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Holland & Holland 303

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24 August 2013, 05:49
touchdown88
Holland & Holland 303
I tried to get my wife to buy this for my birthday but she wouldn't budge. I don't think I'll ever see one for this price ever again.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=359875027
24 August 2013, 20:40
dpcd
I like it and you are right; cheap for any H&H.
24 August 2013, 23:02
touchdown88
dpcd,

The one worry that I had about the gun was the lack of information about the bores. Hopefully it gets posted again and someone here on AR can enjoy it for another hundred years.
24 August 2013, 23:59
Snowwolfe
"The rifling is strong, and the bore on both barrels is in remarkably good condition for a rifle of this age"

Direct quote from the sale ad.


My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost.
25 August 2013, 00:04
srose
The forend isn't original from the looks of it and poorly fitted too boot! I'd have to look that one over very close before I paid that for it even with the H&H name.
25 August 2013, 00:09
touchdown88
Well it's back on.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=361793237

Now that srose mentioned the fore end, it looks terrible. Looks as though someone will be into the gun at least another thousand to fix up.
25 August 2013, 01:59
Aaron Little
Yep, forend doesnt go with the rifle, the serial number supports this. Also the front sight hood and grip cap dont belong. Id still love to get my hands on it...and since its unoriginal id have to stock it to fit. The proportions and lines are great other than the forend.


http://www.facebook.com/profil...p?id=100001646464847

A.M. Little Bespoke Gunmakers LLC
682-554-0044
Michael08TDK@yahoo.com
25 August 2013, 02:28
DoubleDon
Neat gun. Looks like it had a hard life.


Deo Vindice,

Don

Sons of Confederate Veterans Black Horse Camp #780
25 August 2013, 05:05
Kebco
Looks like a money pit. $4K for a basket case is a lot of coin, buy the gun as you see it today, not the name.


Ken

DRSS, PP Chapter
Life NRA
Life SCI
Life DSC
25 August 2013, 07:41
Grenadier
It looks like it sold at one time for $7275 but has been relisted: http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=350825278

Could it be that somebody didn't like what he got?




.
25 August 2013, 11:27
505G
I'd say so.

Agree re the fore end.

The replacement screw isn't a worry as that can easily be re done.

As someone else said, it could be a bit of a money pit.


Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
26 August 2013, 03:22
Rick R
I wouldn't want to buy it, but I'd love to buy it a beer and hear the stories it could tell.
26 August 2013, 10:30
h2oboy
Interesting rifle, but seriously in need of a lot of work. A new forend is just the beginning of what it needs. For the right price it would be worth restoring to shooting condition. I wouldn't pay more than $1000.00 for it as it is now. By the time you repair the standing breech, put the barrels back on face, make a new forend iron and forend you would be over 4k. I would be surprised if the ribs aren't loose.. So I would plan on stripping and re-laying the ribs then regulating it.
Ken said it best.

quote:
Looks like a money pit. $4K for a basket case is a lot of coin, buy the gun as you see it today, not the name.

Ken



Dirk Schimmel
D Schimmel LLC
Dirk@DoubleRifles.Us
1-307-257-9447

Double rifles make Africa safe enough for bolt guns!
27 August 2013, 20:16
skb
A costly restoration, but boy what a rifle it could be! Too many projects, too little time. I'd love to do that one for a client.
Steve
27 August 2013, 21:43
Macs B
I see that the seller is the same for both the "sold" auction and the current auction. May have been returned to the seller by a dissatisfied buyer.


Macs B
U.S. Army Retired
Alles gut!
27 August 2013, 22:01
Biebs
Yes, probably so. Once in hand, the faults are readily apparent.
29 August 2013, 03:39
Huvius
quote:
Originally posted by skb:
A costly restoration, but boy what a rifle it could be! Too many projects, too little time. I'd love to do that one for a client.
Steve


I know you would!
I am learning to let some others take on these charity cases
30 August 2013, 01:21
jaz
What is the deal with the breech shims? Never saw that. The engraving matches up to it. Awfully odd.
30 August 2013, 01:34
505G
Re the Shims, you occasionally see them on some English guns.


Re the bores, he says "The rifling is strong, and the bore on both barrels is in remarkably good condition for a rifle of this age."

But if you look at the face of the gun in the photos, you will see a lot of burning and erosion on the face from blow back around the primer.

To get that level of erosion I reckon that gun would have fired quite a few rounds and probably from the early days which means the bores aren't likely to be nice and shiny !!!


Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
30 August 2013, 02:09
Grenadier
quote:
To get that level of erosion I reckon that gun would have fired quite a few rounds and probably from the early days which means the bores aren't likely to be nice and shiny !!!
Corrosive primers.




.
30 August 2013, 02:14
505G
Exactly.


That gun looks like it was a best quality
when it was made, strap over comb etc.


Previously 500N with many thousands of posts !
31 August 2013, 00:44
skb
quote:
I am learning to let some others take on these charity cases



gee after looking at the last 2 mausers you bought I thought you had taken up charity work as a new hobby Wink
31 August 2013, 09:35
Huvius
Hey, one of those Mausers is a good gun Roll Eyes
Plus, the money you would need to sink into this Holland could buy you a pretty damn nice Mauser! Or two!