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Holland & Holland .470 NE Modele de Luxe Sidelock Ejector Double Barrel Rifle.

This is a Holland & Holland double rifle, completed in 1964 for a renowned hunter, firearms aficionado and very influential patron of the gun making trade, Mr. Donald S. Hopkins of Spokane, WA.

In one of my favorite books, White Hunters by Brian Herne, which is a history of the safari tradition and influential hunters on the African continent, Mr. Hopkins is mentioned and best summed up. According to the passage, “Donald S. Hopkins of Spokane, WA…was a very wealthy man and co-developer on several different rifle cartridges known as the O.K.H. (e.g. the .333 O.K.H. Invented by Charles O'Neil, Elmer Keith and Don Hopkins). The first Hopkins safari was three months…hunts often lasted six months…he made a record eleven safaris averaging nine months apiece in search of an elephant (thought to be mythical by his hunters) with tusks weighing 150 pounds each.”.

This rifle reflects the influence Mr. Hopkins had in gun making and relationships with World’s best craftsmen.

The rifle is built on Holland’s patent hand detachable back action sidelock ejector Royal action with pinless locks to leave a smooth canvas for the engraving. The classic treble-grip-action body and bolstered frame are classic H&H features that make this rifle as robust as it is elegant. The rifle also has extended top and bottom tangs, a rolled trigger bow, gold lined cocking indicators, disk set strikers, two triggers (the front one hinged) and a non-automatic safety. Action parts are gilded, as was common throughout the trade, during 1960’s and 70’s to guard against corrosion.

Per Mr. Hopkins’ special request, and noted in the factory ledgers, the rifle was sent to Purdey’s to have game scenes engraved by their in-house engraver, Ken Hunt, just before he set out on his own in 1963. The right lock plate depicts a running Black Rhino, the left a Bull Elephant bluffing a charge and what, in my opinion, would become one of Ken Hunt’s signatures, the bust of a lion with piercing eyes on the bottom of the action. The Maker’s name is engraved along the hand action bolsters and the balance of the receiver is engraved in a very well executed bold foliate scroll pattern true to Holland’s pre-war Model de Luxe motif. Rounding out the engraving, the fences are carved in a vine and leaf pattern. Each game scene vignette is signed “K.C. Hunt”.

Mr. Hunt started his apprenticeship at Purdey’s in 1950, studying under the great Harry Kell, Jim Jones (formerly of Sumner’s workshop) and Bill Smith. Each man was a master of his respective type of engraving. Mr. Jones had been engraving small scroll and floral patterns since he was 13 years old, Mr. Smith was equally experienced and specialized in large scroll. Mr. Kell was exclusively doing game scenes and carving; engraving styles he is now famous for.

Ken Hunt learned his trade from these masters and, in turn, perfected the skills required to execute, not only, the standard house pattern scrolls developed around the turn of the 20th century but also the high art style of engraving, a growing trend after the second World War, one of the pioneers of this engraving movement being Harry Kell himself.

Today, Mr. Hunt is widely viewed as one of the World’s finest engravers and he remains one of the last links between the old-world, standard “house” engraving and the modern role of engraving as an art form in and of itself.

Each game scene on this rifle is highly detailed and of excellent quality, even by today’s standards, but certainly when compared to the somewhat naïve engraving still prevalent at the time the rifle was made. This is some of the earliest game scene work I have seen from Mr. Hunt and it is of wonderful quality. A very early example of the skill that would make Mr. Hunt so famous.

The 25” chopper lump barrels have Holland’s hidden Treble Grip third fastener, and Holland’s pattern, hand filed quarter rib with an original factory installed pop-up “ghost ring” sight. There is also a single folding leaf Express sight regulated and engraved for 100 yds. The ramp front sight is also filed and has a single brass bead blade with a flip up “Moon” sight.

The highly figured walnut stock has a 14 3/8” LOP over a thin leather covered pad, right hand beaded cheekpiece, traditional drop points, and a full pistol grip with a trap grip cap. The original owner’s initials are inlayed in the bottom of the stock in gold block letters. The Beavertail forend has gilded Southgate ejectors and an Anson push rod. Again, by special request of the customer and noted in the factory ledgers, the rifle was sent to the U.S. to be checkered by Monty Kennedy who literally wrote the book on the subject “Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks” (The Stackpole Co., 1952) and both the stock and forearm are checkered in exceedingly well cut, and a very fine point pattern.

Rifle is housed in its original Oak & Leather case with its canvas and leather outer cover. Included in the case are the original gilded spare strikers and replacement pin for the detachable lock lever, all housed in an ebony jar. The interior of the case retains its original red baize lining and serial numbered charge card. The firm relocated to 13 Bruton St., London in 1960 and this case lid has its original and very rare old-style trade label, with the new “13 Bruton St.” address, a label that Holland’s used for only 3 years (ca. 1960 – 1963). The outer cover’s initial patch reads: “Donald S. Hopkins Spokane, WA.”

Rifle remains in all original and near new condition retaining nearly all its original hand rubbed oil stock finish, color hardening and London black.

When one stops and thinks about a customer asking two very well established, very proud competing gun making houses to work in concert to produce a new gun, it is a good example of the sway Mr. Hopkins carried. It also highlights his insight and knowledge of guns and gunmakers, worldwide. Remember, there was no internet or auction catalogs highlighting the genius of Mr. Hunt’s work or the high quality of Mr. Kennedy’s checkering, as we have today.

This is rifle illustrates part of the allure collectors feel to guns and rifles ordered by people of fame, influence and stature. It was customer like these who, more times than not, demanded and received very special care and this rifle is a prime example of what that could produce.

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