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New Book
In May 1885, Holland & Holland advertised their new trade mark, 'The Royal' intended to apply to best guns and rifles only. 'Royal' guns and rifles have been in production since that date, the choice of name symbolising the excellence of the firm's output.
 And yet, gunmaking played no part in the early history of Holland & Holland. The foreman of the firm, Harris Holland was a musician and entrepreneur with an interest in live pigeon shooting. Turning this interest into a business venture, he began to retail guns in the 1830's. His nephew Henry Holland joined the business in 1860 and made an outstanding contribution to the field of gunmaking with 47 patents to his name. Several of these inventions are still used today, the 1883 Royal hammerless action, the 1904 belted rimless cartridge case and the 1922 self-opening mechanism. In 1876 the uncle and the nephew created a partnership and Holland & Holland was born. By this time, rifle making had become the speciality of the firm, their prowess at this obvious to all after winning every class in The Field Rifle Trials of 1883.
The 20th century saw the firm's tradition of innovation and experiment continue. Henry Holland's son, Jack Holland, a decorated officer of World War One, ran the firm in the difficult pre and post World War Two years. Following on From his death in 1957, the Holland family interest in the business declined and from the early 1960's, new owners in a fresh approach, continued to expand, research and produce very high quality sporting guns and rifles revered throughout the world.
Donald Dallas tells the fascinating story of Holland & Holland from its very beginnings. The history of the family is revealed for the first time and how this affected the business. The terrific variety of the firms guns and rifles are described in great detail set within the historical context of their era. From punt gun to boys gun, from rook rifle to elephant gun, Holland and Holland supplied them all to every corner of the world.
Several appendices will be of great help and interest to enthusiasts and owners. All 51 patents are described, the dating of Holland serial numbers is given from 1855 to the present day, all the trade labels are illustrated and the rifle cartridges developed and introduced are examined in detail. The book is profusely illustrated with 112 colour and 355 black and white photographs, mostly unpublished. In addition many rare guns and rifles are described and illustrated. This book is written with the full approval and co-operation of Holland & Holland and is the authoritative history of the company.
Donald Dallas is a historian who lives in Fife Scotland. From a very early age, he developed a great interest in sporting guns and the history of their development. In addition to the technical development of the sporting gun, he found their place in the social and economic history of the times fascinating and has always attempted to include this in his writing. He conducts a great deal of historical research into gunmaking families, technical developments and contemporary periodicals to ensure that his publications are as original and accurate as possible.
Asked by Boss & Co. to research the history of their firm, he wrote 'Boss &: Co., Builders Of Best Guns Only', a book that set the standard for an individual gunmaker's history. Following on from this, he was commissioned by James Purdey & Sons to produce a similar history, resulting in, 'Purdey, Gun And Rifle Makers, The Definitive History'. Holland & Holland requested this book, thereby completing the trilogy of the 'Big Three' in British gunmaking. He also writes on a regular basis for many American periodicals.
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