10 October 2025, 23:16
Steve Bertram.303 Holland/Woodward
This rifle is extensively documented in the Wal Winfer book on Holland single shot rifles, the 3rd rifle built on the patent, finished in 1896. The rifle was re-barreled by Holland at a later date. It was the original sighting equipment that drew me to the rifle, barrel sights, a peep in the tang and a scope, the fact that it is a .303 did not hurt in my mind. I knew the rifle would need to be stocked someday when I bought it, it broke during shipping so that was a disappointment but it did create a sense or urgency for the project. The broken stock was one of many issues the rifle had, the firing pin was broken and deformed on both ends, the under lever was bent and its latch was broken, both the top and bottom rear tangs were damaged, the rear express sight was loose in its slot, the action was extremely difficult to cock. There was some good news, the bore remains strong, the scope is tight, the external pitting was minimal and it was what I felt to be a very worthy project. 
I started with the repairing the stock so it could be shot, and it would later become my pattern stock. The metal work then began, a new firing pin was made, the under lever was straightened, I TIG welded the latch and refit it but it still cocked verry hard. A close inspection revealed that the ejector spring appeared to be replacement and literally sent the spent cases yards over your shoulder, not ideal for a reloader. I reduced the size and strength of the spring and the action now functions smoothly as it should. The action was sent out for micro-welding and re-engraving, while he had it he addressed several small areas of pitting along the action edges so I had nice clean lines to fit the new wood up against.
A nice piece of Tessier French walnut selected and set up in the pantograph, then the hand inletting began.
The new stock was fit up, a new fore end was made, the original buttplate and grip cap were moved over to the new stock, new screws were made and then engraved.
red oil, then Daly's and Alkenet root, I'm not 100% happy with the finial wood finish but I will keep working on it.
Checkering by the same anonymous craftsman that does my engraving. I added some sling swivels, slow rust blued the barrel and blended out the areas on the action where the welding and engraving was done.
