doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Value of H&H rook rifle

I have a chance to buy a break action H&H rook rifle in nice condition. It is marked with a semi smooth bore caliber but is lined with a 25-20 WCF liner. Owner wants $3500. Is that price near market value?

FWIW: Both .25-20 brass and ammo is 'unobtanium' these days. If you don't already have a stash, it'll be a while before you can shoot it.

Hoot (who just went through that exercise with an old Husky)

I am no expert, but I have seen some English single shot rifles that were apparently built on Belgian break-action guns.

I am not sure if H & H ever marketed them, perhaps not.

Is it hammerless? The Belgian ones that I am thinking about are side lever hammer guns. I have one made as a .410 shotgun. It is an interesting little gun, surprisingly small and lightweight, but not particularly valuable.

If I were to consider purchasing a gun that had been seriously modified from its original condition, I would at least want it to consume cheap ammunition.

For some reason .32-20 is easier to find. It's simple to put them through the .25-20 dies and have them ready to go. But .25-20 brass is all over Gunbroker for sale.

You are correct. I should have qualified my statement with "if you're a cheap so-and-so like me'.

The thought of paying $1/per for fired brass does not appeal.

It really depends on which model of rook rifle this one is and the level of finish and condition. The basic rook rifles are mostly center hammer, side lever, break actions. A very highly ornamented one (full engraving coverage, nicely figured wood) in excellent condition from a top name maker will bring almost that much. There are hammerless, top lever, break actions, which to my eyes, are the best looking of all the variations. They are not nearly as common and tend to bring better prices for a particular finish level and maker's name than the first version. There are also side hammer, top lever, break actions, also quite handsome and they also usually bring a better price than the center hammer versions. Finally, there are the miniature Martinis and miniature Sniders, neither of which are break actions.

By way of comparison, Vintage Doubles has a Holland & Holland center hammer rook rifle listed on Gunsinternational.com for $2800. It's been there a while and I suspect he'd take a good deal less, but it will give you a base line to compare to the one you've been offered.

One additional suggestion - be careful about getting into these. They're like potato chips. It's highly unlikely you'll be able to stop at one.

I have a lifetime supply of 25-20 Ammo and 80 gr flat nosed Bullets. This is a toplever hammerless gun, nicely engraved and checkered with nice wood.

When I think of the prices that some very nice rifles brought in the last few Amoskeag auctions, the asking price seems more than a bit much.

Top lever, hammerless, top maker, original caliber guns seem to bring more money than others.