Hollenbeck Gun Co. Three Barrel 16 GA/.25-35 Shotgun/Rifle Drilling, C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,469.00

WOA#: WY240611RD066

Make: Hollenbeck Gun Co.

Model: Grade 1 Three Barrel Gun

Serial Number: 419

Year of Manufacture: 1901-1905

Gauge: 16 Gauge, 2 9/16” Shells over .25-35 Winchester

Action Type: Top-Break Shotgun/Rifle Combination Gun (Drilling)

Markings: The top of the right barrel is marked “HOLLENBECK GUN CO.”, the top of the right “WHEELING W. VA.” and the top of the rib “DAMASCUS STEEL”. The serial number “419” is marked on the barrel flat, forend iron, guard, and shoulder of the receiver. The opposite shoulder has patent dates. The receiver has decorative scroll and border engraving.

Barrel Length: 28″

Choke: Modified, Fixed

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a white beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the rib. The rear sight is a six-position “U”-notch, adjustable for elevation in a base screwed to the rear of the rib. The sight is adjusted by hand, up and down, stoping at one of the six-positions.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with splinter forend, pistol grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Hollenbeck buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a few more notable dings. The wood shows handling wear and discoloration. There are a few tiny cracks and losses around the edges. The checkering is generally well defined. The LOP measures 14 1/4″ and 13 3/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has moderate wear with fairly well defined lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case Color & Browned Damascus

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The shotgun bores are mostly bright (possibly honed) with infrequent minor erosion. There are a few small, shallow dents, barely visible in the bores and the right bore has some “ripples” which may be from previously pressed-out dents. The rifle bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the rifle bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This gun retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The shotgun barrels retain generally strong damascus patterning with some scattered light wear and some areas going to a light patina, blending well with the original browned finish. The rifle barrel’s finish has mostly gone to a light patina. The receiver’s case color has mostly muted, a little remains in well protected areas. The guard has a little blue finish remaining along the bottom, but most has gone to a light patina. There are some light nicks, scratches and scuffs. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Good condition (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The selector for the rifle barrel is a lever in front of the trigger guard. During our function check, we found that the front trigger will fire the rifle barrel when the safety is engaged. If the safety is not engaged and both the rifle and shotgun barrels are cocked, the trigger acts as a progressive trigger, firing first the rifle and then the right shotgun barrel when pulled slightly further. It is not clear if this is correct, the other examples we have examined functioned the same. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.   

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None. 

Our Assessment: Frank Hollenbeck certainly got around the American shotgun making scene in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He worked with L.C. Smith and Baker, founded his own company Syracuse Arms Company in 1893 and would go on to establish the Hollenbeck Gun Co. in 1901 in Wheeling, West Virginia. The quality of the guns made was quite high, but so was the price. Demand was low and Hollenbeck eventually would leave the company which would have its assets sold and reorganized into the Three Barrel Gun Co., which went through the same process, becoming the Royal Gun Co., with the entire enterprise eventually closing in 1910. Over the course of these 10 years some 2,000 guns had been made, mostly drillings, a rarity for American gunmaking. A much smaller portion of production was double barrel guns with even fewer single barrel trap guns.

This example is a Grade 0 Three Barrel Gun chambered for 16 gauge shotgun shells over a .25-35 Winchester rifle barrel. The gun shows wear consistent with its age. The shotgun bores may have been honed as they are brighter than the rifled bore, and the gun has an odd mechanical quirk in which both the rifle barrel and the right shotgun barrel will fire if the rifle barrel is selected while the safety is disengaged. It is not clear if this is a result of the original design or if there is a part of the sear assembly which has worn or broken. This is a neat vintage drilling made by one of America’s very few three-barrel gunmakers, an interesting addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud

Hollenbeck Gun Co. Three Barrel 16 GA/.25-35 Shotgun/Rifle Drilling, C&R
Hollenbeck Gun Co. Three Barrel 16 GA/.25-35 Shotgun/Rifle Drilling, C&R