Holland & Holland
Encyclopedia
Holland & Holland is a British
gun-maker based in London
, England
. They offer hand-made sporting rifles and shotgun
s. H&H holds two Royal Warrant
s.
At first the guns bore the inscription H.Holland, without an address, and it is probable that these were built in the trade to his design. It is not known when Harris started his own manufacturing but it is estimated to be in the 1850s. This start makes him very unusual among the London Best makers, as others such as Purdey
, Boss
, Lang
and Lancaster had apprenticed with Joseph Manton
, while others such as Beesley, Grant and Atkin apprenticed with Purdey or Boss.
In 1883 Holland and Holland entered the trials organized by the magazine The Field
, and won all of the rifle
categories. This set a new standard of excellence for the competition among English gunmakers. In 1885 patent
s were granted to Holland and Holland for their Paradox gun
, a shotgun with rifling
in the front two inches of the barrel.
In 1908, they patented the detachable lock feature with small lever, for sidelock shotguns. The last major development in the evolution of the sidelock side-by-side gun occurred in 1922, when the H&H assisted-opening mechanism was patented. This gun, the self-opening Royal side-by-side, has been hugely influential in gun-making throughout the world.
In the period after World War II
, under the leadership of new owner and Managing Director Malcolm Lyell, the company made sorties to India
, where guns from the famous collections of the princes and maharajahs were bought back, developing an important market for second-hand pieces. In 1989, all remaining shares in H&H were bought by the French cosmetics group Chanel
. Since then, the factory building, in use since 1898, has been extensively renovated and equipped with modern technology. Guns such as the Royal Over & Under or side-by-side double-barreled shotgun
s were improved and reintroduced, and they are available in 12, 20 and 28 bore and .410 inch. A hand-built gun from H&H can cost around for a shotgun and close to for some rifles, with prices roughly doubling with luxury engraving, and there is a waiting period of 2–3 years between ordering and delivery.
In the 1990s, Holland and Holland started on a major program of expansion. The company has stores ("gunrooms") in New York City
and Moscow
. The company's London flagship store on Bruton Street has been completely renovated and expanded.
. 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
.
Having no children of his own, he took on his nephew Henry Holland
as an apprentice in 1861. In 1867 Henry became a partner and in 1876 the name changed to Holland & Holland. Although Henry was a full partner, Harris kept strict control and was the only one who could sign a cheque
until he died in 1896.
in mind and has been associated romantically with the last part of the golden age of safari
s and dangerous game hunting.
These calibres are:
.240 Apex
— introduced 1920, known also as .240 Belted Nitro Express and the .240 Magnum Rimless. Used for deer and plainsgame.
.240 Flanged Nitro Express — is a variation of the .240 Apex
created for the safari double rifles and intended for medium size game.
.244 H&H Magnum
— introduced 1955, as a cartridge suitable for long range deer hunting in Scottish Highlands. Based on the extremely successful .375 H&H but with 6.2 mm and bullets weighing between 75 gr.
.275 H&H Belted Magnum
— introduced in 1912 and based on the 375 H&H case shortened to 2.5" with a 7 mm 140–175 grain bullet. This cartridge was the inspiration for a number of 7 mm Magnum designs from other manufacturers and originally used cordite as propellant powder.
.300 H&H Magnum
— second most popular calibre invented by Holland & Holland, was introduced in 1925. It is meant to tackle large plains game, particularly African like zebra
, giraffes or heavy antelope
s but also a favourite of North American moose
and elk
hunters. While not as popular, it is fairly similar to .300 Winchester Magnum
over which the .300 H&H Magnum
may have an advantage when loaded with bullets of 220 grains or heavier. The first .300 H&H Magnum
rifle recorded in the Holland & Holland Number Books was serial number 30494, tested on October 1, 1926. When the .300 H&H Magnum
was introduced it was branded as the 'Super-Thirty'.
