Boss &
Co, 73 St James’s Street, London
12 bore Rotary Underlever
Back Action
Hammergun
No. 3253
Year of manufacture: 1875
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
When this lovely old Boss hammergun came to us it was in unusable
condition with very thin and pitted barrels. However, seeing that
the basic structure was still sound, we got to work on it and now
have this lovely, classic Boss RUL hammergun to offer to our
discerning customers. The work has been a great success: the
barrels were TIG sleeved to their original length and, with
sensitive refinishing, the wood has been given a new lease of
life. Edward Paddison, the sole proprietor of Boss & Co from
1873 to 1891, was a great advocate for the Rotary Underlever or
sidelever rather than the toplever and Scott Spindle that the
trade was largely adopting at this time. How much this was
down to this being a cheaper alternative as opposed to a technical
preference is unknown but Boss & Co do not ever seem to have
competed on price so my money is on the latter. The highly
figured wood now glows with fabulous condition and with its 2 ¾”
chambers, fresh nitro proof and great dimensions, it will be
particularly desirable to any connoisseur of fine English
hammerguns who wishes to shoot their pride and joy, especially as
the barrels and proof are compatible with CIP standard steel
loads. The gun is presented in a contemporary leather case with
a digital reproduction label and some cleaning and reloading
tools.
WE REGRET THAT
THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN,
PLEASE CONTACT US.
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The action
is of traditional back action design and features:
Double triggers;
Rebounding, back action locks;
High level ‘Dolphin’ hammers;
Finely carved percussion fences;
Rotary underlever;
Wedge or
Cross-bolt forend fastening;
Long top strap.
The gun balances 1”
in front of the hinge pin.
Gun
weight 7lb 3oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll by Sumner. Locks signed
‘BOSS & CO’.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front
trigger 3 ¼ lbs Rear trigger 4 ¼ lbs
The TIG sleeved damascus to steel barrels
are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾” (70mm) cartridges
and are of
brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib
is of the smooth, concave, game type.
Birmingham reproof
for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2021.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
|
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.726"
|
0.037"
|
0.010" (IC)
|
Left Barrel |
18.4mm (0.724")
|
0.726+"
|
0.034"
|
0.021" (Mod)
|
The original Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly
figured walnut. The stock has neutral cast, features a vacant white
metal oval and is finished with an engraved iron butt plate secured
with engraved screws. The forend features a finely engraved steel
tip and has a walnut inlet to the centre of the chequering below the
cross-bolt.
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Highly Figured Walnut Stock &
Forend
|
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The approx. 20 lines per inch chequering
has been refreshed to its original design. The stock is finished with
a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by
one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to
achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build
and flatting off of the surface.
Approximate stock
measurements at date of publication:
Pull to Heel
|
Pull to Bump
|
Pull to Centre
|
Pull to Toe
|
14 1/4"
|
14 1/2"
|
14 1/2"
|
15 1/8"
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Drop at Comb
|
Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 1/2"
|
1 11/16"
|
2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
|
Negligible
|
Negligible
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For the purposes of these measurements,
'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular
to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8"
from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).
Patents Exhibited include:
Jones rotary underlever patent no. 2040 of 1859;
Stanton's rebounding lock
patent no. 367 of 1867.