Holland & Holland has long built rifles for famous and influential people of note, as is to be expected of one of the top gunmakers in the world. The included Holland & Holland archive search lists the rifle as having been built in 1904 as a "DB Hammerless Rifle top lever top safety" with 26 inch barrels, .295 caliber, pistol hand stock, cheekpiece, and sling eyes for Mr. Walker. The Mr. Walker in question appears to have been Mr. Franklin Hiram Walker, a well-known and respected capitalist of the period as well as the head of Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. Distillery (Walker & Canadian Club Whisky), a company still in business to this day. The rifle has blued steel barrels with ramped blade front sight, three leaf (one standing, two folding) rear sight on the raised matted quarter rib, "HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98. NEW BOND STREET, LONDON" and "WINNERS OF ALL THE 'FIELD' RIFLE TRIALS, LONDON." marked on the right and left barrels respectively, period London nitro proofs on the flats, small import mark in front of the forend, and a single band of engraving at either breech. The desirable diminutive casehardened sidelock action displays Holland & Holland's exceptional scroll engraving surrounding "HOLLAND & HOLLAND" signatures on either lockplate as well as "ROYAL/HAMMERLESS/EJECTOR" on the underside. The scrollwork extends to the toplever, trigger guard, and both tangs, the bottom of which has the hand cut serial number. The rifle features bushed firing pins, double triggers with checkering on the front trigger, gold centerline cocking indicators, and a tang mounted automatic safety switch with gold inlaid "SAFE" marking. Beautifully figured, multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings, including the Anson button release, and pistol grip stock with teardrop carved drop points, casehardened trapdoor grip cap containing an extra set of firing pins, shadowline cheekpiece, "F.H.W." in the gold inscription oval, rear sling eye, and serrated buttplate. Also included is the original oak & leather takedown case with "F. H. WALKER,/DETROIT" marked on the lid containing an H&H trade label, a full box cartridges, and cleaning tools housed inside a larger metal case. Length of pull 14 1/2 inches. Weight 6 lbs. 8 oz. Provenance: The Wayne Connor Collection

Excellent, retaining 99% original blue and casehardened finishes with slight plum color to the barrels, a few small scratches down the sides of the barrels, very slight muzzle wear, a few small scratches in the wood, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. The case is very fine as is the ammunition box. Mechanically excellent. A fantastic small bore double rifle from Holland & Holland!