Next week we are having one of our vaults refitted so we can hold our collection of guns and rifles with more visibility. Visitors to the factory have always enjoyed seeing the variety of different firearms we have here, a collection not restricted to our own manufacture, but including guns and rifles from most of the English makers.
Whilst moving guns out of the way today we unearthed this 'one of a kind' gold name hand detachable lock double rifle which we completed in 1996 for a French professional hunter. I had actually completely forgotten we had this rifle in the building. The calibre is .577/.500 No.2 and when I say one of a kind, I mean it in terms of it being the only double rifle we have built in this calibre. It has a 'no frills' finish which is typical of a professional hunters requirements, better to spend the engraving money on ammunition!
The rifle has no sling swivels and a flat beavertail forend which fills two roles, one giving plenty to hang onto and secondly to provide a comfortable flat surface so the rifle can be carried on the shoulder with barrels facing forwards. You can see where all the barrel black is worn off from just behind the front sight block where the rifle has been held for many a mile. The rifle also has a stalking safety, the front sight cover is removed, there is a large gold V on rear sight to aid faster sighting and a large bull elephant engraved by Rashid on the cover plate. This is no doubt a species identity help, something like the perfect shot, see a bull that looks like this 'take it'! All in all, a totally practical rifle.
The .577/.500 No2 calibre in nitro format was a cartridge introduced by Hartman and Weiss who made some single shot falling block rifles in this calibre. The original cartridge was a black powder version which was introduced sometime before 1879 this was then developed in various formats including Nitro for black and fullNitro load with a variation in bullet weight of from 300 grains up to 570 grn, The nitro version for our rifle used the 570 grn. bullet and we think the velocity was around 2300 fps. It was a powerful round and the rifles weight of 14 lbs. compensated for this.
A .22LR is dwarfed by the 2 rounds of .577/.500 No 2.
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jack l. pertham on June 5, 2015 at 5:29 pm
thats the finest engraving i have seen on any gun
that bull is almost like a black-white photo
Simon Clode on June 10, 2015 at 2:43 am
The ‘hand detachable lock’ is the long and original, even correct terminology for the ‘droplock’! Like most things today a shorter, quicker version was found and was adapted by the Americans and I tend to use both and they refer to the same system! Apologies for the confusion!
Robert Rose on June 9, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Many thanks for your informative blog
You describe the 577/500 in this article as having a Hand Detachable Lock. I am familiar with your Drop Lock, the mechanics of Box Locks and various Side Locks, but am curious to how a Hand Detachable Box Lock works.
Thanks
Bob R
Simon Clode on October 13, 2016 at 12:50 am
I afraid this rifle itself is not for sale. The price of such a rifle is that of our new gun price listed as 577 which is in the region of £65.000.
Simon