My Hollenbeck drilling,made in 1902,and serial number 35,is in Germany now. K & S custom made a 30-30 Winchester insert for the right shotgun barrel, a cartridge offered by Hollenbeck in 1902. The drillings rifle is .25-25 Stevens, formally a black powder cartridge and now considered obsolete. The side by side shotgun is 12guage 2 3/4 inch. My German gunsmith and friend plans to help me restore the Damascus steel shot barrels, wood and receiver ,and have it cleaned and refurbished by experienced German gunsmiths specializing in combination guns. The gunsmith will then mount my Zeiss 1.5 to 6 x 42 scope with the pivot mount. It will be returned to me for hunting deer, pigs, turkey, coyotes and other varmints . The German gunsmiths tell me the Damascus steel shot barrels and the steel of the action and rifle are very strong. . They will shoot it with modern two and three-quarter inch shot shells to prove it. I also plan to handload .25-25 Stevens with Hornady leverevolution powder. My question is, are there any old records from Hollenbeck that go back to the first days and could reveal if indeed my ancestor bought this gun new as the 35th one made,in his new factory in Wheeling, West Virginia? My German gun smith plans to submit this project to the German gun magazine,They are absolutely amazed and obsessed with the quality of the gun and the fact that it is an American drilling. I plan to submit the project for publication as well in the Double Gun Journal. After posting a new topic on this forum in April 2017 I received much helpful advice and constructive criticism,as well as some unfounded and inaccurate opinions, but all in the spirit of healthy dialogue. This new topic is more related to both searching for ancient answers from old records with Hollenback and informing others that these antique guns were made for hunting and I believe can safely and respectfully be adapted for that use and take advantage of some advances, such as excellent light weight optics and high tech,custom made rifle inserts, that are highly accurate. Thank You for encouraging me on this journey.
