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LOT 481
Outstanding Cased Pair of Factory Engraved Boss & Co. Best Quality Sidelock Double Barrel Shotguns -A) Boss & Co. Shotgun - Serial no. 5585, 12 gauge, 29 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Boss & Co. sits in the upper most tier of bespoke gunmaker’s worldwide with every gun that they build a work of art. This is a chance to purchase a factory built pair of guns, a fleeting opportunity at an auction open to the public. Pairs of guns are a premier item in sporting collections, and this set is the creme de la creme of the pursuit. This pair is a perfect example of the words made famous by Donald Dallas with his book “Boss & Co.: Builders of Best Guns Only”. The guns have blued steel barrels which feature a single brass bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib which is marked “BOSS & Co. 13/14 CORK STREET LONDON W1” as well as a flourish of floral scroll at the base and a gold inlaid “1” or “2” on the respective guns. The barrels of gun “1” show London proofs as well as 1988 dated London reproofs indicating 2 1/2 inch chambers with automatic ejectors while gun “2” shows only the original London proofs. Both guns were built on a casehardened assisted-opening sidelock action showing near full coverage rose & scroll engraving carried out by the in-house engravers with both niter blue and polished pins adding a fine contrast against the
rich background. The sides of either action are marked “BOSS’S/PATENT” with “BOSS & Co” signed in banners on the lockplates. Each of the guns has gold inlaid number atop the toplever indicating their place in the pair. The guns feature a single trigger, gold centered cocking indicators located on either lockplate, and a tang mounted automatic safety switch with gold inlaid “SAFE” marking. The two guns have beautiful, highly figured splinter forends with engraved fittings and a gold number corresponding with
the toplever on the Anson button releases and straight grip stocks with teardrop carved flats, blank gold inscription ovals, and checkered bare butts. Included is an oak & leather takedown case that houses the pair and bears factory label (73 St. James’s Street address) on the interior lid along with a canvas cover, four nickel snap caps, and a cleaning rod. The lid of the case is marked “R. L. BENSON” for a previous owner. While it cannot
be confirmed, a likely candidate is Major R. L. Benson whom appears to have served as a lieutenant in the First World War in the 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers before rising to the rank of major by 1930. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers 2 1/2 inches; bore diameter nine inches from the breech both proofed at 18.1mm (.713 inches) and measured .719/.720 inches; choke constrictions .005/.007 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.027 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/16 inch drop at
heel; 14 7/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 8 oz.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall as professionally refurbished, retaining 99% blue and casehardened finishes with minor handling evidence and some minor fading on the barrel marking. The wood shows only a few minor marks, a few tiny imperfections around the left lockplate and tang inlets, and sharp checkering. The case is very good and shows some wear. Mechanically excellent.
B) Boss & Co. Shotgun - Serial no. 5586, 12 gauge, 29 inch solid rib
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. As described in “A”. Barrel
and stock measurements (R/L): chambers 2 1/2 inches; bore diameter
nine inches from the breech both proofed at .729 inches and measured .742/.739 inches; choke constrictions .013/.013 inches; minimum wall thickness .024/.022 inches; 1 9/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/8 inch drop at heel; 14 7/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 7 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine as professionally refurbished, retaining 98% blue and 99% casehardened finishes with some patches of minor spotting near the left breech, minor thinning, and some scattered minor handling evidence. The wood shows only a few very minor marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000