Manufactured between 1950 and 1953 Introduced to the market around 1898, the 577 Nitro Express was a smokeless upgrade of the 577 Black Powder Express capable of delivering a 750 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of over 2,000 feet per second. The combination of the 577 NE with a stout and reliable English double rifle gave hunters a weapon that could be counted on to bring down dangerous game with lower powered rounds; becoming popular with Indian tiger hunters and the full-load 3 inch cartridge adopted by African elephant hunters both as a primary weapon and a close-range emergency gun for dealing with charging elephants. Fitted with a ramped bead front sight with a sliding hood and a drift adjustable "U" notch rear sight marked "50", with a platinum accent wire and a pair of claw bases on the checkered quarter rib. The rifle features light engraving at the breech, marked "HOLLAND & HOLLAND." on the right barrel, "98. NEW BOND STREET, LONDON." on the left, "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the underside of the rib and a series of London Proof House stamps on the water table, including a 3 inch chamber marking, Nitro proofs, and "1000-750 MAX". The underside of the frame is marked "ROYAL/*/MODEL" with elegant border engraving on the frame and locks, floral designs and "MADE IN ENGLAND" on the barrel hinge, "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" on each lock plate with a gold-highlighted cocking indicator and a mounting thumbscrew, a lightly engraved break lever and a manual safety switch with gold inlaid "SAFE" marking. A set of extra-long tangs are fitted, with the lower tang running to the grip cap and the upper tang extending over an inch onto the comb. It is fitted with a fancy checkered walnut pistol grip stock with engraved hardware on the splinter forearm, a casehardened and engraved grip cap, patch box, a numbered gold inscription panel on the underside, raised shadow line cheekpiece, sling swivels and an unmarked solid recoil pad. Measurements: overall weight 12 pounds 4.9 ounces length of pull - 14 1/4 inches to end of pad, 13 1/8 inches to end of wood, drop at comb - 1 5/8 inches, drop at heel - 3 1/8 inches. It includes a brown leather case fitted with a canvas protective cover, brass corner reinforcement, and a gold embossed black leather makers label inside the lid. The case contains the rifle and the following included accessories: a Hensoldt-Wetzlar Diasta 4x32 scope with H&H markings numbered to match the rifle, a brown leather sling, 2 nickel finished snap caps, a bottle of H&H Rangoon Jelly, a small box of shotgun-size bore patches, 2 piece cleaning rod, two cleaning brushes, a spare screw and a leather pocket pouch of 577 cleaning tools.