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After Miles’ excellent TFB article in 2013 about the Holland & Holland Flagship Store in London there’s almost nothing more to add. If you haven’t read it already, please put it on your list of things to do.
This story will add more pictures, examples and history to the Holland & Holland brand. And the story of the yacht Valhalla, plus some unexpected fuel to the gun oil debate.
In the middle of the most fashionable shopping area, where Bruton Street meets New Bond Street, lies the Holland & Holland flagship store. It’s the kind of store where you don’t have to open the door yourself, it will be held open for you by a nice Gentleman and you will be greeted welcome.
As much as I prefer modern rifles there’s a special charm with companies like Holland & Holland that I hope will never go out of style.
Below: Please have your original paperwork handy when collecting your firearm.
Holland & Holland will be more than happy to provide you and your family with the perfect outfit for your next hunt or safari.
The right tie for the right occasion.
Ladie’s welcome.
The entrance of the gun room is guarded by a pair of Holland & Holland brass-barrelled, breech loading cannons: number 40 and 41. There are sights fitted to the cannons, the rear sight being adjustable for height and windage.
These cannons were supplied to Col. the Earl of Crawford, who fitted them on his three-masted sailing yacht “Valhalla“. Crawford was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and owner of several private yachts that he used for scientific expeditions. The yacht pictured below was built in 1892 and broken up around 1925.
Now, who wouldn’t like to have a yacht called “Valhalla” with a few cannons, or more modern .50 BMGs mounted?
Apparently, about 100 years ago it was all possible – even in Great Britain!
Col. the Earl of Crawford’s three-masted sailing yacht “Valhalla”. With cannons.
Below: An original H. Holland (Harris Holland) 12-bore hammer gun case. Note the extremely rare case label.
From the letter below (on the left side in above case)
“The firm was founded by Harris Holland (1806–1896) in the year 1835. Although accounts of his background are somewhat sketchy, it is believed that his father was an organ builder, while Harris had a tobacco wholesale business in London.
Obviously he was successful, as he was often seen at various pigeon shoots at important London clubs, as well as leasing a grouse moor in Yorkshire.
Overview of the gun room and exclusive cabinets.
Below: “Best quality” rifles in calibers .375 H&H, .400 H&H, .416 Rigby and .465 H&H in the price region of the 30.000 – 42.000 GBP range (approx. 44.000 – 62.000 USD). It is unclear if optics and mounts are included n the prices.
Below: Shotguns, “Royal Deluxe”, 12, 16 and 20 bore. Some of these shotguns are 180.000 GBP, or approximately 264.000 USD.
Below: More Shotguns, if you can do without the “Deluxe” title and stick to “Royal” only you can almost deduct 80.000 GBP off some of the prices. 12, 16 and 20 bore, in the region of 80.000 – 110.000 GBP.
Below: Something tells me that the debate which gun oil and cleaning method is the best is not new?
TFB presents the Holland & Holland “Rangoon Oil“, with “special ingredients”.
I feel an urge to try it in an AR-15. It’s relatively cheap too, compared to other brands like Fireclean, FP-10, Hoppe’s and CLP to name a few. This will be a project for the future!
“A traditional non-soluble oil enhanced by modern technology for the protection of all metallic surfaces. Its synthetic ester properties make it ideally suitable for long term storage both inside and outside all firearms. Rangoon oil’s second special ingredient acts as a de-watering agent on all metallic surfaces and further protects these surfaces against long term exposure to oxygen and moisture. $8.75”
Thanks to Holland & Holland for your hospitality and letting me take pictures. I will be back for some Rangoon Oil next time!
