Lot Essay
The rifle was completed in 1967 and presented to Malcolm Lyell as a mark of affection by the apprentices of Holland & Holland; it depicts two of the rarest and most inaccessible animals in the world, each of which is regarded as a supreme big game trophy. The Markhor lives high in the mountains of Kashmir and dwells on the most precarious rock faces; the Walia occurs only on the cliffs of Semien in Ethiopia, an area bounded by breathtaking precipices and takes as its habitat the most inaccessible and rugged cliff faces. Malcolm Lyell was privileged to take an example of each of these most prized of all wild goats, the Markhor in 1962 through the kindness of the princes Abdul Azin Ghazi and Salar Udin Ghazi of Afghanistan and the Walia in 1964 when permission was given by His Highness Prince Asserate Kassa, the governor General of Eritrea
The name of Malcolm Lyell is known to a very great number of people in the world of game shooting. Firstly, there are those who will remember him as a Director of Westley Richards & Co Ltd, and manager of their famous shop at 23 Conduit Street in London. Secondly, and probably even more widely, as Managing Director of Holland & Holland Ltd (and subsidiary companies) following the amalgamants of the two great gunmakers in June 1960. He continued in this post until 1984, and as a director of the company up until 1989. On leaving Holland & Holland in 1989 he was invited to join the board of Westley Richards & Co as a non-executive director. This afforded him particular pleasure as he had first joined Westley Richards as a young man in 1948 and retained fond memories of the firm and his time with them. As he recalls with great pleasure 'the wheel had turned full circle'.
He has often been spoken of as a man possessed of a passion for quality and elegance. As Managing Director of Holland & Holland he was well placed to give practical effect to his side of his character. In consequence, sets of guns and accessories began to appear at intervals from 1968 onwards. None of these magnificent sets was made to order but only sold on final completion.
Malcolm Lyell was not only at the centre of highest quality gunmaking throughout his business career but, in thefield, a polished performer with the finished product. A fine shot with the rifle, he secured on the King of Afghanistan's shoot near Kabul, in 1962, the least attainable of wild goats, a Markhor. The rugged terrain demanded a shot at 400 yards and the bullet flew true to aim. The horns measured 33ins., Rowland Ward set up the head, and the rifle was a Holland & Holland .224 Magnum.
The name of Malcolm Lyell is known to a very great number of people in the world of game shooting. Firstly, there are those who will remember him as a Director of Westley Richards & Co Ltd, and manager of their famous shop at 23 Conduit Street in London. Secondly, and probably even more widely, as Managing Director of Holland & Holland Ltd (and subsidiary companies) following the amalgamants of the two great gunmakers in June 1960. He continued in this post until 1984, and as a director of the company up until 1989. On leaving Holland & Holland in 1989 he was invited to join the board of Westley Richards & Co as a non-executive director. This afforded him particular pleasure as he had first joined Westley Richards as a young man in 1948 and retained fond memories of the firm and his time with them. As he recalls with great pleasure 'the wheel had turned full circle'.
He has often been spoken of as a man possessed of a passion for quality and elegance. As Managing Director of Holland & Holland he was well placed to give practical effect to his side of his character. In consequence, sets of guns and accessories began to appear at intervals from 1968 onwards. None of these magnificent sets was made to order but only sold on final completion.
Malcolm Lyell was not only at the centre of highest quality gunmaking throughout his business career but, in thefield, a polished performer with the finished product. A fine shot with the rifle, he secured on the King of Afghanistan's shoot near Kabul, in 1962, the least attainable of wild goats, a Markhor. The rugged terrain demanded a shot at 400 yards and the bullet flew true to aim. The horns measured 33ins., Rowland Ward set up the head, and the rifle was a Holland & Holland .224 Magnum.