*EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BOSS EXTRA FINISH, SIDELOCK, EJECTOR, SELECTIVE SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH CASE.

*EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BOSS EXTRA FINISH, SIDELOCK, EJECTOR, SELECTIVE SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH CASE. SN 4883. (ca 1902) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls are engraved “Sir Joseph Whitworths “Fluid Pressed Steel” Boss & Co. 73 St. James’s Street. London.” on narrow game rib. “1” is gold inlaid within scroll engraved breech end of rib. (Gun is one of a pair, “1” is inlaid in the usual places.) Bbl flats are stamped with “sheaf of wheat” logos, London nitro proofs for 1-1/8 oz shot, and London 2001 re-proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and “Boss”. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences, and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold inlaid arrow tumbler end cocking indicators, and Boss’ highly regarded single selective trigger with selector slide on right lockplate, gold inlaid “L” and “R” on either end. Patent no. is on trigger plate. The engraving on this fine gun is very unusual, and this cataloger does not recall, nor can find, another early Boss gun or rifle as heavily and unusually embellished as this one. Sides of action and front portion of lockplates are engraved with very small, well cut scroll. “Boss’s Patent” is on action bar. “Boss & Co” is in strapwork riband at front of each lockplate. Fences are heavily relief carved with scrolled acanthus, which has fine stippled background. Rear of lockplates and bottom of action are engraved with game birds in field scenes, that run almost to the edge of the plates and only have a simple line border. This is most likely the work of the Sumner family of engravers, who engraved most of Boss’s guns, having started during the muzzle-loading period. Left lockplate depicts pair of pheasants feeding in open glade in front of ferns and grasses with gnarled tree and boulder in background. Right lockplate shows a covey of red legged partridges feeding, preening, and sleeping in open moorland. Bottom of action depicts a pack of grouse being driven down out of the hills. A pair of woodcock are on single beaded trigger guard bow, and a single black grouse is on top lever. Beautifully marbled and strikingly figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered wood butt, and features drop points, standard 28 LPI point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and a vacant gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter Boss ejector forend has Anson push button release. Bore diameter: left -.733, right -.735. Bore restrictions: left -.022, right -.005. Wall thickness: left -.021, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-3/16″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 6 oz, LOP 14-1/4″. Makers oak and leather case with brass corners, is embossed “M. B.” and “R. N.” on top. Case is lined in scarlet cloth with large Boss paper label on lid, and contains a pair of Boss marked snap caps. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain very fine best London quality re-black, most probably done at time of re-proof, engraving picked up, with a few very minor handling marks, mostly at breech ends. Action retains traces of orig case hardening color in protected areas, but is mostly a dark silver to pewter gray, giving excellent definition to engraving. Lockplates retain a considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, possibly 40% on left lock plate. All pins have been temper blued. Top lever and trigger guard are nicely re-blued, and retain nearly all of that blue. Stocks retain essentially all of a professional rubbed oil finish, sharp edges slightly rounded from handling and use. drop points sharpened, checkering freshened. 2″ x 3/16″ sliver of wood has been expertly replaced at left tip of forend. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout, with no visible imperfections. Action is tight. Bbls are on face (new hinge pin). Trigger works flawlessly. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is very dark and has a considerable amount of minor scuffs and marks. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good, shows some insect damage and is considerably soiled from contact with gun and accessories. Label is considerably oil soaked and dark. Snap caps are good with minor marks. A very fine, correctly restored, incredibly scarce Boss. 4-46759 MGM221 (37,500-57,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2372	$36,800.00	EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BOSS EXTRA FINISH, SIDELOCK, EJECTOR, SELECTIVE SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH CASE. SN 4883. (ca 1902) Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. 30″ Chopper lump bbls are engraved “Sir Joseph Whitworths “Fluid Pressed Steel” Boss & Co. 73 St. James’s Street. London.” on narrow game rib. “1” is gold inlaid within scroll engraved breech end of rib. (Gun is one of a pair, “1” is inlaid in the usual places.) Bbl flats are stamped with “sheaf of wheat” logos, London nitro proofs for 1-1/8 oz shot, and London 2001 re-proofs for 2-3/4″ chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with SNs and “Boss”. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences, and features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), gold inlaid arrow tumbler end cocking indicators, and Boss’ highly regarded single selective trigger with selector slide on right lockplate, gold inlaid “L” and “R” on either end. Patent no. is on trigger plate. The engraving on this fine gun is very unusual, and this cataloger does not recall, nor can find, another early Boss gun or rifle as heavily and unusually embellished as this one. Sides of action and front portion of lockplates are engraved with very small, well cut scroll. “Boss’s Patent” is on action bar. “Boss & Co” is in strapwork riband at front of each lockplate. Fences are heavily relief carved with scrolled acanthus, which has fine stippled background. Rear of lockplates and bottom of action are engraved with game birds in field scenes, that run almost to the edge of the plates and only have a simple line border. This is most likely the work of the Sumner family of engravers, who engraved most of Boss’s guns, having started during the muzzle-loading period. Left lockplate depicts pair of pheasants feeding in open glade in front of ferns and grasses with gnarled tree and boulder in background. Right lockplate shows a covey of red legged partridges feeding, preening, and sleeping in open moorland. Bottom of action depicts a pack of grouse being driven down out of the hills. A pair of woodcock are on single beaded trigger guard bow, and a single black grouse is on top lever. Beautifully marbled and strikingly figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/4″ over checkered wood butt, and features drop points, standard 28 LPI point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and a vacant gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter Boss ejector forend has Anson push button release. Bore diameter: left -.733, right -.735. Bore restrictions: left -.022, right -.005. Wall thickness: left -.021, right -.022. Drop at heel: 2-3/16″, drop at comb: 1-11/16″. Weight: 6 lbs. 6 oz, LOP 14-1/4″. Makers oak and leather case with brass corners, is embossed “M. B.” and “R. N.” on top. Case is lined in scarlet cloth with large Boss paper label on lid, and contains a pair of Boss marked snap caps. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain very fine best London quality re-black, most probably done at time of re-proof, engraving picked up, with a few very minor handling marks, mostly at breech ends. Action retains traces of orig case hardening color in protected areas, but is mostly a dark silver to pewter gray, giving excellent definition to engraving. Lockplates retain a considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, possibly 40% on left lock plate. All pins have been temper blued. Top lever and trigger guard are nicely re-blued, and retain nearly all of that blue. Stocks retain essentially all of a professional rubbed oil finish, sharp edges slightly rounded from handling and use. drop points sharpened, checkering freshened. 2″ x 3/16″ sliver of wood has been expertly replaced at left tip of forend. Bores are excellent, bright and shiny throughout, with no visible imperfections. Action is tight. Bbls are on face (new hinge pin). Trigger works flawlessly. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is very dark and has a considerable amount of minor scuffs and marks. Straps and handle are good. Interior cloth is good, shows some insect damage and is considerably soiled from contact with gun and accessories. Label is considerably oil soaked and dark. Snap caps are good with minor marks. A very fine, correctly restored, incredibly scarce Boss. 4-46759 MGM221 (37,500-57,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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