How would you spend $75,000? On a BMW 6-series, a year-and-a-half of fancy college for your kid, or on this Holland & Holland .500/.465 Nitro SxS double rifle — one of the nicest DRs I’ve seen in a long time.
Unlike your standard H&H Royal rifle, this one has a slightly rounded bar (nice is you ever carry it there) and a blued action with minimal engraving. The blued action is gorgeous to the eye. But to the gunmakers, I’m sure it was pain in the ass. On a finish like that, the tiniest screw-up stands out like fresh blood trail on snow.
Size and performance wise, the .500/.465 Nitro Express pushes a 440 grain bullet @ 2,150 ft/s and generates a tooth-rattling 4,930 ft·lbs of force. That’s a bit less than a .470 Nitro Express (500 grs @ 2,150 Ft/s, generating 5,140 ft lbs of force), but more than enough to clobber all but the biggest, most POd animal (and a lot more than a .30-06 — about 2,850 ft lbs).
Holland & Holland .500/.465 Nitro SxS double rifle: 26″ Whitworth chopperlump barrels, quarter rib, one standing, two folding sights. Front sight with folding moon. An unusual Holland described in the ledger as a “best-quality hammerless ejector cordite express rifle”. Border engraved hand-detachable action with a blacked finish throughout. Fitted with the Holland detachable mounts, the scope is marked British made W. Ottway & Co. Ealing London. The rifle went back to Holland & Holland in 1951 for regulation of sights and scope. Appears to have seen little use since that time. Stock of densely grained, well-figured dark walnut measures 14-1/4″ over a leather pad. Tight on the face, the bores are perfect. Weighs 11 lbs, 12 oz with the scope. Cased. A fabulous rifle for your next safari! Price: $75,000
