I have just turned up an interesting story. as many of you know, Holland & Holland did not have a factory until 1893. Before that, their guns were supplied by W&C Scott, some being finished and stocked by John Robertson.
In 1893 Holland & Holland opened their own factory in London and since that time all Holland & Holland guns have been made in London. They commenced production with teh serial number 17000 in 1893.
Today, I took delivery of a Holland & Holland hammer gun. I thought it interesting because it has steel barrels and a bar action, rather than the usual Scott back-action type.
When I began digging in the records, I dicovered this useful information tayyied with the serial number on my gun - 17000!
I believe I have the first 'real' Holland & Holland London-made gun. And who said there is nothing left to find?!
The gun is in unrestord condition, needs re-proofing and a bit of cosmetic cleaning up but the walls are 28 thou at their thinnest and well over 35 thou in most of their length. It will be a very nice gun and I'm very much looking forward to puttting the first 'London H&H' to use on pheasants before the season is over.
