A Brace of Holland & Holland Shotguns at the U.S. Agency

The first is a 28g Royal model was completed in the early 2000’s. Based on Holland’s seminal Royal Model bar-action sidelock that is beautifully scaled to the appropriate proportions for the bore size. The diminutive action has Holland’s hand detachable locks, gold lined cocking indicators, automatic safety, two triggers, and a rolled guard bow for the RH shooter.

The receiver and all furniture are brushed bright to a “coin” finish and feature the House’s Royal pattern scroll engraving surrounding the Maker’s name arching over the tumbler pivots and “The Royal” is engraved on the bottom of the action. The word “SAFE” and the serial number are inlayed in gold.

The gun is stocked to the fences with an exceptionally well figured piece of walnut that has traditional drop points, a very graceful semi-pistol grip, and a 14 5/8” LOP over a leather covered recoil pad. The 26 ½” chopper lump barrels have a smooth, concave game rib with the Maker’s name and address engraved on the top of each barrel and “The Royal” engraved on the top rib. The barrels have 1999 London proof marks for 2 ¾” (70mm) chambers and are choked .003” in the right barrel and .012” in the left barrel. The barrels are also fitted with Holland’s patented Self-Opening mechanism which is hidden under the splinter shaped forend.

Introduced by Holland’s in 1930, the Brevis was traditionally made with a  26 ½” barrels. The word Brevis is Latin for “short” and used as the name for this model as a nod to its relatively short barrel length, a departure from the ubiquitous 28” barrel length so common then and now. This Model was no doubt introduced in response to the trend around shorter barrels created by Robert Churchill and his XXV Model but makes a very practical configuration for a scaled frame 28g like this gun.

Weighing a mere 5 lbs 8 oz, the gun is simply a joy to look at and handle.

As someone who hunts quail fairly often, I know if this gun was in my collection and I had a good chance of finding a covey or two, it would be hard to reach for anything else.

Another very nice gun from Holland’s is this Royal Model De Luxe completed in the early 1990’s.

Holland’s applied for trademark protection on “The Royal” in 1885 and has been using it to refer to their best guns and rifles ever since. Holland’s uses The Royal name throughout its branding as a name for their patented hammerless sidelock action, the name of the firm’s “best quality”, flagship model guns and rifles, and as the name given to the engraving pattern most often associated with Holland’s.

In addition to the Royal grade, Holland’s also offers their guns and rifles as a Modele de Luxe. This grade of gun is the top of the Holland line up normally featuring highly figured stocks and special engraving. The Model De Luxe has been a part of Holland’s catalog since the latter part of the 19^th Century.

The action body and furniture are brushed bright on this gun as well and engraved in a most unique engraving pattern of acanthus scroll interwoven into a Celtic knot type of pattern. Keeping with this theme, the Maker’s name is engraved in flowing banners on each lock plate in a Gaelic type of font. The engraving is very well done and extremely complex while remaining symmetrical which results in a unique and captivating engraving pattern.