Boss & Co, 73 St James's Street, London
12 bore Bar Action, Sidelock Ejector
No. 4053 (No. 1 of Pair)
Date of manufacture: 1889

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Heritage Guns' Comment This superb gun was made in the very last years of the proprietorship of EF Paddison, nephew to the famous Thomas Boss, who took over the ownership of Boss & Co from his aunt, Emma Boss in 1872. Two years after this gun were made, John Robertson bought Boss & Co and developed it into probably the most exclusive London gunmaker name ever. With its bar action locks, elegant sidelever and superb Sumner engraving, this gun represent the early departure from Paddison's very traditional preference for back actions and rotary underlevers. On taking over Boss & Co, Robertson changed the style of the guns to appeal to more modern tastes and these guns reflect many of the changes he introduced. Not surprisingly, he actioned and stocked this gun; the lockwork is by the famous lockmakers Stanton and the action bar is engraved with 'H&H HAM'S EJECTOR 16691'. The gun was rebarrelled by the makers with steel chopperlump barrels in about 1927 and in the last few years it has been professionally restocked with beautiful walnut. Reproofed to 2 ¾" nitro, it is a safe and beautifully balanced gun for game or clays. Fantastic Value at $19995

The action is of Robertson's design and features:
Very Best Scroll engraving;
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide;
Bar action locks;
Patent cocking levers;
Robertson style interceptor sears;
Side levers operating a 'Purdey Bolt' (one sidelever possible a replacement);
Holland & Robertson's patent ejector
and 'Rigby' style lever forend catch.
Gun weights 6 lb 14oz
Engraving style Very Best Scroll; Top ribs, Forend iron and Trigger guard engraved '1'. Yellow metal inlaid 'SAFE', action flat engraved 'H&H HAM'S EJECTOR 16691'.
Trigger pulls measure approximately:Front & Rear triggers 4lbs
The chopperlump steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top ribs are of the smooth, concave game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2013.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

The approx 24 lines per inch chequering has been cut to normal sidelock pattern. The stock is cast off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal ovals and well defined drop points and is finished with fine chequered panel.
The stocks are 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 (No.1/No.2):

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:
Holland & Robertson's ejector patent no. 16691 of 1888,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
Harvey's forend catch patent no 1793 of 1866.