GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE TRUE PAIR OF BEAUTIFULLY RECONDITIONED EARLY ROBERTSON ERA BOSS SIDELEVER SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME SHOTGUNS WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND HIGH QUALITY NEW MOTOR CASE. BOSS SXS SIDELEVER 4257/4258 12ga (ca 1893) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. 30" Bbls are engraved "Boss & Co 13/14 Cork Street, London. W. L." on flat, game ribs. "1" and "2" are inlaid in gold on rear portions of ribs, tops of actions, and forend tips, denoting a true pair. Bbls of "1" are of chopper lump construction, with bbl flats stamped with 2009 London nitro proofs. Bottom of right bbl is engraved "Barrels By A G & L" (Atkin, Grant, and Lang). Consignor states that the "1" barrels were made by Bill Blacker. Bbls of "2" are dovetailed and stamped with 2009 London nitro re-proofs for 2-3/4" chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs. Bottom of rear lump stamped with Boss's bbl number "9302" (ca 1960), indicating that Boss made this set of barrels. Case hardened sidelock actions feature side lever opening with blued levers on right sides, automatic safeties (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, and dbl triggers. Actions and lockplates are engraved with near full coverage superbly cut small shaded scroll with 18 rose bouquets in Boss house style, as executed by noted engraver, Jack Sumner. Sides of actions are engraved "BOSS'S PATENT EJECTOR" and "BOSS & CO" is in scrolled riband on each lockplate. Blued trigger guards are also scroll engraved with SNs in semi-relief on tangs. Very well matched nicely marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstocks measure 14-3/4" over checkered wood butts, and feature standard drop points, point pattern checkering on full rounded grips, and gold ovals on toe lines engraved "RLR". Matching splinter Boss ejector forends have Anson releases. Consignor states that the stocks and forends of both guns were made by Stephane Dupille, one of the leading stockers in the UK. Gun No "1": Bore diameter: left -.727, right - .726. Bore restrictions: left - .031 (full), right - .021 (mod). Wall thickness: left - .028, right - .029. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast slightly off. Weight: 7 lbs. 1 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Gun no. "2": Bore diameter: left -.731, right - .728. Bore restrictions: left - .014 (mod), right - .011 (lt mod). Wall thickness: left - .024, right - .028. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Cast slightly off. Weight: 6 lbs. 14 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Guns are housed in what appears to be their orig leather two-gun case lined in scarlet cloth, with large paper Boss 73 St. James's Street label in lid. Also included is a high quality dark brown leather two-gun motor case with stitched leather corners which has brown canvas leather trimmed outer cover embossed "R L R" on leather label. Interior is lined in light burgundy cloth with small Boss paper label in lid, and contains some cleaning equipment. The initials "JR" are on the actions of both guns (photos available) which indicates that John Robertson, the owner and guiding force behind Boss, was the actioner on this pair of guns. CONDITION: Fine, as completely refurbished, most likely by Atkin, Grant, & Lang, with bbls of gun "1" replaced, but utilizing orig ribs, retain essentially all of their orig blue. Bbls of gun "2" have a matching high quality re-blue. Actions retain 20 - 30% orig case hardening color where protected, cleaned and silvered on bottoms. Lockplates of both guns retain most of their orig color. All engraving remains sharp and clear. New factory quality stocks retain nearly all of their orig finish with a few light handling marks. All bores are excellent. Actions are tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are strong. Old case leather has considerable staining, marks, and rubs. New straps and handle are good. New case is excellent in all respects. A lovely pair of top quality sidelever guns ready for another century of enjoyment. 52186-3 MGM267 (30,000-45,000) W/2 CASES