The included Holland & Holland Weapon History confirms the serial number, caliber, grade, and year of manufacture as 1894 with the shotgun being test fired on May 12, and finished at the factory on June 18 of the same year. With dovetail barrels with single bead sight on the smooth concave rib marked "HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON" with light engraving at the breech and a gold inlaid "2" indicating this as the second gun in a pair. The action and locks feature full coverage fine Holland & Holland "Royal" pattern scroll engraving with "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" in banners on the locks, "ROYAL/HAMMERLESS/EJECTOR" on the underside, gold lined cocking indicators, dual triggers, manual tang safety with gold inlaid "SAFE", and engraved trigger guard and tangs. Checkered forearm with engraved fittings, Anson latch, and straight grip stock with padded leather cheekpiece, gold escutcheon engraved with a crown monogram "JP", checkered walnut buttplate, and fitted with later sling mounts. The shotgun also includes a copy of the Holland & Holland stock book page number 164 noting the gun by serial number and further confirming the finish date of June 18, 1894 for a Count Potocki. The Potocki's remain a prominent family in Poland and this could account for the guns liberation from the Germans at the end of WWII. A third set of documents is also included one of which recounts the story of an American serviceman capturing weapons in 1945 in Germany, stating that a double barrel shotgun was found and mailed home to Colorado in May of 1945. The shotgun is not identified by make or number. Bore and stock measurements (R/L): chambers measured at inches; bores 9 inches from the breech proved at "12" (.729/.729) and measure at .731/.732; chokes measured at ; minimum wall thickness .020/.021; drop at comb inches; drop at heel inches; length of pull inches; cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 6 oz.

Fine. 95% of the period refurbished blue finish remains on the barrels with some areas of edge wear, traces of very light pitting under the blue, clear markings, and some small nicks and scratches. The action and locks are an attractive gray patina with shadows of original case colors, sharp engraving, slight marring on the screw heads, and traces of blue finish on the guard. The wood is also fine with well defined checkering, small chip at the left rear of the forearm, small nicks and dings throughout, and added cheekpiece. Mechanically excellent.