Charles Boswell, Maker, 126 Strand, London
12 bore Back Action, Sidelock Extractor
no. 13031

Date of manufacture: 1896

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

This is a very clean example of a London sidelock from this highly respected gunmaker, made in the heyday of the British gun trade, complete with its 'Maker's case and some accessories.
The sleeved 28" steel barrels have been reproofed for 2 3/4" nitro cartridges and the original stock and forend are in fantastic condition for its age. This all adds up to a beautiful and strong gun that is a joy to shoot and should give many years of service on game or clays with normal maintenance.



WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

The action is of traditional sidelock design and features:
Top lever opening,
Mill's sliding bolt engaging a top rib extension and Purdey Bolt operated by a Scott Spindle,
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Back action bar locks,
Roger's cocking levers,
H&H style interceptor sears,
Anti-friction rollers on main springs
and Anson's push rod forend catch.
Gun weight 6lb 6oz
Engraving style
Beaded Border and Foliate Scroll with Geometric Foliate Panels
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 1/2 lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs
The soft-solder sleeved damascus to steel barrels are 28" in length, chambered for 2 3/4" (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 2012

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")
0.731"
0.032" Minimum
0.011" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.730"+
0.033" Minimum
0.019" (Mod)


Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from well figured walnut. There is one edge repair to the forend wood and 1 repaired settling crack behind the right lock plate. The stock is cast-off for a right-handed shot, features a vacant white metal oval, well defined drop points and thin horn butt plate secured with engraved screws. The forend features a finely engraved forend tip.

Well figured walnut

The 22 lines per inch chequering has been freshened in a normal sidelock 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
14 1/2"
14 11/16"
14 9/16"
15"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 7/16"
1 5/8"
2"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
1/8" (approximate)
1/4" (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:
Roger's cocking levers patent no 397 of 1882;
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863;
Mills' 3rd Bite' patent no 4980 of 1878;
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865;
Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.