GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
CASED PAIR OF BOSS LEFT SIDE LEVER SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME SHOTGUNS. BOSS SXS BEST SIDELOCK 4086/4234 12GA (1890 and 1892) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2" Chambers (4086 plug gauge stops 1/32" shy of 2-3/4"). 30" Dovetailed Damascus bbls (4086) and later dovetailed steel bbls (4234) have "Boss & Co 73 St. James's Street. London." on slightly swamped game ribs. Rear portions are gold inlaid "1" and "2". (Although guns are a couple hundred numbers apart, Boss records indicate gun "4234" was made in 1892 to pair with "4086".) These numbers are also in gold on tops of actions, but not marked on forends. Bbl flats of Damascus bbls are stamped with 1989 London re-proofs for 2-1/2" chambers at 736. Steel bbls are stamped with what appear to be spurious London proofs. Square back sidelock actions with side levers mounted on left sides feature automatic safeties (SAFE inlaid in gold), and dbl triggers. Actions are engraved with Boss house style rose and scroll, and even at this early date, were most likely executed by the Sumner family. Sides of actions are engraved "BOSS'S PATENT EJECTOR", and "BOSS & CO" is in scrolled riband at the front of each lockplate. Trigger guards with open scroll surrounding perched pigeons on bows, have SNs are on tangs. Superbly matched, spectacular marbled and flame figured European walnut straight grip newly made buttstocks measure 14-3/4" over checkered wood butts with horn heel and toe plates. Stocks are classically styled with drop points, point pattern checkering on diamond hands, and vacant gold ovals on toe lines. Matching short splinter ejector forends have forward pivoting lever releases. Ejectors are of early Boss pattern with plunger housings on irons. Gun 4086: Bore diameter: left -.737, right - .736. Bore restrictions: left - .022 (mod), right - .010 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .018, right - .020. Drop at heel: 2-7/16", drop at comb: 1-3/8". Neutral cast. Weight: 6 lbs. 9 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Gun 4234: Bore diameter: left -.731, right - .730. Bore restrictions: left - .026 (Imod), right - .007 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .031, right - .032. Drop at heel: 2-1/2", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Neutral cast. Weight: 6 lbs. 13 oz. LOP: 14-3/4". Guns are housed in a period Boss two gun leather case, possibly orig, with large Boss paper St. James's Street label in lid. Case is lined in scarlet cloth. CONDITION: Very fine as refurbished. Bbls retain nearly all of their London quality finishes. Damascus has good definition to pattern. Newer steel bbls, have nearly all their orig finish. Actions and locks retain a considerable amount, perhaps as much as 40%, orig case hardening color, with some areas of brown staining. High quality newly made stocks retain essentially all of their orig hand rubbed oil finish, with a few slight subsequent marks. Bores are very fine to excellent. Actions are tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is fine, still relatively light in color. Interior cloth is fine, soiled and rubbed. Label is foxed with two rubs through. 52620-1 MGM398 (17,500-27,500)