Manufactured in circa 1889, ‘The Ross’ (almost certainly named after famed game shot Captain Horatio Ross) used Henry Holland’s 1882 patent for a toplever cocking rook rifle action and was the first of Holland & Holland’s sleek hammerless rook rifles. It was available in .295/.300 caliber and the larger .360 No.5 caliber which was recommended in Holland’s 1887 catalogue “… for use in India and abroad, especially if small deer, etc, are likely to be met with”. With blued octagonal barrel with full length matted top flat, signed “HOLLAND & HOLLAND, 98. NEW BOND ST. LONDON. .360 BORE” and “WINNERS OF ALL THE ‘FIELD’ RIFLE TRIALS. PATENT NO. 1294”, with non-selective ejector, and fitted with a bead front sight and rear sight of one standing notch sight and two folding leaves graduated to “150” yards and each with platinum inlaid center line. Casehardened border and scroll engraved rounded action with blued toplever and safety catch to the right side. Trigger guard, buttplate and casehardened pistol grip cap each engraved en suite. Well figured walnut semi-pistol grip stock with checkered grip and snap forearm, the latter with horn cap. The underside of the barrel struck with London black powder proof marks. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Fine. The barrel retains 97% reblued finish with crisp signatures and matting to the top flat, some slight handling wear to the finish on the edges. Action with crisp engraving and retains 50% original faded casehardened finish with some handling wear. Stock showing a good figured pattern with well-defined checkering, some scattered age related storage and handling blemishes and marks. Mechanically excellent.