I am now in possession of a pristine 12 bore A. Hollis DR . It has the serial number 30889, and in inscription for HRH The Duke of Connaught on the left barrel.I would like to know if anyone has information on A.Hollis, or where I a start looking. The gun is in Very fine condition rifling just barely appearent.
Thank you TC

I own an A. Hollis and son 450/400 3 inch DR.
Welcome to the Hollis Family! Unfortunately as best as those of us who have researched the matter, the existence of Hollis records are unknown.

If there is a 3 or 4 digit code stamped on the under rib of your rifle it was probably made by H. Leonard who made rifles for the trades.

Hope you enjoy your rifle. Post some pictures if you can.

Rust, yes it does have a serial number 3069 just ahead of the fore clip.

If you were to take the forearm metal off the wood you would find that number stamped on the wood in ink. The same number is stamped inside the action under the bottom plate and somewhere inside the stock. You will find those corresponding numbers on all the Leonard made rifles for such named Houses as Jeffery.

Interesting, yes this is the case for this one. I came to me with a wonderful bronz fosberry 750 mold. It does I must say shoot very well, and accurately too My guess it that It will be very hard to find records of this gun.

Tall Chief:
Here is some info I included in an appraisal of a Hollis double a year or so ago:



"Alfred B. Hollis, the proprietor of A. Hollis & Co, came from the same gunmaking family as Isaac Hollis, the owner of the more well know I. Hollis concern.  While having his origins in the Birmingham gun trade, he was an inveterate traveler, and while in India in 1885 set up in Bombay as a gun dealer. Although he signed his guns “A. Hollis & Co – London”, it seems, despite being a trained gunmaker, he was merely a distributor and repairer during this phase, in the same manner of other India based firms such as Mantons, Lyon & Lyon, Rodda, P. Orr & Son, etc. He counted among his customer the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Duke of Connaught; there are some rifles around that carry the legend “Rifle Maker to the Duke of Connaught”  This reference as a “rifle maker” probably explains why A. Hollis shotguns are rarely encountered. Or alternatively, unlike rifles (excepting .303’s), shotguns have been a prohibited export from India for many years."

"I traded correspondence about this maker with Boothroyd several times before he passed. Don't know when the style changed, but would like to know myself. Alfred B. is A. Hollis & Son, previously in the Minories, later in Victoria Street, successors to E. Hollis and W. & E. Hollis, established 1796. Royal warrant as gunmaker to HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Also gunmaker to HE the Viceroy in the late 1880's. One or more outlets in India. Geoffrey was quite certain that Alfred's business wasn't connected to that of Isaac Hollis, and I agree."


I hope this helps a little.
Cal

Thanks you Cal for that information!

Precious little info is available on the verious Hollis double rifles. I printed your post for my files, and also saved it to a file in my computer!

Thanks Cal for your considerable information. The elder gentleman the I bought this gun from, was not to sure of its lineage ,but only the now passed old gentleman (a collector) took incredably care of it.When I spoke with him He assured me it was a 12 bore with "invisible" rifling that Hollis did and that it used a 750 grain fosberry slug. All of what he said was true when it arrived in an old somewhat battered gun case which he said was not orginal

Also I might add that the rifling is fairly prominent with somewhat rounded lands instead of the deep button type. I does shoot very well indeed. The left barrel has engraved for HRH the Duke of Connaught whom in my reading liked Inia a lot and is shown in several videos tiger hunting.
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=79378