.30 'Super' Flanged or 300 H&H Flanged — is a flanged version of the .300 H&H Magnum
cartridge for use in breech loading and double rifles. It has almost the same specifications, and nearly the same performance, as the .300 H&H Magnum
.
.375 H&H Magnum
or 375 H&H — is the most—popular calibre invented by Holland & Holland, and was introduced in 1912 as a Nitro Express cartridge
using cordite
, but worked its way into becoming also the world's most popular safari
calibre to date, due to its versatility. Bullet
has a 9.5 mm diameter, and weighs between 235 gr.
While a medium-bore cartridge that some consider too big for medium game and too small for big or dangerous game, the .375 H&H has nonetheless become the official minimum cartridge for hunting dangerous game throughout much of Africa
. While big by modern standards, it remains a popular cartridge for Canadian
and Alaska
n bear
s, seeing heavy use by outfitters and professional hunters.
.375 Flanged Nitro Express — is a cartridge for use in breech loading and double rifles and therefore popular in Africa, but in the past was considered an effective tiger cartridge. It has almost the same specifications as the .375 H&H Magnum
.
.400 H&H Magnum
— is a recent cartridge introduced in 2003, based on the .375 H&H Magnum
case and using a 400 grain bullet at 2,300 feet per second. The .400 H&H Magnum
is designed for use in bolt action rifles and to carry the muzzle energy of the .375 H&H Magnum
out 100 yards.
.465 H&H Magnum
— introduced in 2003, is a modern big bore cartridge from Holland & Holland based on the 460 Weatherby case. This cartridge was created to be used for big or dangerous game hunting, following the safari tradition of the brand. The .465 H&H Magnum
is designed for use in bolt action rifles and to carry the muzzle energy of the .375 H&H Magnum
out 200 yards and, in so doing, carries the muzzle energy of the .400 H&H Magnum
out 100 yards.
.500/450 Nitro Express
— created in the late 1890s, using the .500 Black Powder Express case necked down to emulate the .450 Nitro Express
performance with lower chamber pressure and slightly higher velocity. Due to its low pressure and considerable power it was used almost exclusively to hunt dangerous game in the tropical colonies of the former British Empire, like East Africa or India.
.500/465 Nitro Express — a development of the .500/450 Nitro Express
when the .45 calibre was banned from Sudan and India in 1907 by the British Government. It is essentially the older cartridge necked up to accept a larger calibre bullet, and delivers the same level of performance. For many years it was the most common chambering for heavy double rifles after the .470 Nitro Express
, and it continues to be the standard caliber for H&H doubles.
.600 Nitro Express
— started in 1903 and remained the quintessential elephant
stopper until the christening of .700 Nitro Express
, made eighty five years later by the same Holland & Holland. Firing this round, with up to a 950 grain bullet, generates tremendous recoil regardless of the 15 lb or more weight of rifles in such calibre. The .600 Nitro Express was discontinued, with the "Last 600" rifle sold at a premium. A few years later Holland's reportedly paid the owner of the "Last" 600 a fee in order to be allowed to produce more rifles in this calibre. After almost becoming extinct, this calibre has lately see a revival by hunters like Mark Sullivan and his controversial Nitro Express Safari videos.
.700 Nitro Express
or short 700 NE — created 1988, likely the largest hunting cartridge commercially developed in the world, with a notable stopping power and known for its recoil, firing a 1000 grain bullet. One .700 Nitro Express cartridge retails around US$100 (2008). The 700 was developed in response to the discontinuation of the .600. The client in this case reputedly felt that if he could not have a 600 that was fine, he would have a 700.
s such as Bentley
or Rolls-Royce
. Together with James Purdey and Sons
, regarded as their primary competitor, they are the only gunmakers to hold a British Royal Warrant
. Their clientele, since the 19th century, have included famous explorers, such as Frederick Courteney Selous, and royalty such as Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gun-maker based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They offer hand-made sporting rifles and shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
s. H&H holds two Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
s.
