Hollis Shotgun

[toro1]

I was visiting a friend last night and he said he had some old guns his dad gave him many years ago and he was wondering what they were. Some were easy to ID, but 2 ogf them were outside my limited knowledge. Here are some pics of the first one and I will start a second thread with pics of the other one. According to some notes with this one, it is a 12g muzzleloader shotgun. The notes also said it was proofed in 1953, but from what I have found Hollis only made shotguns between 1850 and 1860. Does anyone have any info on a possible manufacturing date and a ball park value? He is not planning on selling but was curious as to its history and value.

[TRAP55]

My uncle had one just like that. His grandfather came across the plains in a wagon train with it. He was trying to load it under attack from some Indians, and still had the wooden ramrod in the barrel when a brave charged him. So he shot the ramrod through him! The ramrod still has the bloodstain. I read the hand written account in the family bible, and if I remember right, it was dated in the late 1860's.
Look it over real good for a date stamp, I know his later cartridge guns had them. It will be a two digit year, a /, then a month date, like this; 63/4

Here's some history I found on Isaac Hollis:
Isaac Hollis & Sons claimed establishment from 1814, i.e from Richard & William at Bath Street in Birmingham England, but their immediate predecessor was the firm of Hollis & Sheath (see Hollis & Sheath 1849-1861).
Isaac Hollis & Sons became volume producers of military guns and inexpensive trade guns, but they also made quality sporting guns for the South African (e.g. A Cloag of Port Elizabeth) and Indian markets, the Australian and New Zealand markets, and the home market (e.g. Crockart of Blairgowrie).

In 1861 Isaac Hollis, by now at least 66 years old, appears to have been trading from 5-11 Weaman Row, Lench Street. He patented a trigger guard (No. 1082) and he patented another in 1868 (No. 4922) when he was over 73. It is not known when he died.

In 1870, presumably under the control of the sons, the firm opened a shop at 44a Cannon Street in London; in 1871 this moved to 83 Cheapside.

In 1876/1877 the firm became a limited liability company, Isaac Hollis & Sons Ltd, but by 1879 they were trading again as Isaac Hollis & Sons (which suggests short term financial difficulties).

From 1884 the London office was at 6 Great Winchester Street. From 1892 to 1899 the office was recorded at 26 Billiter Buildings, if the principal London offices were not at this address, 6 Great Winchester Street may have been wholesale offices.

It would appear that in 1899 the offices were moved to 101 Leadenhall Street. In 1903 they moved to 9 New Broad Street.

In about 1911 the firm formed a joint venture of some kind with Bentley & Playfair (see Hollis, Bentley & Playfair). The Birmingham factory seems to have been at 91-92 Lower Loveday Street at this time, but in about 1915 further factory space was taken at 16-17 Loveday Street.

By 1920, Bentley & Playfair appear to left the firm which traded as "Hollis, Bentley & Playfair (I Hollis & Sons)" from 54 Clerkenwell Road.

From 1931 to 1933 the firm traded as I Hollis & Sons from 54 Clerkenwell Road, and as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair from 84 Goswell Road. From 1933 they traded under both names but only from 84 Goswell Road.

From 1935 the firm traded as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair, the factory at 16-17 Loveday Street closed whilst the factory at 91 and 92 Lower Loveday Street continued to operate.

From 1938 to 1943 they traded only as Hollis, Bentley & Playfair but in 1943 closed their London offices.

The firm appears to have closed in 1955.

[toro1]

Trap, Thanks for the history. It sounds like Hollis was around in some form for a long time. Also, great story about your grandfather.
Thanks for the date information.
Next time I am at his house I'll look for a date on it, and now I'll have to check the ramrod for a blood stain