doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Double rifle with double safety

Pacomb, That Holland is beautiful and the long tang is perfect.

I have one hammerless double with a stalking safety, a Purdey in 450/400 2 7/8" from 1895/6. Here's its stalking safety:

The rifle is not mine, It was for sale, and I just took the opportunity to make many detailed photos of the rifle.



What a beauty that Purdey!!! congratulations!

What you likely saw is an additional safety intercept or locking catch, sometimes added on high-end British doubles. On classic Holland & Holland rifles, the normal top-slide safety already blocks the sears, and many also include internal intercepting safeties that prevent discharge unless the trigger is deliberately pulled.

That “swinging” secondary piece is usually an extra manual lock—either a bespoke modification or a period feature—meant to physically secure the main safety from being moved accidentally, especially in dangerous game conditions. Not common, but very much in line with H&H’s emphasis on redundancy and absolute safety.