History
Holland & Holland was founded by Harris Holland (1806–96) in the year 1835.At first the guns bore the inscription H.Holland, without an address, and it is probable that these were built in the trade to his design. It is not known when Harris started his own manufacturing but it is estimated to be in the 1850s. This start makes him very unusual among the London Best makers, as others such as Purdey
James Purdey and Sons
James Purdey & Sons - or simply "Purdey" - is a famous British gunmaker of London, and the name is synonymous with the very finest sporting shotguns and rifles. Purdeys hold or have held numerous warrants of appointment as gun and rifle makers to the British and other European royal...
, Boss
Boss & Co.
Boss & Co. is an English bespoke gunmaker established in 1812 by Thomas Boss in London. Thomas Boss worked before that for Joseph Manton, one of the greatest gunmakers of that period, before leaving and starting his own business. At the beginning he did most of his work for James Purdey, who had...
, Lang
Lang
Lang may refer to:*Lang * "Langue" was Ferdinand de Saussure's term for what in contemporary linguistics is referred to as "competency " or "I-language" , referring to an idea of an internal cognitive "language" as distinct from surface forms —natural spoken language.-Places:Antarctica*Lang...
and Lancaster had apprenticed with Joseph Manton
Joseph Manton
Joseph Manton was a much celebrated British gunsmith who was to revolutionise sport shooting, vastly improve the quality of weapons and father the modern artillery shell. Joseph was also a keen sports shooter in his own right and a friend of the celebrated "sportsman" Colonel Peter Hawker.Kings Of...
, while others such as Beesley, Grant and Atkin apprenticed with Purdey or Boss.
In 1883 Holland and Holland entered the trials organized by the magazine The Field
The Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
, and won all of the rifle
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
categories. This set a new standard of excellence for the competition among English gunmakers. In 1885 patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s were granted to Holland and Holland for their Paradox gun
Paradox gun
A Paradox gun is a firearm made by Holland & Holland with the last two to three inches of the muzzle rifled and the rest smooth, intended to be used as both a rifle and shotgun....
, a shotgun with rifling
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
in the front two inches of the barrel.
In 1908, they patented the detachable lock feature with small lever, for sidelock shotguns. The last major development in the evolution of the sidelock side-by-side gun occurred in 1922, when the H&H assisted-opening mechanism was patented. This gun, the self-opening Royal side-by-side, has been hugely influential in gun-making throughout the world.
In the period after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, under the leadership of new owner and Managing Director Malcolm Lyell, the company made sorties to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where guns from the famous collections of the princes and maharajahs were bought back, developing an important market for second-hand pieces. In 1989, all remaining shares in H&H were bought by the French cosmetics group Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
. Since then, the factory building, in use since 1898, has been extensively renovated and equipped with modern technology. Guns such as the Royal Over & Under or side-by-side double-barreled shotgun
Double-barreled shotgun
A double-barreled shotgun is a shotgun or combination gun with two parallel barrels, allowing two shots to be fired in quick succession.-Construction:...
s were improved and reintroduced, and they are available in 12, 20 and 28 bore and .410 inch. A hand-built gun from H&H can cost around for a shotgun and close to for some rifles, with prices roughly doubling with luxury engraving, and there is a waiting period of 2–3 years between ordering and delivery.
In the 1990s, Holland and Holland started on a major program of expansion. The company has stores ("gunrooms") in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The company's London flagship store on Bruton Street has been completely renovated and expanded.
Harris Holland
Harris Holland was born in 1806 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Although accounts of his background are somewhat sketchy, it is believed that his father was an organ builder
Organ builder
-Australia:* William Anderson * Australian Pipe Organs Pty Ltd* Robert Cecil Clifton * William Davidson* J.E. Dodd & Sons Gunstar Organ Works* Fincham & Hobday* Geo. Fincham & Son* Alfred Fuller * Peter D.G. Jewkes Pty Ltd...
