Boss & Co, 73 St James's Street, London
12 bore Bar Action Hammergun
No. 2717
Year of manufacture: 1869

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Heritage Guns' Comment

This lovely old Boss was found at auction is an extremely parlous state: one broken hammer, breech face heavily corroded, no extractor cam, damaged forend wood, heavily pitted barrels, one could go on and on. However, sensing that the basic structure was still sound under all the rust and crud, we got to work on it and now have this lovely, classic Boss Rotary Underlever hammergun to offer our discerning customers!
The work has been a great success: the barrels were TIG sleeved to their original length, hammer repaired, a new extractor cam fabricated and wood given a new lease of life.
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.

The action is of traditional bar action design and features:
Double triggers;
Stanton design rebounding locks;
High Dolphin hammers;
Percussion fences;
Double bite 'Jones Rotary Underlever';
Cross-wedge forend fastener;
Engraved, iron butt plate.
There are TIG welded repairs to the breech face.
Gun weight 6lb 14oz
Engraving style Best foliate scroll (some wear near knuckle)
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 4 lbs Rear trigger 4 1/4 lbs
The TIG sleeved barrels are 29 3/4" 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 2013.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm
(0.728")
0.729"
0.031"
0.012" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm
(0.728")
0.728"
0.030"
0.022" (Mod)

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval, well-defined drop points and is finished with an engraved iron butt plate secured by engraved screws. The forend tip is engraved steel.
Highly Figured walnut

The 17 approx lines per inch chequering has been freshened to the original pattern.
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
13 7/8"
14 3/16"
14 1/16"
14 5/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 9/16"
1 3/4"
2 1/4"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
1/8" (approximate)

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.