GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
TRULY SUPERB, AS FOUND, HIGH ORIGINAL CONDITION, LIGHTWEIGHT PAIR OF 16 GAUGE "GOLDEN AGE" BOSS SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE TRIGGER LIGHT GAME SHOTGUNS MADE FOR MRS. DODGE SLOAN, HEIRESS, SOCIALITE, SPORTS WOMAN, AND OWNER OF A MAJOR HORSE RACING STABLE, WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. BOSS SXS DBL 7529 16 MODERN; C&R (ca 1928) Cal. 16 ga. 2-9/16" Chambers. 28" Chopper lump bbls engraved "Boss & Co Dover Street, Piccadilly, London. England" on narrow swamped game rib. Gun built as part of a true pair, with the number "1" gold inlaid on rear portion of rib, top lever, and forend tip. Bbl flats stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers. SN are on bottom of bbls. Nicely scaled down case hardened sidelock action stocked to the fence and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed striker, gold band tumbler end cocking indicator, and very unusual (for this time period), double triggers. Action is engraved in classic Boss house style wonderfully cut scroll and 19 rose bouquets, and is undoubtedly the work of noted engraver, Jack Sumner. "Boss & Co" is on the front of lockplate. Blued single beaded trigger guard has more rose and scroll on bow, and SN on tang. Well matched nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14" over checkered wood butt. Classic point pattern checkering with mullered borders, is at grip. Stock also features nicely shaped and attenuated drop points. Gold oval engraved "I. D. S." are on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release, and is fitted with Boss' excellent ejector system. Bore diameter: left -.661, right - .660. Bore restrictions: left - .011 (mod), right - .005 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .032, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-9/16". Cast about 5/8" off. Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, original as found. Bbls retain over 95% orig blue, silvered at muzzle and around breech end, along with some high edge wear on rib, and a few scattered marks. Bbl flats and breech ends of bbls retain nearly all of their orig polish. Action retains 80 - 90% of orig case hardening color, silvered on fence and bead, thinning somewhat on bottom from normal hand wear. Lockplate retains nearly all of its orig color, tail of plate shows a bit of thinning. Top lever and trigger guard are silvered on high points. Stock retains nearly all of its orig hand rubbed oil finish with a few nicks and dings. Checkering shows light wear, and is a bit dirty, with a 1/2" x 1/4" dent on right rear of the forend. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbl is on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. 52251-4 MGM44 (35,000-55,000) W/CASE
BOSS SXS DBL 7530 16 MODERN (ca 1928) Cal. 16 ga. 2-9/16" Chambers. 28" Chopper lump bbls are engraved "Boss & Co Dover Street, Piccadilly, London. England" on narrow swamped game rib. Gun built as part of a true pair, with the number "2" gold inlaid on rear portion of rib, top lever, and forend tip. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers. SN on bottom of bbls. Nicely scaled down case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fence and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), bushed striker, gold band tumbler end cocking indicator, and very unusual (for this time period), double triggers. Action engraved in classic Boss house style wonderfully cut scroll and 19 rose bouquets, and is undoubtedly the work of noted engraver, Jack Sumner. "Boss & Co" is on the front of lockplate. Blued single beaded trigger guard has more rose and scroll on bow, and SN on tang. Well matched nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14" over checkered wood butt. Classic point pattern checkering with mullered borders, is at grip. Stock also features nicely shaped and attenuated drop points. Gold oval engraved "I. D. S." is on toe line. Matching splinter forend has Anson release, and is fitted with Boss' excellent ejector system. Bore diameter: left -.-.661, right - .661. Bore restrictions: left - .012 (mod), right - .008 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .031, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-3/8", drop at comb: 1-9/16". Cast off 5/8". Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz. Orig makers oak and leather two gun case with brass corners, has central darker leather shaped rectangle embossed "Mrs. DODGE SLOAN" "LOCUST VALLEY" "LONG ISLAND, N.Y." Case has its orig leather trimmed canvas cover with storage pouch in top, containing leather and canvas scabbard type gun slip cases. Central medallion on cover and ends of scabbards are embossed "I. D. S." Interior of case is lined in burgundy cloth and has large Boss Dover Street card label in lid, Dover Street address has been lined out and over-stamped with later Albermarle Street address in red. Small instruction label relates to ejectors. Case is partitioned for both guns and contains 2-pc rosewood and brass cleaning rod with short handle, 2 pairs of snap caps marked "Watson Brothers", Boss marked square oil bottle, pull through field cleaning kit in black morocco wallet, two brown leather wallets marked "1" and "2" containing spare strikers, as well as an assortment of cleaning mops, brushes, jags, turks head and tow. PROVENANCE: Wikipedia info on Mrs. Dodge Sloan(e). CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, original as found. Bbl retains over 95% orig blue, silvered at muzzle and around breech end, along with some high edge wear on rib, and a few scattered marks. A bit more hand wear shows toward breech end. Bbl flats and breech end of bbl retain nearly all of their orig polish. There is some light staining on breech end. Action retains 80 - 90% of orig case hardening color, silvered on fence and bead, thinning somewhat on bottom from normal hand wear. Lockplate retains nearly all orig color. Top lever and trigger guard are silvered on high points. Stock retains nearly all orig hand rubbed oil finish with a few nicks and dings, most noticeably on left side of butt. Checkering shows light wear, and is a bit dirty. Bores are excellent with some scattered very light pits in right bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Case leather remains light in color, with some slight compressions and rubs on edges. Outer cover is quite dirty, rubbed. All straps appear intact. Carrying scabbards are fine with some minor scuffs. Interior cloth is very good to fine, with a number of marks, rubs, and soiling from contact with guns and bbls, a few areas are rubbed through. Partitions are solid, accessories are fine. An exemplary pair of small bore Bosses, fresh to the market. 52251-5 MGM44 (17,500-27,500)