, while Harris had a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Obviously he was successful, as he was often seen at various pigeon shoots at important London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
clubs, as well as leasing a grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
moor
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Having no children of his own, he took on his nephew Henry Holland
Henry Holland
Henry Holland may refer to:* Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter , Lancastrian leader during the Wars of the Roses* Henry Holland , English writer on witchcraft...
as an apprentice in 1861. In 1867 Henry became a partner and in 1876 the name changed to Holland & Holland. Although Henry was a full partner, Harris kept strict control and was the only one who could sign a cheque
Cheque
A cheque is a document/instrument See the negotiable cow—itself a fictional story—for discussions of cheques written on unusual surfaces. that orders a payment of money from a bank account...
until he died in 1896.
Calibres
Holland & Holland has created some very well known calibres. Their entire line of cartridges has been developed with huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
in mind and has been associated romantically with the last part of the golden age of safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
s and dangerous game hunting.
These calibres are:
.240 Apex
.240 Apex
The .240 Apex is a centrefire sporting rifle cartridge developed in England in the 1920s, primarily for use in hunting deer and plains game...
— introduced 1920, known also as .240 Belted Nitro Express and the .240 Magnum Rimless. Used for deer and plainsgame.
.240 Flanged Nitro Express — is a variation of the .240 Apex
.240 Apex
The .240 Apex is a centrefire sporting rifle cartridge developed in England in the 1920s, primarily for use in hunting deer and plains game...
created for the safari double rifles and intended for medium size game.
.244 H&H Magnum
.244 H&H Magnum
The .244 Holland & Holland Magnum cartridge was created in 1955 in Great Britain by deerstalker and rifle-maker David Lloyd of Pipewell Hall, Northamptonshire and Glencassley in Sutherland, Scotland, and is not to be confused with the smaller-cased and much milder 6 mm Remington...
— introduced 1955, as a cartridge suitable for long range deer hunting in Scottish Highlands. Based on the extremely successful .375 H&H but with 6.2 mm and bullets weighing between 75 gr.
.275 H&H Belted Magnum
.275 H&H Magnum
The .275 Holland & Holland Magnum is a semi-obsolete rifle cartridge similar to the 7mm Remington Magnum. It was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland in 1912 with a shorter version of the belted case of the .375 H&H Magnum introduced the same year as the .375 Belted Rimless...
— introduced in 1912 and based on the 375 H&H case shortened to 2.5" with a 7 mm 140–175 grain bullet. This cartridge was the inspiration for a number of 7 mm Magnum designs from other manufacturers and originally used cordite as propellant powder.
.300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
— second most popular calibre invented by Holland & Holland, was introduced in 1925. It is meant to tackle large plains game, particularly African like zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
, giraffes or heavy antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
s but also a favourite of North American moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
and elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
hunters. While not as popular, it is fairly similar to .300 Winchester Magnum
.300 Winchester Magnum
The .300 Winchester Magnum is a popular, belted, bottlenecked magnum rifle cartridge that was introduced by Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1963 as a member of the family of Winchester Magnum cartridges. The .300 Winchester Magnum is a magnum cartridge designed to fit in a standard length...
over which the .300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
may have an advantage when loaded with bullets of 220 grains or heavier. The first .300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
rifle recorded in the Holland & Holland Number Books was serial number 30494, tested on October 1, 1926. When the .300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
was introduced it was branded as the 'Super-Thirty'.
.30 'Super' Flanged or 300 H&H Flanged — is a flanged version of the .300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
cartridge for use in breech loading and double rifles. It has almost the same specifications, and nearly the same performance, as the .300 H&H Magnum
.300 H&H Magnum
The .300 H&H Magnum Cartridge was introduced by the British company Holland & Holland as the Super-Thirty in June, 1925. The case was belted like the .375 H&H Magnum, and is based on the same case, as also is the .244 H&H Magnum. The belt is for headspace as the cases' shoulders have a narrow...
.
.375 H&H Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum
The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and one of the best-known and most popular medium-bore cartridges in the world. The .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. A popular misconception is that the belt is for headspace,...
or 375 H&H — is the most—popular calibre invented by Holland & Holland, and was introduced in 1912 as a Nitro Express cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
using cordite
Cordite
Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance...
