2202 UNUSUAL BOSS SIDELOCK GAME GUN WITH PURDEY SELF-

CURRENT BID
0.00USD
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
4,000.00USD
USD
4,000.00 x 1 unit = 4,000.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 09 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 4,000.00 USD
Estimated at 8,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
OPENING ACTION & EXTRA BARRELS. Cal. 12 Ga. 2-1/2" (both). S# 5633 (1905). A few of these guns are known. It appears that when Boss had a customer that demanded a true "self-opening" action (one that after being fired will still open when lever is released); they went to Purdey's and purchased a gun "in the white", which they then finished. Boss did not come up with a truly self-opening action until they modified their standard design by beefing up the cocking levers and adding very powerful "V" springs to their functioning. This Purdey type gun has 30" chopper lump barrels with narrow swamped game rib. Rib is engraved "Boss & Co. 73 St. James's Street. London". Tops of barrels are engraved "Sir Joseph Whitworth's" "Pressed Fluid Steel". Barrel flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers and Whitworth sheaf of wheat logo on right flat. S#'s are on bottoms of barrels along with "BOSS". Gun is also fitted with a set of 28" dovetailed barrels in same configuration that are not maker marked. Flats are stamped with Birmingham nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers and S# 15700 is on bottoms of barrels. Case hardened Beesley patent self-opening sidelock action features automatic safety ("SAFE" inlaid in gold), bushed strikers, gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, Purdey type Wem ejector system and double triggers. Action is engraved in usual Boss house style as most likely accomplished by Sumner featuring fifteen rose bouquets outlined by small scroll. "Boss & Co" is in scrolled ribbon on each lockplate. Trigger guard with rose and scroll on bow has S# in relief on tang. Gun is number 1 of a pair; gold inlaid "1" on top lever, forend tip and rib of original barrels. Well streaked European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8" over checkered wood butt and features drop points, point pattern grip checkering and a gold oval engraved "R.C." on toeline which has Boss' usual racey swept profile. Matching splinter Wem ejector forend has Anson release. MEASUREMENTS: 30" BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .733. R .733. Restriction: L .000 (cyl). R .000 (cyl). Wall thickness: L .024. R .020. STOCK: DAH: 2". DAC: 1-7/16". CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 14-3/8". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 8 oz. MEASUREMENTS: 28" BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .729. R .729. Restriction: L .025 (mod). R .007 (IC). Wall thickness: L .030. R .029. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 10 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 28" barrel set. CONDITION: good as refurbished. 30" barrels retaining nearly all of a good quality re-black. Engraving picked up. 28" barrels retain about 90% original blue. Action retains traces of case color where protected; is mostly pewter gray. Engraving on bottom of action and trigger guard considerably softened especially on trigger guard tang. Stocks show considerable wear with an old oil refinish having a good number of subsequent bumps and scratches. Checkering considerably worn especially on forend which also shows smoothing out of chip in right barrel channel on tip. Bores are bright and shiny without noted problems. Actions are tight. Both barrel sets are slightly off face; drop is down. Iron very close to action. (25-937/MGM). CURIO. $8,000-16,000.