Holland & Holland "Twelve-Two" Cartridge

A distinctive Holland & Holland “Twelve-Two” 12-bore cartridge, intended specifically for lightweight sporting guns chambered for the unusually short 2-inch cartridge case.

The Twelve-Two concept became associated with Holland & Holland during the early 1930s, when the firm offered exceptionally lightweight 12-bore sporting guns specifically chambered for the 2-inch cartridge. These elegant guns could weigh around 5½ lbs, providing the fast handling and lightness normally associated with a smaller-bore gun while retaining the full 12-bore diameter.

The short 2-inch cartridge formed an important part of the concept. Loaded with a comparatively modest shot charge, it was particularly suited to the lightweight game guns for which it was intended.

Holland & Holland offered the Twelve-Two across several grades of gun, including the prestigious Royal, and surviving examples from the mid-1930s demonstrate the close association between the cartridge and this fascinating period of British gunmaking.

Today, an original Holland & Holland “Twelve-Two” cartridge is an appealing survivor from the golden age of the lightweight English game gun and an unusual addition to a collection of London gunmaker and proprietary sporting cartridges.

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