, but worked its way into becoming also the world's most popular safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
calibre to date, due to its versatility. Bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
has a 9.5 mm diameter, and weighs between 235 gr.
While a medium-bore cartridge that some consider too big for medium game and too small for big or dangerous game, the .375 H&H has nonetheless become the official minimum cartridge for hunting dangerous game throughout much of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. While big by modern standards, it remains a popular cartridge for Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s, seeing heavy use by outfitters and professional hunters.
.375 Flanged Nitro Express — is a cartridge for use in breech loading and double rifles and therefore popular in Africa, but in the past was considered an effective tiger cartridge. It has almost the same specifications as the .375 H&H Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum
The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and one of the best-known and most popular medium-bore cartridges in the world. The .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. A popular misconception is that the belt is for headspace,...
.
.400 H&H Magnum
.400 H&H Magnum
The .400 H&H Magnum also known as the .400 Holland & Holland Belted Rimless or the .400 Holland and Holland Magnum is a .411 caliber belted rimless bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 2003 by Holland & Holland together with the .465 H&H Magnum in 2003...
— is a recent cartridge introduced in 2003, based on the .375 H&H Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum
The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and one of the best-known and most popular medium-bore cartridges in the world. The .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. A popular misconception is that the belt is for headspace,...
case and using a 400 grain bullet at 2,300 feet per second. The .400 H&H Magnum
.400 H&H Magnum
The .400 H&H Magnum also known as the .400 Holland & Holland Belted Rimless or the .400 Holland and Holland Magnum is a .411 caliber belted rimless bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 2003 by Holland & Holland together with the .465 H&H Magnum in 2003...
is designed for use in bolt action rifles and to carry the muzzle energy of the .375 H&H Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum
The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and one of the best-known and most popular medium-bore cartridges in the world. The .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. A popular misconception is that the belt is for headspace,...
out 100 yards.
.465 H&H Magnum
.465 H&H Magnum
The .465 Holland & Holland Magnum also known as the .465 Holland & Holland Belted Rimless or more simply as the .465 H&H Magnum, is a modern big bore firearms cartridge introduced by Holland & Holland in 2003 together with the .400 H&H Magnum. The .465 H&H Magnum is a .468 caliber, belted, rimless...
— introduced in 2003, is a modern big bore cartridge from Holland & Holland based on the 460 Weatherby case. This cartridge was created to be used for big or dangerous game hunting, following the safari tradition of the brand. The .465 H&H Magnum
.465 H&H Magnum
The .465 Holland & Holland Magnum also known as the .465 Holland & Holland Belted Rimless or more simply as the .465 H&H Magnum, is a modern big bore firearms cartridge introduced by Holland & Holland in 2003 together with the .400 H&H Magnum. The .465 H&H Magnum is a .468 caliber, belted, rimless...
is designed for use in bolt action rifles and to carry the muzzle energy of the .375 H&H Magnum
.375 H&H Magnum
The .375 Holland & Holland Magnum is a powerful rifle round and one of the best-known and most popular medium-bore cartridges in the world. The .375 H&H was only the second cartridge ever to feature a belt, now common among magnum rounds. A popular misconception is that the belt is for headspace,...
out 200 yards and, in so doing, carries the muzzle energy of the .400 H&H Magnum
.400 H&H Magnum
The .400 H&H Magnum also known as the .400 Holland & Holland Belted Rimless or the .400 Holland and Holland Magnum is a .411 caliber belted rimless bottlenecked cartridge introduced in 2003 by Holland & Holland together with the .465 H&H Magnum in 2003...
out 100 yards.
.500/450 Nitro Express
.500/450 Nitro Express
Based on the old blackpowder .500/450, the .500/450 Magnum Nitro Express was introduced by Holland & Holland for their single shot and double rifles during the late 1890s. It fires a projectile at over to generate in excess of of muzzle energy....
