Boss & Co, 73 St James's Street,
London
12 bore Back-action Hammergun
No. 3769
Year of manufacture: 1884
Click on these images for more detail.
Heritage
Guns' Comment
This gun represents a rare opportunity
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. Rebarrelled,
very probably by another, with 27" steel, dovetail lump barrels
in 1974, it possesses an unusual configuration for a gun of this
age. This makes it particularly desirable to any connoisseur of
fine English hammerguns who wishes to shoot their pride and joy
but favours a shorter barrel length.
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; Percussion fences;
Side lever operating a 'Purdey Bolt';
Rigby style 'Grip' forend fastener.
One hammer is thought to be possibly a replacement: the differences
are very subtle but it is not stamped with the gun number on the inside.
It may have been replaced by the maker in the distant past.
Gun weight 6lb 8 ½ oz Engraving style Best fine
foliate scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½
lbs Rear trigger 4 ½ lbs
The replacement, steel barrels are 27" 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 2010.
Approximate barrel measurements
at date of publication:
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Nominal Proof Size
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Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
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Minimum Wall Thickness
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Choke Constriction
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Right Barrel |
18.6mm (0.732")
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0.731"
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0.028"
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0.008" (IC)
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Left Barrel |
18.6mm (0.732")
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0.731"
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0.029"
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0.019" (Mod)
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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 a 1" traditional leather covered recoil pad.
The 22 approx lines per inch chequering has
been cut to a traditional 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
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Pull to Bump
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Pull to Centre
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Pull to Toe
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14 1/2"
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14 5/8"
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14 5/8"
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15"
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Drop at Comb
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Drop at Face
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Drop at Heel
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1 5/8"
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1 13/16"
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2 1/4"
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Cast at Comb
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Cast at Heel
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Negligible
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1/16" (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:
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
Charles Harvey's 'Rigby' forend fastener patent no. 1793 of 1866.