. I think the high cost of replacement barrels back then prevented the repair. Current cost for Holland and Holland to make a set of replacement barrels is over $40,000 pounds ($52,500 U.S. dollars).... and more than a 2 year wait.

If I had to guess what happened, the left barrel was fired first, and the recoil dislodged the bullet from its case in the right barrel, which acted like an obstruction when the right trigger was pulled, which blew up the barrel. Copper fowling at the muzzle was evident in the left barrel, but none in the right barrel. Other than the blown up right barrel, the gun looks nearly unfired, even "Mint". Not even a hint of brass transfer on the recoil shields.

It has been a fun read Buckstix

Enjoy it!

I bet the muzzle bast will be memorable.

What a beautiful rifle.

If I owned it I would send it back to Holland and have barrels made for it exactly as it was originally made. I was fortunate to have owned a similar Royal in 500/450 made in 1906 for Lord Clifton. My 500/450 as well as this one were both regulated for the 365gr bullet. I always thought that odd since the primary 500/450 bullet weight was 480grs.

Wouldn't it have made a decent single shot?
Also, why would a like new H&H have a cut out or spliced cheek section on the stock ?

I called Holland and Holland and current cost for Holland and Holland to make a set of replacement barrels is over $40,000 pounds ($52,500 U.S. dollars).... and more than a 2 year wait. Current value for a near identical used gun is less than $45,000 dollars.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...nd-royal-500-450-ne.cfm?gun_id=103466892

My 1904 H&H Royal 500/450 was regulated for the 365 and 480 grain bullets. Do you have a letter from H&H?

Ken

see my original post .. shows the letters . https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=671576#Post671576

This was a fun read... I too, would like to know why the butt stock was spliced...

I would bet that a leather covered cheek piece was removed, when I have removed them and fit wood in to the void I have hidden the joint in the finish.