— created in the late 1890s, using the .500 Black Powder Express case necked down to emulate the .450 Nitro Express
.450 Nitro Express
.450 Nitro Express designed for the purpose of hunting large game such as elephant. This cartridge is used almost exclusively in single shot and double express rifles for hunting at the Tropics or hot climates in general and is a cartridge associated with the Golden Age of African safaris and...
performance with lower chamber pressure and slightly higher velocity. Due to its low pressure and considerable power it was used almost exclusively to hunt dangerous game in the tropical colonies of the former British Empire, like East Africa or India.
.500/465 Nitro Express — a development of the .500/450 Nitro Express
.500/450 Nitro Express
Based on the old blackpowder .500/450, the .500/450 Magnum Nitro Express was introduced by Holland & Holland for their single shot and double rifles during the late 1890s. It fires a projectile at over to generate in excess of of muzzle energy....
when the .45 calibre was banned from Sudan and India in 1907 by the British Government. It is essentially the older cartridge necked up to accept a larger calibre bullet, and delivers the same level of performance. For many years it was the most common chambering for heavy double rifles after the .470 Nitro Express
.470 Nitro Express
The .470 Nitro Express is a cartridge developed in England for very large or dangerous game hunting. This cartridge is used almost exclusively in single shot and double express rifles for hunting in the tropics or hot climate...
, and it continues to be the standard caliber for H&H doubles.
.600 Nitro Express
.600 Nitro Express
The .600 Nitro Express is a round in the Nitro Express series which was introduced in 1903. It is the second largest calibre in the Nitro Express line, exceeded only by Holland & Holland's .700 Nitro Express round.-Overview:...
— started in 1903 and remained the quintessential elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
stopper until the christening of .700 Nitro Express
.700 Nitro Express
The .700 Nitro Express is a big game rifle cartridge made by Holland & Holland, London, England. It was developed in 1988 by Jim Bell and William Feldstein and built by H&H. Feldstein had tried unsuccessfully to get H&H to build a .600 Nitro Express for him, but they had already ceased production...
, made eighty five years later by the same Holland & Holland. Firing this round, with up to a 950 grain bullet, generates tremendous recoil regardless of the 15 lb or more weight of rifles in such calibre. The .600 Nitro Express was discontinued, with the "Last 600" rifle sold at a premium. A few years later Holland's reportedly paid the owner of the "Last" 600 a fee in order to be allowed to produce more rifles in this calibre. After almost becoming extinct, this calibre has lately see a revival by hunters like Mark Sullivan and his controversial Nitro Express Safari videos.
.700 Nitro Express
.700 Nitro Express
The .700 Nitro Express is a big game rifle cartridge made by Holland & Holland, London, England. It was developed in 1988 by Jim Bell and William Feldstein and built by H&H. Feldstein had tried unsuccessfully to get H&H to build a .600 Nitro Express for him, but they had already ceased production...
or short 700 NE — created 1988, likely the largest hunting cartridge commercially developed in the world, with a notable stopping power and known for its recoil, firing a 1000 grain bullet. One .700 Nitro Express cartridge retails around US$100 (2008). The 700 was developed in response to the discontinuation of the .600. The client in this case reputedly felt that if he could not have a 600 that was fine, he would have a 700.
List of clients
Holland & Holland is regarded as a luxury sporting gunmaker enjoying a reputation in the world similar to other British made luxury marqueBrand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s such as Bentley
Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...
or Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
. Together with James Purdey and Sons
James Purdey and Sons
James Purdey & Sons - or simply "Purdey" - is a famous British gunmaker of London, and the name is synonymous with the very finest sporting shotguns and rifles. Purdeys hold or have held numerous warrants of appointment as gun and rifle makers to the British and other European royal...
, regarded as their primary competitor, they are the only gunmakers to hold a British Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
. Their clientele, since the 19th century, have included famous explorers, such as Frederick Courteney Selous, and royalty such as Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
.