Holland & Holland Double Rifle .500BPE – UNDERLEVER, HAMMERS, FACTORY

Vintage Firearms is pleased to present this classy, understated, and capable safari rifle.  This ultimate vintage safari gun, built in 1884, according to the photo from the Holland & Holland records. The condition of the rifle shows that it was well-cared-for but also has some stories to tell.  The barrels have their original blue, retained at about a fading 75%, with excellent bores and strong rifling.  The top rib features matting from the breech to the rear express sight with 150, 200, and 250 distance markings on the flip up leaves.  The front sight features a front post with flip-up night sight housed in a front shield.  The top rib is engraved “Holland & Holland 58 New Bond Street, London    Winners of all the “Field” Rifle Trials, London 1883”. The receiver, back action locks, top tang and trigger guard are engraved with a simple double line border.  The action is engraved with load data – “Charge 5 Drams       Case 3 ¼ Inches” and the back action plates, simply “Holland & Holland”.  The most detailed engraving is found on the hammers, which have been fashioned to look like fish.  To give proper purchase where it is needed, the hammers, underlever, and forend release lever have knurling, which remains crisp.  The forend and pistol grip are checkered in a fine, double bordered point pattern. The stock features a cheek piece with shadow line, horn grip cap and horn buttplate.  The silver oval on the belly of the stock is clear and ready for the next owner to have their initials engraved.  The sling mounts and screws are in excellent condition.  Most of the case color has faded to a nice silver patina, but there are a few areas where it still shows with some strength, near the trigger plate, and between the hammers on the top tang.  The wood finish has darkened with age, but you can see the English walnut has very nice figure, with some burl and wavy dark mineral lines.  The barrels, ribs, and stock all show some dings and dents from honest field use, showing this was no safe queen, but giving the impression of use, not abuse.  As seen in the attached photos, we have the records from the gun’s import to the U.S. in 1968, as well as the packaging from that trip, and brass for putting this rifle back into service.  You can imagine that this was the rifle of a hunter who wanted the best, most reliable gun available, but wasn’t interested in adornment.  It is ready for the field; ready for more stories.