My early catalog copy states that these Hollenbeck drillings were made in Grades 1-5; and since I couldn't find a grade stamp on the frame of this subject gun, it must have been un-graded as it seems to possess features from both Grades 2 and 3. The Grade 2 gun was described in the catalog as follows:
"Fine Damascus barrels, fine English stock, magazine in stock and cleaning rod, full pistol grip or straight stock, finely checkered and engraved gold name plate in stock, choice of fluid steel barrel in 12-16 and 20 gauge shot, 22-25, or 30 caliber rifle. Price $150.00"
The Grade 3 gun description was as follows:
"Fine Damascus or Steel barrels, fine Caucasian stock, fine design in checkering, picture work engraving, inlaid work in gold on barrels and gold name plate in stock, magazine in stock and cleaning rod, skeleton butt plate, pistol grip or straight stock, all lock work hardened and polished and all of the very best possible workmanship. Price $200.00"
The subject gun does not appear to have a stock made for a magazine and cleaning rod; but does have the full pistol grip stock, which for Hollenbeck is the "S" shaped grip knob. It also does not appear to have the gold name plate noted in the Grade 2 and Grade 3 description (neither of which are mentioned as Grade 1 features). "Picture work" engraving, or animal scenes, is also a feature not noted as being available on Grade 1 and 2 guns.
When compared to the Grade 3 description, the subject gun obviously lacks a skeleton butt plate and also appears to lack a "stock made for a magazine and cleaning rod" (Hollenbeck #7 mentioned yesterday does feature a magazine and cleaning rod in the stock, as well as a skeleton butt plate). The subject gun also appears to lack a gold name shield, but does appear to have "inlaid work on barrels in gold" which is a very narrow gold rib-joint inlay very similar to those found on higher grade LC Smiths. The subject gun stock is nicely checkered, but is below what I would describe as a "fine design in checkering"; that opinion based on other mid-range examples seen with checkered cheek panels and decorative flourishes in the comb area. This gun most certainly feature "picture work engraving", and the dog scene on this gun is more or less the same dog scene found on other mid-grade Hollenbeck drillings and C Grade double guns. The only way to know if this gun features polished lock-work would be to remove the trigger plate; but if it does and it is similar to the lock-work on my Hollenbeck double gun, it will be beautifully done.
My Hollenbeck double has not been abused but saw decades of steady use. When I removed the trigger plate I found the typical 100 plus years of crude and grime; but what caught my attention was that the lock-work inside that gun still gleamed like a mirror, with no rust or crude on any surfaces of those parts. But as is evident, these guns were not inexpensive when introduced in 1901; with the least expensive model starting at $125. Obviously guns of this quality resulted in a very limited customer base, and corresponding low sales volume; so there is little wonder why Hollenbeck's gun did not survive. Thanks for sharing your photos.
