First is a W.J. Jeffery in .500 N.E. I'm told the frame was originally color case hardened and I was planning to send the rifle to Turnbull Restoration for that work. I was hoping maybe one of you gents has a photo of a rifle similar to this one in original condition. It weighs in at about 12 pounds and the weight is just about all in the barrels.

And also, does anyone know who actually made these actions? I have long wanted an English double rifle and I think the hammers are pretty cool.



Next is a Holland & Holland take-down in .375H&H, said to have been made in 1912. The rifle has been rebarreled, but whoever did the work did it well.

Now I need to find some H&H scope rings for those mounts.



It came in a case that appears to be original based on the serial number and labels. It also had a partial label with the owner's last name and initials. I think it might have belonged to a gent named Thomas Everard Tichbourne Upton, born 1885 died 1937. I found an obituary from the Times:

"Obituary
SIR EVERARD UPTON - LAW AND TRAVEL IN INDIA
Our Nairobi Correspondent telegraphs that Sir Everard Upton died at Nanyuki Farm on Saturday at the age of 65. He was a man of energetic and adventurous mould with cultivated tastes. He travelled extensively, delighted in sport, and was distinguished in the exercise of his profession, in which he rose to be Solicitor to the Government of India.
Thomas Everard Tichborne Upton was born to the late Thomas Everard Upton, J.P., of Ashburton, Canterbury, N.Z., in October, 1871. His grandfather was the Rev. Thomas Upton, of Moreton Say, Shropshire. After being at Christ College. Canterbury, N.Z., he joined the Law Society, London, and was admitted to the solicitors' roll in this country in 1897. Five years later he went out to Calcutta as a member of the old-established firm of Orr, Dignam, and Co., and was admitted to the roll of the High Court, Bengal. He was a member of the executive committee and trustee of the Victoria Memorial, Calcutta, from 1919 to 1924. His prominent place in "Ditcher" society was shown by his being president of the Bengal Club in 1920 and his stewardship of the Calcutta Turf Club from 1923. His holiday travels took him to Tibet and Sikkim as well as to all parts of India and Ceylon ; to Africa from the Cape to Cairo, Algeria and Tunis ; to Australia, Canada, and South America. He was a director of numerous companies concerned with Indian commercial and industrial development. He left Calcutta in 1924, but was recalled three years later to take up the appointment of Solicitor to the Government of India. He finally left India in 1932, after serving on the Council of State, the Upper House of the Central Legislature, and settled at Alresford, Hants.

Sir Everard, who was knighted in 1931, married, in 1906, Hazel Edith, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Carpendale of the 8th Bengal Lancers, and they had three sons and a daughter."

Sounds as though this rifle might have gone to Africa and India with him and based on the condition of the case it does look like it has been around the block.

Man, guns are cool.

Excellent rifles. Congratulations!

George

Amazing summary of the life of Sir Everard Upton. Mayhaps one day that rifle will return to India for the purpose for which it was created...a true piece of history imbued within its wood and steel.

Respects,

Phill

Paul, nice additions!

I really like the H&H takedown in 375 H&H!
Peter.

Thanks guys. I had these on layaway with George Caswell at Champlin for so long he probably thought I skipped town.

I'll post additional photos of the rifles and the case for the Holland. My ten-year old daughter and I had fun doing internet research on Sir Upton.

an H&H 375 H&H from 1912...that sbout does it all for me... neat rifle...

Proper!

Very nice. Congratulations. Turnbull did the case colors on my 9.3x62 that Duane Wiebe built. Outstanding job.

Nice photos, thanks for posting.
I have a 1913 made H&H 375H&H same takedown on a magnum mauser action, barrel with quarter rib, Cased with owners name and castle embossed on case. They are a classic rifle.
You can send (email) to H&H and pay a little money for the original order details for the rifle.
Cheers, Chris

I love this sort of thing! Thanks for sharing the photos and information. Your rifles look to be in great shape.

Jolly good!

I'm curious about the H&H 375. The bolt sleeve looks suspiciously like it's from a late FN Supreme action,and it also appears to have a side safety. I've searched both of Jon Speed's Mauser books and can find no original Mauser action with this bolt sleeve. All the side safety models shown have the standard sleeve with the wing safety also. I don't know much about H&H's so I could be confused.

I would advise NOT to have the .500 re-coloured...

Whilst all Britoish made guns would have been heat treated (and so become like an annealed cartridge case coloured) not ALL would have retained that colour afterwards.

For the customer could specify an action with the colour polished off if so desired. Or even to have the action blacked...as it was on some guns from some makers.

To re-colour by heating does give a small risk of distortion of the gun. Also a small risk of cracking.

I would leave well alone and enjoy the rifle as it is.

Thanks for the information gents.

zimbabwe, re the safety etc., along with the rebarrel job (done in the mid-sixties) the rifle has had the trigger replaced (Canjar I think?) and the original shroud and safety are gone. So the original H&H parts are just the action, magazine box, stock, front sight, rear sight, bolt, grip cap, fore-end, case.

Replacement barrel, trigger, safety, shroud. I understand replacing a shot out barrel, but it is unfortunate the other parts were replaced. Maybe one day I'll talk to H&H about returning it to original configuration, although now the stock has been modified for that safety.

Once I find the H&H scope rings, this rifle is going to the field!

enfieldspares, thank you for that advice on the Jeffery. I know that you know about these things. I'm dreaming of taking this old rifle to Africa for a bull elephant and a buffalo, provided my eyesight will hold up for a couple more years.

Thanks again guys.

Wow, very nice!

I think the 375 is a fine example of the H&H takedown. I would be proud to own and use it. You might try Clayton Nelson for the rings as I know he has duplicated the H&H mount on a couple of rifles hes built. His work is excellant. He is located in Trinidad,Co. I would have no reluctance having Turnbull case the 500. If he says he can do it I believe he can. I would let him make the decision. It would surely be a beautiful rifle if it was case color.

More photos of Holland & Holland:

I am drooling....wow what a beautiful rifle. Did they provide some nifty turnscrew (this is an H&H afterall) for tightening the side screw that hides in the stock somewhere?

Baxter, well I haven't found it yet, ha ha.

The directions label says to use a coin. I'll have to find an appropriate pre-war English coin of the realm I guess to be proper and all that.

In Germany there is a guy that makes re-creations of the H & H sidemount. Although I don't see it listed on this current version of his website.

Here is the link:

http://www.prechtl-waffen.de/prechtl/de


In England you could try. Who is a MOST USEFUL contact for all things regarding H & H bolt action rifles.


http://www.alanwey.co.uk/joomla/index.php/store


Last, but not least, if you just give H & H in London a telephone call they will usually tell you about your rifle there and then over the telephone.

Neat rifle. What is "M.D.T." powder and what bullet weight was standard, 270?

Lovely, lovely rifles.

Paul. Lovely rifle. The case is in quite good condition.

Mine has the same rub marks on the labels!

Cheers, Chris

enfieldspares

Prechtel is still listing the side mount on their new web page. Just look under "downloads" and then select "GOLmatic Waffenteile und Büchsenmacherbedarf.pdf". This will open up a complete listing of spareparts

Robert