Holland & Holland guns are celebrated throughout the world as the perfect combination of artistry and craftsmanship. To understand why, you need simply pick one up, balance it in your hands, and allow your eyes to take in every details of its lines. It displays a purity of design and a functional simplicity that is found more frequently in nature than in the creations of man. Swing and mount the gun to your shoulder and, immediately, your visual sensation is matched by such perfect handling that you know the gun is ideally suited to its purpose. Such an achievement does not come into being by evolution alone, even though Holland & Holland guns and rifles trace their lineage back to the year 1835. Its other parent is curiosity, the desire of the craftsman and gun-maker to see whether an improvement can be made on accepted methods.
You have to go to H&H for measurements, and preliminary "fittings", like a tailor, because H&H's are pure custom pieces, individually crafted and fitted to an individual owner.
Got to handle a beatutiful H&H double rifle that cost more than my house on a hunt in SA back in the 80's, and OP is absolutely correct, you know from the moment you feel it in your hands that you are holding a functional work of art. They are perfect right down to the smallest detail.
Frankly, I could never own a piece like that. Not because I couldn't afford it, but because I'd be afraid to ever shoot it. That I would somehow ruin it. I couldn't take the stress.
[ - ] iSnark [op] 1 point 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 10:30:26 ago (+1/-0)
Glad you enjoyed this video.
I bet this would have been a great place to work as an intern as a young teen. Imagine getting to learn from these Craftsmen. Videos like this was why I started this sub here.
Back during the height of the African safaris, it was a lot easier to acquire a large calibre double rifle. Marlin used to make a very fine .444 double that was based on Purdey's design. But the market contracted over time and so did the supply
Now it's a rich man's game, and except for a very few others (Purdey, Merkel) H&H is pretty much it.
Thanks for the video and the other links to the websites. We've lost so much in this world, we've essentially become "farm raised chickens", leading lives of quiet desperation. How cool it must've been to have lived during a time where there were still adventures to be had!
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 1 point 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 05:33:18 ago (+1/-0)*
Got to handle a beatutiful H&H double rifle that cost more than my house on a hunt in SA back in the 80's, and OP is absolutely correct, you know from the moment you feel it in your hands that you are holding a functional work of art. They are perfect right down to the smallest detail.
Here's a Purdey: https://gordyandsons.com/purdey-best-double-rifle-375h36601/
Frankly, I could never own a piece like that. Not because I couldn't afford it, but because I'd be afraid to ever shoot it. That I would somehow ruin it.
I couldn't take the stress.
This would be more my speed I think: https://www.hollandandholland.com/products/acc-cufflink8-silver-top-lever-cufflinks
Thank you for posting this.
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark [op] 1 point 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 10:30:26 ago (+1/-0)
I bet this would have been a great place to work as an intern as a young teen. Imagine getting to learn from these Craftsmen. Videos like this was why I started this sub here.
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 0 points 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 13:20:45 ago (+0/-0)*
Now it's a rich man's game, and except for a very few others (Purdey, Merkel) H&H is pretty much it.
https://www.doublegunshop.com/merkel_gsi__double_rifles_sxs.htm
https://www.africahunting.com/community/firearms-ammunition/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7fWS6RpkAE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41AI0sJFwvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxdQ6enzusI
[ + ] iSnark
[ - ] iSnark [op] 0 points 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 13:32:11 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] BulletStopper
[ - ] BulletStopper 0 points 11 monthsJun 28, 2024 13:39:40 ago (+0/-0)
There still are, they're just a bit harder to find, and bit more exclusive now.