doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Another H & H Question

While I've seen many Holland & Holland Royals and Dominions (admittedly more in photo form) I wonder if anyone out there owns or has ever seen an H & H Climax? It's a cool gun, certainly more attractive than many Dominions, but one doesn't see or hear much about them.

I almost bought one from Jack Dudley back in the La Becasse days (second location). Once in awhile over the years I' ve had a twinge of regret over letting that one get away.

As an aside, I recently did business with Mr Dudley again when I purchased my Chance 14 bore. Still a wonderful, true gentleman to do business with. I bought 2 beauties from the first location and one from the second.....The prices on his stuff were always perfectly appropriate for the gun and its condition. Not a "gouger" ever.

Krakow...where is Jack these days???...Cabelas?????
I loved visiting his shop ,Vermont wasn't it, seems such a long time ago that I forget
cheers
Franc

Yeah, both locations were in Manchester, Vermont.

He's managing the Cabela's gun library in Scarborough Maine these days. it was great to talk to him again.

The H&H Climax was essentially a modified Scott "Crystal Cocking Indicator ". It is my under standing ,from the unofficial history of Webley & Scott, that Hollands bought the tooling and rights to the gun from Scotts. They changed the cocking rod from pull to push and did away with the window.

If you compare this gun to a Dominion you can see a direct line of descent. Again the cocking changes to "levers" rather than rods and the Holland/Southgate ejectors added.

It is a long time since I handled one,I sleeved it, but most of the ones in the UK that I have seen are pretty well shot out and are mainly collectors items , although I have no doubt some one will tell me otherwise.

Thanks, gunman - That's why I get those twinges of regret now and then from letting it slip through my fingers. It was in really nice condition, and though a little steep for me at the time (but not REALLY, you know?), I really should have bought it.

That was the great thing about dealing with Jack. He was(is) a completely honest gentleman, would take the time to talk all you wanted about a gun you were interested in, and sell it at a fair price.

To tell you the truth, I see Royals and Dominions these days that have NO aesthetic appeal and ARE shot to hell, but still carry a hefty price tag. That Climax would put them to shame, truth be told.

What happened to LaBecasse guns?

I've always assumed the H&H Climax action was a variant of Scott's "Triplex" action. The "Triplex" was used on many gunmakers' guns including my 1886 Reilly 16 bore (shown with Diggory's hand) (there is a Scott patent use number on the gun but otherwise no Scott markings).



Holland and Holland advertised the "Triplex Action" it in the early 1880's:
Holland & Holland 1882 ad for Scott “Triplex Action.” 14 February 1882, “The Sportsman”


Gunman explained what the "Climax"action was all about and how H&H modified. Here is a 16 ga H&H Climax action which to my uneducated eyes sure looks similar to the "Triplex" right down to the crystal cocking Indicator.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...d-16-ga-climax-safety-hammerless-shotgun

I have a Scott it is a very well made gun .the fit and finish on the inside is as good to as any gun I have seen.it is 1880s

If you take the chronological order you can trace the development to the gun we know as the H&H Dominion .From pull rod cocking to push rod cocking . Then to more convectional cocking dogs/limbs/ lifters ( take your choice of term)

I thought I read somewhere that the Climax was an example of badge engineering and was mostly/entirely made by W&C Scott, but I can't remember which book. Will go searching...