doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 4 Double Rifles - let's talk values! (Pics here)

VaC,

The H&H .303 is a royal by the look of it. You can confirm by calling H&H London gunroom 011-44-207-499-4411)and asking that they confirm date on their books.

As for value, here is an H&H Grade 2 s/n 17591 that is for sale in Christies upcoming 12 November auction. This rifle would have been made in late 1897 or 1898. It has been tarted up with good scroll engraving and claw mounts for a scope added. NOTE: Christies has NOT described the state of the rifling inside the bore.

You see the Christies estimate. A Royal would go for more.

Regards
--------------------------

A .303 BACK ACTION NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING RIFLE BY HOLLAND & HOLLAND, NO. 17591

Estimate(Set Currency) £7,000 - £9,000
($12,222 - $15,714)
Track Lot Place Bid Sale Information
Sale 7547
exceptional and fine sporting guns and rifles
12 November 2008
London, King Street


Lot Description
A .303 BACK ACTION NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING RIFLE BY HOLLAND & HOLLAND, NO. 17591
Back action with best quality scroll engraving, coin finish, gold inlaid cocking indicators, automatic safety with stalking latch, extended top strap, the figured stock with pistolgrip (engraved cap), cheekpiece and horn buttplate, lever latch forend, the barrels with short matt sight rib, block mounted leaf sights and ramp mounted bead foresight with detachable hood, the breech ends mounted with a Zeiss Diavari-D 1x telescopic sight in quickly detachable mounts.
Weight (with telescope) 10lb. 11oz., (without telescope) 9lb. 7oz., 14 5/8in. stock, 27 7/8in. barrels, nitro proof
In Maker's oak and leather case with label (all straps missing)

Thanks Tim!

...and YES, the H&H is a Royal, built 1896....s/n is close to the one for sale but mine is an ejector (not sure how to tell this but that is what the info from H&H says)....but mine has no case or scope. Can I assume that being an equal condition Royal ejector gun would make it more valuable?

With the world wide financial market problems it will be interesting to see if their estimates are right!

VaC,

Take a look at the ejectors/extractors that are at the end of the barrels, nearest the breech. They fit tightly and seem integral with the barrels. If they made of two pieces rather than one solid piece they are ejectors. If you take the forend off, you will also see two metal slots in the part of the forend wood that is closest to the knuckle around which the barrels fall. Sure evidence of ejectors.

The ejector parts are separate because if you only fire one barrel, the ejector on that side will kick the empty hull free as you open the gun. The unfired round will just be extracted by being moved out a half inch or so. So you just reload the fired barrel and close the gun, ready for two more shots.

Yes, a Royal double rifle in .303 given good condition will be more valuable than a Grade 2 even with the latter given extra engraving and a scope and a case. Here's an ad from a dealer who is among the sponsors and advertisers of this Board. Note his gun is cased, and he claims very high condition. Who knows what it might actually sell for. Believe he's had it a while...

Regards, Tim
----------------------------------------------------
Holland and Holland Sidelock Ejector. Toplever Hammerless "Royal" Grade Double Rifle - .303. 28” steel barrels. Concealed third bite. Metford rifling with bolted safe and strap over comb. Cased in brass bound leather with all accessories (relined interior is unmarked). Excellent original condition retaining almost all case colour and blue. Made in 1899. Lettered. Serial 17XXX
$31,900

Although the Holland at Christies is nice it is not comparable to your Royal with ejectors, pricewise. The Fred Roberts Holland is very very nice and Fred's descriptions are usually spot on. The Holland at Roberts as rose and boquet engraving yours?? I can't tell. If your gun is in equal condition you might expect a commensurate price.

Rose & bouqet engraving?

http://members.cox.net/taylor.knight/H&H%20bottom.jpg

http://members.cox.net/taylor.knight/H&H%20side%20plate.jpg

Sorry for the blurred pic....

http://members.cox.net/taylor.knight/H&H%20top.jpg

Ejectors??

http://members.cox.net/taylor.knight/H&H%20ejector.jpg

VaC,

The ejector photo is not clear enough for me to tell. Just reach a finger down and see if you can push half of the part that protrudes from the bottom of the barrels into a barrel. If so it's an ejector. You should see a vertical line dividing that part in two.

The engraving is scroll and is classic on H&H Royals. Don't see any roses.

The rifle shows some wear to the metal. Perhaps more important, I see screw heads that have been damaged and that do not line up perfectly along the length of the rifle. That means that someone either without the right tools or without the right amount of skill tried/got into the rifle.

If you want to sell it or the other guns you need a serious appraisal. If you live in the north of Virginia, near the Maryland line you can drive up to see Glenn Baker at Woodcock Hill in Benton, Pa. Other board members may know double gunsmiths closer to you once you ask.

Regards, Tim

That is Hollands house pattern bold scroll and what looks to be extractors.
Steve

The screws do not look so bad as to put me off. More Good quality pictures will help in giving you much information.

All in all they appear to be nice rifles but nothings matters unless the bores are in good condition. Everything else can be fixed.

Only someone who knows what they are doing and has the rifles in hand can accurately comment on pricing.