Spring 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
May 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2025
This auction has concluded, thank you all for your participation! Please visit our homepage for upcoming auction info
UNUSUAL BOSS SIDELOCK GAME GUN WITH PURDEY SELF-OPENING ACTION & EXTRA BARRELS
25-937
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.
STATUS: CURIO
