Here with have the most beautiful double I have seen for a long time. It comes with makers .500/.465 & 375 barrels.
I am selling it on behalf of a friend.

£40.000.

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WOW

Absolutly stunning...one of the best I have seen on the internet so far.

Looks like a nice rifle. Earlier Royal, non-bolstered frame, earlier wedge system.I'd guess 'teens or very early '20s. What is the serial number? Royal DRs of this vintage don't bring as much as the somewhat later ones with the bolstered frame and newer wedge system. Given the age, the obvious question is, are the proof marks on the .375 barrels "Cordite 40", or "Cordite 56"? Has it been reproved for rimless?

That price would be about $80,000US. I don't know what prices are like on your side of the pond, but that would be very, very high for a earlier .465 Royal over here. I very recently watched a newer style .465 Royal in virtually unfired, 100% condition bring 20% less. The extra barrel set will make it easier to sell, but they generally don't increase price much.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

quote:

Originally posted by 400 Nitro Express:
non-bolstered frame, earlier wedge system.

400NE, any chance of a quick explanation of these terms for the numpties among us out here? I've a lot to learn about doubles, being fairly recent on this forum.
thanks,
Steve.

Steve:

On a double gun, a bolstered action is one that is reinforced by thicker section in the action underneath the break-off, usually on rifles. The style of these can be rather individualistic from gunmaker to gunmaker. Holland's looks kinda like half of a barbershop moustache. Go to www.champlinarms.com and select double rifles. The H&H .375 Royal has their later bolstered action. You'll notice that the bolsters on the Thys and Lebeau Courally are both modeled after Holland's. That on the Chapuis is of a different shape.

Holland's later wedge system is a cradle type that's recessed slightly from the muzzles, and is quite noticeable from the placement of the front sight. Sorry I can't readily direct you to photos. The photos of the Royal DR on their web site under "Bespoke" guns shows the difference in sight placement.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Thanks 400.Its a bit less of a mystery now. The Champlin website is a mine of info with some surprisingly reasonable doubles on it. Oh how I wish.
Sorry jcorry for the thread hijack, at least I can appreciate the beauty of the rifle a bit better now.
Steve.

I can get furthur details if seriously interested. It means I have to make quite a long journey to where they are stored.

I think it is a fair price.
In all honesty I really only posted the picture to see what you all think. With the state the $ is in.....etc.

Its a corker though!!

Correction - 500/450

quote:

Originally posted by jcorry:
Correction - 500/450

Better caliber in my opinion, due to bullet availability choices, but probably will bring less than a .465 would sell at.

quote:

Originally posted by AfricanHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by jcorry:
Correction - 500/450

Better cliber in my opinion, due to bullet availability choices, but probably will bring less than a .465 would sell at.

Agreed, I'd rather have the .500/.450 too, but they sure bring less than the .465s. The large bore barrels being .500/ .450 rather than .465 makes it more likely that the .375 barrels are .375 2 1/2" Flanged rather than Magnum,
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

Took a look at pix of my 500/450 made in 1904 (I'm travelling), and at the dead ringer for it made in 1901 on the William Larkin Moore website (for $65K ). No bolsters, moustaches or what have you to reinforce the frame. Mine does have a radiused standing breech, but I imagine that had been around a while.

Like to know the s/n on the .375 barrel before writing it off as the relatively anemic .375 2-1/2inch. Barrels Could have been a later addition when the .375 flanged magnum nitroexpress had proven itself. Do you know the serial numbers jcorry?

Regards

I am told that it is, in fact, a .375 H&H mag, not one of the other ones.

I will try and get the serial numbers for you.