Hollis & Sheath Howdah Pistol-Carbine (AH6440)

Hollis & Sheath operated as gunmakers in Birmingham from 1849 through 1861. The well-known firm, Isaac Hollis & Sons was the successor. The overall length of this Howdah percussion pistol carbine is approx. 21.5". The 4.7" over-under round with flat top and ribbed bottom 70 caliber smooth bore barrels have fine bores. The barrels have London proof marks. All the metal has a smooth brown patina. There is a small bead front sight and a fixed notch rear sight. The top of the action is marked in HOLLIS & SHEATH on the right and LONDON on the left. The action, hammers, barrel tang, trigger guard, butt plate tang, and grip cap feature fine scroll engraving. There is a captured ramrod. The stock is finely checkered at the pistol grip, has a couple of small chips at the lower tang intersection with the pistol grips, and has light usage wear. The grip cap has a primer compartment. The action, including the sliding half cock safeties, functions correctly. The large bore Howdah pistol was the last resort weapon of tiger hunters in India. When an enraged tiger was climbing the elephant's back to get to the howdah (the basket on the back of the elephant carrying the hunter), the Howdah pistol, or, in this pistol-carbine, gave the hunter two final shots to stop the tiger. While Howdah pistols are infrequently seen, Howdah pistol-carbines are rarely seen. This is a fine example by a well-known maker.