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THE 1968 SET OF FIVE

HISTORY

The Holland & Holland "1968 Set of Five" was most likely the first of its kind in the history of fine sporting guns. In the words of Malcolm Lyell, Managing Director of Holland & Holland at the time, and by many considered the savior of London gunmaking after World War II, it was: "The greatest feat of gunmaking ever performed." This statement, while certainly not immodest, was based on the fact that Geoffrey Brooks, the Factory Manager at the time and responsible for making the guns, had absolutely no precedent to go by, when he received the memo outlining the idea for the set from Malcolm, just before Christmas 1965.

"The man has written a mad idea" was his public comment on the factory floor at the time. However, Brooks worked diligently over Christmas and New Year, developing a plan to build the five guns, completely matching, yet each with graduated actions and parts to a size meeting the calibre. It may indeed have been the most difficult manufacturing process of a set of guns ever to have left the Holland & Holland factory. .

In the summer of 1966, Mr. Earle K. Angstadt Jr., President of the famous New York sporting retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, got word of the set of five, while on a visit to London. He immediately stuck a deal with Malcolm Lyell, giving Abercrombie & Fitch first refusal option on the guns, although both men still did not know what the final price would be, or as Malcolm put it, when asked the question by Angstadt: "We have not the faintest idea."

Making the guns proved as much a challenge as Brooks had anticipated. While all stock measurements are equal, the actions, trigger guards, and all other parts had to be scaled down or up, as the case might be. Brooks worked from the 20 bore calibre as the standard, from which he graduated each part and design up or down. Finding five matching stock blanks was another hurdle. In the 1960's highly figured walnut stocks were not yet as much in demand as today, and subsequently the supply was very limited, especially of the high quality that this set required.

While the guns have the traditional Royal scroll engraving pattern, each gun is adorned by a gold inlaid game bird, relating to the gauge of the gun in question. The 12 has a Mallard in flight, the 16 a Pheasant, the 20 a Bobwhite Quail together with the 28 showing a Morning Dove, underlining the international character of the set of guns, while the .410 shows a woodcock on the action. Although not signed as such, these gold inlays were done by the now famous American engraver Lynton McKenzie.

Mr. Algernon Asprey, Managing Director of Asprey's Ltd. the venerable London jewelry and luxury goods firm, was approached to design and have manufactured a cabinet worthy of the guns. The end product is made of Brazilian rosewood lined with the finest Scottish leather. Superb made tools in Ebony, Ivory and silver are French Fitted in a drawer to complete this unique work of top quality artistry.

When the set was finished and a price established, it was shipped to Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City. Earle Angstadt went all out and threw a party at the seventh floor gun room, inviting what he considered "the 50 wealthiest shooting men in the United States." Malcolm invited an additional ten friends, some of whom certainly did not meet Earle's qualification, but who definitely knew their guns. From the gun room the party moved to a dinner at the 21 Club on 53rd Street, where the cabinet with the set was prominently displayed. Mr. Angstadt proceeded to put three pieces of paper with the names inscribed of those patrons who had expressed a wish to buy the set at the indicated price, and proceeded to draw the name of a lady, who bought the guns as a Christmas present for her husband.

The guns are now offered for sale by the direct descendants of this lucky owner, exactly 40 Christmases later. Still in their new and unused pristine condition, it will be difficult to display them these days in a Manhattan Restaurant, and the gun room staff can only dream of selling guns by drawing a name from a hat, yet they would still make a superb present for any gun loving husband. For those whose wives do not consider guns worthy as loving gifts, you may wish to purchase them yourself as they would make a splendid and lasting addition to any gentleman's room or gun collection.

SPECIFICATIONS

of the 1968 Set of Five single trigger Holland & Holland "Royal" self-opening guns. The colour hardened actions have "Royal" deep scroll engraving, and carved fences. Each trigger guard is inlaid in gold with the gauge and the guns are numbered 1 to 5 in gold in the levers. The lock and ejector work, as well as the triggers, are gilded. The stocks, which are of the finest French walnut, have straight hand grips and chequered butts

Price: P.O.A.

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Please contact us at 212-752-7755 for more information on this unique opportunity to own a piece of gunmaking history .

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