*EXQUISITE BEST PERIOD BOSS HEAVY PROOF WATERFOWL OR PIGEON GUN WITH CASE.

*EXQUISITE BEST PERIOD BOSS HEAVY PROOF WATERFOWL OR PIGEON GUN WITH CASE. SN 7658. (1929) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls with raised, flat, file cut rib, are engraved “Boss & Co. Dover Street. Piccadilly. London W.” and “Made in England” on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 1-1/4 oz of shot and “2-3/4″ Choke”. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and Whitworth steel “sheaf of wheat” logos. Case hardened Boss sidelock action is stocked to the fences and is beautifully filed with delicate raised bead around fences, and graceful fillets on action bar. Action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), double triggers, and gold line tumbler end cocking indicators. Action and lockplates are masterfully engraved with Jack Sumner’s incomparable scroll with rose bouquet highlights in traditional Boss style, with 18 exquisite rose bouquets with two additional bouquets on the fences. Each lockplate is engraved “Boss & Co”. Blued single beaded steel trigger guard is scroll engraved on bow with SN relief engraved on tang, which extends to case hardened engraved steel grip cap. Beautifully marbled, dark reddish brown Circassian walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered wood butt. Stock features typical Boss teardrop drop points, and point pattern 24 LPI checkering with mullered borders. Checkering has a wonderful raised transitional boundary to the butt at comb section, in classic “Best” pistol grip style. A vacant gold oval is on toe line. Matching splinter Boss ejector forend has Anson release and SN on iron. Bore diameter: left-.729, right -.730. Bore restrictions: left -.032, right -.023. Wall thickness: left -.026, right -.027. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-5/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz. LOP:14-1/4″. Maker’s oak and leather case with key lock closure and brass corners, is lined in burgundy cloth with large paper Boss & Co label, St. James’ Street address is lined out in red. Label is stamped at two places at top “Please note the new address, 13, Dover St. Piccadilly”. (This address change occurred in 1908) Case contains Boss marked square oil bottle and pair of snap caps, as well as Morocco leather wallet containing cleaning brush, mop, and jag. Two keys are affixed. PROVENANCE: Copy of original Boss ledger page outlining specifications of the gun as ordered by Abercrombie & Fitch and shipped 20 July 1929. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain nearly all of a London quality re-black, with a few minor light marks, engraving softened. Action retains 50 – 60% orig case hardening color, silvered and thinned mostly on bottom from normal carry and wear. Lockplates retain nearly all of their bright orig case hardening color. Trigger guard has been re-blued, and retains nearly all of that blue. Top lever retains a considerable amount of its orig bright blue. Stocks retain nearly all of a factory quality oil finish over one or 2 very minor marks. Checkering re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout, with no visible imperfections. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Case leather has numerous scuffs and stains. Rectangular panel has been inset after removal of old embossed initials. Carrying handle is good, but a bit tired. New case straps have been installed and are excellent. Interior cloth is very good to fine, with considerable amount of soiling from contact with gun and accessories. Label is considerably foxed with some light stains and one area rubbed through, from contact with fence. Interior partitions are good, with some blocks missing on right side compartment. All accessories are excellent. A great handling, nicely balanced, heavy proof gun. The onset of the Great Depression and the costs of ownership put this fine example of the gunmaker’s art out of reach for most retail buyers. According to Griffin & Howe records, this gun was sold/loaned several times from the A&F showroom prior to WWII before finding a more permanant home. resided. 4-45152 MGM209 (35,000-45,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1149	$41,400.00	EXQUISITE BEST PERIOD BOSS HEAVY PROOF WATERFOWL OR PIGEON GUN WITH CASE. SN 7658. (1929) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls with raised, flat, file cut rib, are engraved “Boss & Co. Dover Street. Piccadilly. London W.” and “Made in England” on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 1-1/4 oz of shot and “2-3/4″ Choke”. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and Whitworth steel “sheaf of wheat” logos. Case hardened Boss sidelock action is stocked to the fences and is beautifully filed with delicate raised bead around fences, and graceful fillets on action bar. Action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), double triggers, and gold line tumbler end cocking indicators. Action and lockplates are masterfully engraved with Jack Sumner’s incomparable scroll with rose bouquet highlights in traditional Boss style, with 18 exquisite rose bouquets with two additional bouquets on the fences. Each lockplate is engraved “Boss & Co”. Blued single beaded steel trigger guard is scroll engraved on bow with SN relief engraved on tang, which extends to case hardened engraved steel grip cap. Beautifully marbled, dark reddish brown Circassian walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered wood butt. Stock features typical Boss teardrop drop points, and point pattern 24 LPI checkering with mullered borders. Checkering has a wonderful raised transitional boundary to the butt at comb section, in classic “Best” pistol grip style. A vacant gold oval is on toe line. Matching splinter Boss ejector forend has Anson release and SN on iron. Bore diameter: left-.729, right -.730. Bore restrictions: left -.032, right -.023. Wall thickness: left -.026, right -.027. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-5/16″. Weight: 7 lbs. 9 oz. LOP:14-1/4″. Maker’s oak and leather case with key lock closure and brass corners, is lined in burgundy cloth with large paper Boss & Co label, St. James’ Street address is lined out in red. Label is stamped at two places at top “Please note the new address, 13, Dover St. Piccadilly”. (This address change occurred in 1908) Case contains Boss marked square oil bottle and pair of snap caps, as well as Morocco leather wallet containing cleaning brush, mop, and jag. Two keys are affixed. PROVENANCE: Copy of original Boss ledger page outlining specifications of the gun as ordered by Abercrombie & Fitch and shipped 20 July 1929. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbls retain nearly all of a London quality re-black, with a few minor light marks, engraving softened. Action retains 50 – 60% orig case hardening color, silvered and thinned mostly on bottom from normal carry and wear. Lockplates retain nearly all of their bright orig case hardening color. Trigger guard has been re-blued, and retains nearly all of that blue. Top lever retains a considerable amount of its orig bright blue. Stocks retain nearly all of a factory quality oil finish over one or 2 very minor marks. Checkering re-cut. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout, with no visible imperfections. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Case leather has numerous scuffs and stains. Rectangular panel has been inset after removal of old embossed initials. Carrying handle is good, but a bit tired. New case straps have been installed and are excellent. Interior cloth is very good to fine, with considerable amount of soiling from contact with gun and accessories. Label is considerably foxed with some light stains and one area rubbed through, from contact with fence. Interior partitions are good, with some blocks missing on right side compartment. All accessories are excellent. A great handling, nicely balanced, heavy proof gun. The onset of the Great Depression and the costs of ownership put this fine example of the gunmaker’s art out of reach for most retail buyers. According to Griffin & Howe records, this gun was sold/loaned several times from the A&F showroom prior to WWII before finding a more permanant home. resided. 4-45152 MGM209 (35,000-45,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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