Yesterday I took delivery of this magnificent Holland and Holland double rifle in the rare but very powerful cartridge 20-.577. A design by Alex Henry (I believe) it was to duplicate the ballistics of the popular .577 x 3-inch black powder express with a charge of six drams (165 grains) of Curtis and Harvey’s no6 black powder and a lead bullet 650 grains in weight. (The very rare .577 3 1/4” bpe was charged with the same 6 drams but also with 7 drams or 191 grains). This 20-577 was charged with the heavier 7 drams load of black powder and is marked on the barrel flats “G 191 P” for Grains 191 Powder as well as “577 EX” and the three standard proof marks for the era: view, provisional and definitive.
Below is the translation fo the factory ledger which, in this and many instances, the penmanship shows the hand of a medical doctor! (Only one word escapes me). Note the trigger pulls are left blank.
19xxx
Birdseye + Co
20/577 bore double rifle, back
Action, extended rib
Lever over guard, lever
Fore end rebounding locks
With safety bolts, loops
For sling, pistol hand,
Cheekpiece, recoil heel plate,
Bent 2 5/8 1/16, 1 3/8 to comb (cutaway ?)
Length 14 3/8 1/16 x 14 5/16 x 14 3/4
Set off 1/4
Size of hand 4 1/2” round
Pull of locks right left
Weight of rifle 12-13
26” steel barrels 7-10
Chambered for 20/.577 case
S finishing Oct 3/95
Left of ledger: H/2500
The rifle is in excellent and original condition. The bores, while shiny, and a bit pitted the first several inches ahead of the chamber. The front sight is a very thick bead and looks to be a replacement of a finer bead as the well for the flip up night bead is empty. The rear sights are both folding and marked 50-150 and 200 yards. I absolutely love the aperture sight mounted on the top strap. “Peep” sights were my favorite 30-50 years ago in my Winchester period. The barrels are 26 inches and the pull is 14 3/4” which fits me perfectly. The action is tight on the face and the Jones patent under lever locks up tight as a bank vault. The anti recoil heel plate is a bit hard and may need replacement in the future. No engraving on this rifle but the maker’s name and the case and powder charge are engraved on the left side of the frame.
Included with the rifle were 80 brass cases stamped Holland and Holland, a single reloading die, and several year’s supply of 650-grain bullets: Woodleighs soft nose and solids, and a good quantity of homogenous solids of the same weight (which I doubt I will ever shoot) . Also included are a copy of the Holland ledger and letter from Holland stating the specifications.
Sadly, there was no name in the ledger of the original owner except Birdseye and Company so it may be impossible to learn of the rifle’s history and where it traveled. The doll’s head and action top are marked “2” so this wonderful big game rifle was one of a pair (or maybe the second of a set of three?!).
From former .577s I have sold, there is a good supply of 650-grain sized and powder coated bullets ready and waiting. This weekend I will shoot the rifle to get a target at 50 yards with the standard smokeless load on the 40% rule or 77 grains if IMR 4198 powder. The following week I will load 191 grains of six brands and granulations of black powder to get a complete set of ballistics.
I know the former owner of this Holland and have lusted over it for the past decade. When it went up for sale a few years ago it was a bit beyond my reach. When the price was lowered and it still didn’t sell the owner was to have it returned. At the time he made me an offer I could not refuse and the checkbook flew out of my pocket.
