Product Details
MADE FOR THE MAHARAJA OF COOCH BEHAR
HOLLAND & HOLLAND
A .500 / 465 (3 1/4IN.) NITRO EXPRESS 'ROYAL' SIDELOCK NON-EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 19114, No.1 of the pair to Lot 1220B,
26in. nitro chopperlump barrels, matt sight rib gold-inlaid '1' at the breech end, open sights with two folding leaf sights, marked 100, 200 and 300, ramp-mounted bead fore-sight with flip-up moonsight, treble-grip action with hidden third bite, removable striker discs, elongated top strap, automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, the fences deeply carved in high relief with floral designs and masks of the Green Man, the action, lockplates and furniture with bold scrolling acanthus of art nouveau style, the underside with a roundel engraved 'CHARGE 75 GRAINS CORDITE .465. CASE 3 1/4 INCHES', 14 1/4in. refinished replacement pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, engraved steel pistolgrip-cap (with trap), sling swivels and including 7/8in. new rubber recoil pad, fore-end with grip catch release lever, light repairs to wood, weight 10lb. 3oz., in a case
Provenance: PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT WILL ONLY BE OFFERED FOR AUCTION AS AN INDIVIDUAL RIFLE IF UNSOLD AS PART OF THE PAIR OF THE PREVIOUS LOT 1220
The makers have kindly confirmed that this rifle was completed as No.1 of a pair in September 1907 for the Maharaja of Cooch Behar.
Colonel H.H. Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, GCIE, (4 October 1862 - 18 September 1911) was Maharaja of the princely state of Cooch Behar, India from 1863 till 1911.
A keen hunter, in 1908 he wrote a book 'Thirty Seven Years of Big Game Shooting in Cooch Behar, the Duars and Assam, A Rough Diary', detailing his hunting adventures between 1871 and 1907.
In the appendix, he dedicates a section specifically to his guns and rifles and towards the end he references his pair of .500 Cordite rifles by Holland & Holland which 'have never been out of order or given any trouble', earlier rating Holland & Holland "With regard to makers of rifles, I consider Messrs Holland & Holland second to none"
Other Notes: The rifle has recently undergone a full strip, clean and service, the barrels have been reblued and the woodwork sympathetically refinished by J.P. Daeschler (Gunmakers) who have also provided us with a sighting target shot at 100 yards with Kynoch .480 Gr. Solid ammunition, please see website for details.
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Estimate £12,000-16,000
S1 - Sold as a Section 1 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act