GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BOSS SIDE LEVER HAMMER EJECTOR GAME GUNS WITH CASE; LOVINGLY RESTORED WITH NEW LONDON MADE BARRELS AND EXCEPTIONAL STOCKS BY DAVID TREVALLION. PAIR BOSS 2 SXS 4089, 4090 12 GA, 12 GA Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 30" Chopper lump bbls are engraved "Boss & Co 73, St. James''s Street, London." on slightly swamped, concave game ribs. "1" and "2" are gold inlaid on engraved breech ends, as well as on tops of actions, and engraved on forend irons. Bbl flats are stamped with year 2000 London nitro proofs, and SNs are stamped on bottoms of bbls in large Boss style numbers. Guns are accompanied by bbl sets they "wore" when found; Gun "1" with newer 30" dovetailed Boss bbls no. "5307", with orig London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers (currently in proof). Gun "2" has 28" dovetailed bbls with a variety of proofs, including London nitro proofs and Birmingham re-proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. These bbls are engraved "Boss & Co" and "London" on tops, and are stamped "BOSS" either side of front lump on flats, and with small numbers "5307" on bottoms of bbls. Case hardened actions with typical Purdey bolts operated by side levers, are fitted with rebounding bar locks having round bodied, serpentine hammers with tall spurs. (Most Boss hammer guns have back locks.) This is the third pair of hammer ejector guns built by Boss, and feature Holland & Robertson type ejectors (as used until the highly regarded Boss ejector system was patented in 1897). Action and lockplates are engraved with near full coverage exceptionally well cut, medium to small scroll within geometric and small scroll borders. "Boss & Co" is on riband at front portion of each lockplate. Blued side levers and trigger guards are also scroll engraved. SNs are at grips. Wonderfully matched and exceptionally well marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks measure 15-1/8" over checkered wood butts with engraved steel heel and toe plates. Well carved drop points are behind locks. Flat top point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grips. Vacant gold ovals are on toe line. Splinter ejector forends have Anson releases. Gun no. "1" New bbls: Bore diameter: left -.726, right - .726. Bore restrictions: left - .027 (IMod), right - .011 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .033, right - .034. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 15-1/8". Gun "1" Older bbls: Bore diameter: left -.733, right - .734. Bore restrictions: left - .021 (Mod), right - .009 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .020, right - .019. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Weight: 6 lbs. 13 oz. LOP: 15-1/8". Gun no. "2" new bbls: Bore diameter: left -.726, right - .726. Bore restrictions: left - .024 (mod), right - .011 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .033, right - .034. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 15-1/8". Gun "2" Older 28" bbls: Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .729. Bore restrictions: left - .008 (IC), right - .004 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .030, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2", drop at comb: 1-3/8". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 15-1/8". Boss oak and leather case with brass corners and circular central medallion is lined in scarlet cloth, and has large paper Boss 13 Dover Street label in lid. Case has been partially fitted for these guns. Case contains a work order from Boot Hill Case Company for the refitting and restoration of this case, with notes by Harley Parlin, owner, now deceased, as well as paper templates. PROVENANCE: Barely legible copy of "build sheet" stating guns were ordered 1890 (?) and made for Lord Loughborough (?) Consignors notes concerning restoration work and craftsmen involved. Boot Hill Case Co work order. CONDITION: Excellent, as refurbished, without re-hardening actions. All bbl sets retain essentially all of a fine London blue. New bbls were made by Mick Kelly, previously with Purdeys. Older bbls were put in "top knick" at the same time. Actions and locks retain traces of orig case hardening color where protected, and are now mostly a very pleasing pewter gray. Engraving remains excellent. Other parts, side levers, trigger guards, pins, etc. have engraving picked up by ex-Purdey engraver, Barry Lee Hands, and retain essentially all of their newly applied charcoal blue. New buttstocks and forends are perfectly executed by ex-Purdey stocker, David Trevallion, with his signature "DT" stamp in trigger guard tang inletting. Stocks have only the lightest of minor handling marks, checkering still light in color. All bores are excellent. Older bbls of gun "1" have very slight striations toward breech ends. Actions are tight. All bbls are on face. (New hinge pins) Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather is dark with a number of scuffs, rubs, and marks. Straps are missing. Old handle is good. Interior cloth is very fine with some compressions and rubs. Partitions are in the process of being reworked, and are mostly intact, with smaller bits in covered compartment. A truly great pair of Boss hammer ejectors. 50237-1 MGM281 (70,000-90,000)
BOSS SXS 4090 12 MODERN W/EXTRA BBL