Product Details
FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF THE 6TH DUKE OF PORTLAND, K.G., G.C.V.O.
HOLLAND & HOLLAND
A FINE .240 MAGNUM FLANGED 'ROYAL' SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE, serial no. 31031,
25in. nitro chopperlump barrels with matt sight rib, open sights and folding leaf sight for 50, 200 and 350 yards, ramp-mounted bead foresight (missing cover), rib engraved '.240 BORE', the tubes engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 98, NEW BOND STREET, LONDON.', the breech end mounted with a Carl Zeiss (Jena) Zielvier telescopic sight in quickly-detachable mounts, the mounts engraved 'HOLLAND & HOLLAND. 31031.', treble-grip action with removable striker discs, side-bolsters, bolted automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, rolled-edge triggerguard, best bold Royal scroll engraving, the underside engraved 'ROYAL EJECTOR' in a cartouche, retaining very slight traces of original colour-hardening, 14 5/8in. highly-figured replacement pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, scroll-engraved steel pistolgrip-cap (with trap), gold escutcheon bearing the letter 'P' surmounted by a Ducal crown, weight 9lb. 11oz.
Provenance: William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland, was born December 1857 to Lieutenant-General Arthur Cavendish-Bentinck and his first wife, Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed. He was educated at Eton and looked set to follow his father into a lifetime of military service. He served with several regiments including the Coldstream Guards but is probably best remembered, outside public life at least, as a keen sportsman and author.
He succeeded to the family title when his cousin, the 5th Duke died without an heir. The title came with the family estates surrounding Welbeck Abbey in Nottinghamshire but he also owned the large sporting estates of Langwell and Braemar in Scotland. In was here that he indulged his love of country pursuits which resulted in him writing the book "Fifty years and more of sport in Scotland: deerstalking, salmon fishing, grouse shooting and other pleasant memories", published by Faber & Faber in 1933.
The Duke held several public offices and at the coronation of George VI, he carried Queen Elizabeth's crown, whose mother was his cousin.
Portland was also heavily involved with horse racing (he was chairman of the First Royal Commission on Horsebreeding). He had inherited the stud farm near Clumber Park and owned a number of winners including St. Simon (Ascot Gold Cup 1884) and Donovan (The Derby 1888 and 1889). This led to his book "Memories of Racing and Hunting" published in 1935.
Portland held a number of honours including Lord Lieutenant of both Caithness and Nottinghamshire, President of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter and he was also an appointed Trustee of the British Museum. He died in April 1943 when the title passed to his only son, William Arthur Henry who became the 7th Duke.
Other Notes: The rifle is accompanied by two boxes of fired and unprimed vintage Kynoch .240 ammunition that belonged to the Duke.
Estimate £20,000-25,000
S1