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The reason Holland and Hollands cost so much

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:26 am
by Vikram
Is because of this.

http://horseandcountry.opusstream.net/S ... s/noplugin

You need to enable audio to listen to the narration
Ladies and Gentlemen, never ever in my life will I ever wonder why these fine guns cost so much.They are worth every single penny/paisa spent on them.

Best-
Vikram

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:01 am
by danish21
Thanks vikram for showing us the holland & holland manufacturing unit. Its amazing.

Danish

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:31 am
by HSharief
Now I want one too. :(

Maybe some day my kids can buy me one. ;)

Re: The reason Holland and Hollands cost so much

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:24 am
by art_collector
Amazing..........video....

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:04 pm
by badshah0522
good one dude!!!
Thanks.
art_collector";p="13757 wrote: Amazing..........video....

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:44 pm
by mundaire
Nice video Vikram! :)

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:42 pm
by eljefe
waited half a day for it to open...no go :(

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:38 pm
by mundaire
eljefe";p="13783 wrote: waited half a day for it to open...no go :(
Asif, It's over 20 MB in size! It may be best to download the video first and then watch it at leisure...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Re: The reason Holland and Hollands cost so much

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:50 pm
by Grumpy
A great find Vikram - the film explains far better than I can just what goes into a bespoke gun and why they are so expensive.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:39 pm
by shahid
Truely a work of art. They are very very fine guns indeed. I had the good opportunity to visit their Harrow road factory with Mr. John Stevenson, their Chairman. I was also their host in Dubai and spend time with them on a Desert Trip when they had come here in 2001 for the hunting show.

I do have an O / U in 12 Bore on order with them, but getting it into India is the paperwork hassle that has to be worked out. But we are working on it. If not I will keep it here in the shooting club in Dubai. It is truely real jewl, with the engraving of a Mallard on one side and a grey partridge on the other. Rest is covered with Imperial scroll pattern and the side plates will have my name and the states name on it.

Another old friend from Holland and Holland, John Osborone is a director at Churchill now.

While in their London showroom they presented me with a book on H & H history called the shooting field. Guess who have been their best customers so far - Indians. Individual customer - The Nizam of Hyderabad.

First telescope made for a rifle, 1800s with a brass tube. Plenty of trivia in there.

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:49 pm
by shahid
All these gun makers are skilled craftsmen. Engraving alone may take as long as 250 hours of work depending on the pattern. While making a fine gun takes up another 250 to 300 work hours. The present cost of GBP 20,000 to 50,000 depending on the customisation is worth it. It is an investment that will give you returns.

H & H had offered me by letter last year a 30-06 rifle, which was studded with Diamonds and Sapphire. The looks did not interest me, but apparently it was sold to a private bidder for GBP 180,000.

The best Deer calibre rifle I have fired till date remains a 240 Apex double by Holland & Holland.

I have also had the good opportunity to be trained in wing shooting by two legendary Holland & Holland instructors, Mr. Ken Davies and Richard Hammond. Mr. Hammond was here in Dubai as well at our Jebel Ali shooting club in 1996 - 97.

Mrs. Hammond was a keen Tennis player and we got along very well here socially.

The Holland & Holland shooting school is superb and the Holland & Holland Pheasant & Grouse shoot at Molland was a memorable affair.

While in London, I always find time to visit their 33 Bruton Street showroom and smoke a Cigar in the Club Room. The conversation there on shooting & hunting is faboulous.

Re: The reason Holland and Hollands cost so much

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:43 pm
by mehulkamdar
Vikram,

Thanks for the video. I was rushed for time and could not thank you earlier - sorry about that.

I posted the link on the Nitro Express forums and they were widely appreciated there. Someone copied the link and posted it on the AR Gunsmithing forum and credited me - I posted to let them know that I had copied the link from here. :)

Excellent video, buddy, and thanks for posting.

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:06 am
by Vikram
Thanks everybody.Mehul, I "found" it on shotgunworld and immediately posted it here.Thanks anyway.

Best-
Vikram

Re: The reason Holland and Hollands cost so much

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:03 am
by mehulkamdar
Vikram,

I sent a note of appreciation by e-mail to the website and received a very pleasant response from them as below:

Hi Mehul,

Thanks for your kind words and interest in the channel.

Amy Hadland
Office Manager


National Agricultural Centre
Stoneleigh Park

and

From: Kate Howe Sent: 05 March 2007 14:00
To: Nick Ludlow; Budd Margolis
Subject: FW: Your site is superb

This is a nice endorsement of the work so far!
K
---
Kate Howe
Touchmedia


I have bookmarked the website among my favourites and shall be visiting them from time to time. I hope other members who enjoy the work also make their appreciation known to the people who made this beautiful film. Their other films on trap and skeet are also equally well made. Thanks, again, my friend!

Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:12 am
by Vikram
I sure will Mehul.