Boss & Co, 73 St James's Street,
London
12 bore Back-action Hammergun
No. 2885
Year of manufacture: 1871
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
According to the Boss record books,
this gun was ordered on 13th March 1871 by Viscount Stopford (1853-1937)
of Wexford, Ireland. From there it somehow came into the possession
of a Wexford landowner and farmer who, thinking the gun of little
value other than as a family heirloom, proceeded to amateurishly
'deactivate' it so he could legitimately hang it over his fire
place. Fortunately, the gun came into our possession a little
over a year ago and we decided to try and repair it for use. The
work was a success and we can now offer our customers a rare chance
to acquire a fine condition example of a sporting hammergun made
by this illustrious maker. The engraving is still crisp on the
locks and action and the wood glows with fabulous condition. With
its 2 ¾" chamber, 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.
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;
Stanton back-action, rebounding locks;
Dolphin hammers;
Percussion fences;
'Jones Rotary Underlever';
Cross-wedge forend fastener;
Long top tang;
Engraved, iron butt plate.
Gun weight 6lb 6 ½ oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The damascus 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.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2011.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
|
Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
|
Minimum Wall Thickness
|
Choke Constriction
|
Right Barrel |
18.8mm (0.740")
|
0.741+"
|
0.026"
|
0.05" (Skeet)
|
Left Barrel |
18.8mm (0.740")
|
0.740+"
|
0.021"
|
0.05" (Skeet)
|
Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend
are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is cast off for a
right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval and is finished
with an engraved iron butt plate secured by engraved screws. The
forend tip is engraved steel and there are 2 antique wood inlets
to the body of the stock.
The 18 approx lines per inch chequering has been
freshened to it original back-action 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"
|
14 3/16"
|
14 1/16"
|
14 1/2"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
|
Drop at Heel
|
1 5/8"
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1 3/4"
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2 3/16"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
|
Negligible
|
1/8" (approximate)
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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.