October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
(1930) 30" chopper lump barrels are engraved "Boss & Co. 13, Dover Street, Piccadilly, London. W" and "Made in England" on narrow, slightly swamped game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 1 oz shot and 2 - 3/4" chambers. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with serial numbers and Whitworth sheaf of wheat trademarks. Small sized case hardened sidelock action features automatic safety, bushed strikers, gold line tumbler end cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action is engraved in Boss house style rose and scroll with 16 rose bouquets, the trademark of Jack Sumner, noted engraver of London's best. This small scroll is very nicely cut and shaded and the bouquets are well detailed. "Boss & Co" is on each lockplate. Single beaded trigger guard with more scroll on bow has serial number in semi-relief on tang which extends to horn grip cap. Pistol grip buttstock of finely marbled and stump figured European walnut measures 15 - 1/8" over checkered wood butt. Stock features typical drop points, point pattern checkering at grip, and a silver oval on toe line engraved "D. W. D". Matching splinter Boss ejector forend has Anson release. The Boss ejector system is characterized by its lifting of unfired shells about 1/2" out of chambers. Gun is housed in leather VC case with stitched leather corners embossed "D. W. D." on top. Interior is lined in burgundy cloth. It has small Boss paper label in lid with Dover Street address lined out and Albemarle Street stamped in. An instruction label for ejectors is also in lid. Case contains two piece brass and walnut cleaning rod, a square oil bottle marked Boss & Co, and a leather wallet inscribed with this guns serial number for spare strikers (missing). CONDITION: Fine, as partially refinished. Barrels retain nearly all of a "best" re-black with a few scattered light marks, engraving picked up. Action retains 20 - 30% case hardening color where protected. Lockplates retain perhaps as much as 50%, balance faded to brownish gray, somewhat obscured by lacquer. Top lever retains about 30% original blue. Trigger guard is almost all browning gray. Stocks retain nearly all of a well done oil refinish, with very little sanding, edges remain sharp, checkering cleaned up. Bores are excellent. Action has a hint of looseness. Barrels are almost down on flats. Ejectors are strong but slightly out of time. Case leather is still light in color, with a few bumps and scratches. Handle is good. Interior cloth is very good, soiled and with a rub through. Boss label is soiled and foxed. Accessories are good. A great handling, wonderful, rare little gun. This gun was made as a brace with gun "7768" also in this auction. MGM44.
Accessories
Case, oil bottle and tools
Barrel Wall Thickness
(L) .030 (R) .031
Choke
(L) .019 (Mod.) (R) .011 (Lt. Mod)
Internal Bore Diameter
(BOTH) .615
Length of Pull
15 - 1/8" Neutral cast.
Paperwork
Copy of Boss ledger page