description

Holland & Holland 28g Royal Model completed about 2001. Based on Holland’s seminal “Royal” bar-action sidelock ejector with hand detachable locks, dedicated scaled frame, auto-safe, gold-lined cocking indicators, and two triggers cast for the right hand. The square bar action is expertly filed and scaled with beaded edges and a guard bow rolled for the RH shooter.

Engraved in the House’s classic “Royal” pattern with a brushed bright finish. The Maker's name in the center of the lock plate, arching in a motif positioned above the tumbler pivots and "The Royal" engraved on the bottom of the action.

Highly figured walnut stock has traditional drop points and a semi-pistol grip with a 14 5/8” LOP over a leather covered pad. The splinter forend has an Anson push rod forend latch and both the hand of the grip and forend are checkered at 26 LPI with Mullered borders. The forend has Holland’s patent ejectors.

The 26 ½” chopper lump barrels are the traditional length of Holland's Brevis model, introduced in 1930 in 12 bore and a logical configuration for a small-bore 28g. These barrels are fitted with Holland’s patented self-opening mechanism patented in 1922, perfecting the "Royal" shotgun. The barrel flats have 1999 London proofs for 2 ¾” (70mm) chambers and bore measures precisely at .550, the right barrel choked .003” and .012” in the left barrel. The top of the barrels are marked “Holland & Holland” on top of the right barrel, “33 Bruton Street London” on top of the left barrel and “The Royal” engraved on the top rib. 

This gun has been gently used and shows a few marks on the stock and a little wear around the edges of the leather covered pad. Metal remains excellent and overall, the gun is in very good condition.

Weighing just 5 1/2 lbs., this gun handles just as one would imagine a gun from one of History's greatest makers should. 

In my experience, guns made by Holland’s in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s were of exceptional quality and this gun is more evidence of that. The gun is wonderfully proportioned to the bore size, the engraving is expertly cut, the stock beautifully shaped with very striking figure, and excellent fit and finish.

This would make a sublime gun for quail, making it hard to reach for anything else if this gun was in the collection.

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