I recently bought a 10ga double barrel Hollis and Sons shotgun from a buddy. I was wondering if anyone could give me any information about this gun. I do know it is a 10ga, double hammer, double trigger, 32" barrels, 2 7/8 chamber and damascus (hope i spelled that right) barrels. I am looking for Mfg dates, what i can and CANT shoot out of it, and any thing else anyone can tell me about this gun. It reall is a beautiful gun and in excelent condition. One side has an engraved turkey and the other side has a pair of geese with lots of fine scroll work. the only other thing is it has a brass rod about 5/8" round up through ths stock on the bottom I suspect to help w balance. Also if anyone can tell me a ballpark $ amount as to its worth i would appreciate it. Thank You in advance, Joe

You'll need to have the barrels checked for integrity before you shoot anything. Unless the gun has been "nitro proofed", you'd best stay with black powder shells as that was what that gun was probably proofed for.
I'm not familiar with Hollis and Sons, perhaps others can help you there.
Sounds like a beauty. A picture would be nice.
Pete

PS: found this link as a point of reference - http://www.gunsamerica.com/976981687/Guns-For-Sale/Gun-Auctions/Shotguns/Double-Shotguns/English/I_HOLLIS_SONS_10_BORE_SxS_SPORTING_GU.htm

Like pete said, get it checked by a gunsmith befor you shoot it. I have an old S x S 12 guage made in Belgium and was told that if it has Damascus barrels it could explode when used with moden day loads. As for the price of it, there's a web site over here ( australia ) with a couple for sale on it.

www.usedguns.com.au

Have a look there and go to the shotgun part. Think there are about 4 or 5 listed. Hope this helps.

I have plenty of information on Isaac Hollis. If you can give me the exact details of the legend on the top rib, especially the address as they moved a number of times and had subtle name changs through the years, I should be able to narrow down the date of manufacture. Details of the proof marks would also be most helpful. They made guns under their own name and were also associated with Westley richards making guns for them also. I have a double 12 by Isaac Hollis in the gun cabinet that is identical to a Westley Richards 'Gold Name' model except that the name is Isaac Hollis and not in gold. Mainly pretty good guns and if yours is in good shooting condition it should command a good price. Difficult to value unseen and prices in England are often much lower than the same gun would fetch in the U.S. Pictures are always helpful; especially those of the proof marks on the barrels. Let me know what you have and I will try to add a little more. Lagopus.....

I am not able to get pictures of the gun but I do have have some other information. The rib on the top of the barrel reads I. Hollis & Sons Fine Damascus Steel London . The Left barrel, the top rib and the tang all have a "J" stamped in them and the Serial # on the bottom of the barrels., aThe left and right lock plates have I. Hollis and Sons engraved in them and only the right ond has the same "J" stamped in it. The bottom rib between the barrels has an H M snd a large L stamped in it and the bottom of both barrels have the #11 satmped on them and also have what seems to be two "hammers" of some kind crossed with dots in diamond pattern around them. Hope this helps and thank you for your time everyone. This really is a neat gun and I would like to tell stories about it.

The crossed 'hammers' sound like the crossed sceptre mark which is part of the proof mark; the 'dots' you refere to should be small letters and a number, you will need a magnifying glass to read them, these will give a code that can be used to work out the date that it went through the proof house. Some of the letters will just be the initials of the persons who worked on the gun at various stages. This may be the only clue as to date in the absence of an address on the rib. They changed to Hollis, Bently & Playfair around 1934 so your gun will pre-date this. Specific details of proof marks may also narrow it down a little. Lagopus.....