*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL BOSS OVER-UNDER SIDELOCK SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES.

*TRULY EXCEPTIONAL BOSS OVER-UNDER SIDELOCK SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 8515. (1938) Cal. 20 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. Built during the late depression when all the best workmen had plenty of time to spend on gun production as order numbers had fallen off from approximately 200 guns per year in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s to around 50 by 1938; this fine gun is probably never to be equaled. Beautifully struck 26″ demi-block bbls have raised flat tapered file cut rib with third fastener extension. Right side of top bbl is engraved “Boss & Co., 41, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly. London. W.” with London 1 oz (2-3/4″) nitro proofs at rear. Left side is engraved “Made in England”. Bbl flat is stamped with London 1 oz proofs, and SN is on bottom of bottom bbl. Beautifully filed scaled down case hardened uniquely Boss styled OU action features automatic safety (SAFE relief engraved in gold), single selective trigger with fine checkered selector on left sidelock (“U” and “O” inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, bushed strikers, and very unusual rising bite third fastener similar in action to the famed Bissel rising bite of Rigby fame. This unusual feature is only found on a handful of Boss guns, and was probably used in this case because this very lightweight gun was built for heavy proof. Action and lockplates are engraved with very finely cut small scroll and 15 rose bouquets in typical Boss house style, as normally done by Jack Sumner, but in this case is probably the work of Sumner’s former assistant and 1930’s Boss engraver Freddie Epps. “Boss & Co.” is on each lockplate. “Patent No. 3307.1909.” is on each side of action. Single trigger patent information is on trigger plate. Small single beaded blued steel trigger guard is also scroll engraved with SN in relief on grip. Very fine dark marbled and stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over checkered wood butt. Stock features drop points, standard point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and vacant silver oval on toe line which has approximately 3/16″ negative camber giving classic and elegant swept look to buttstock. One piece matching forend is fitted with unique Boss patent ejectors, and has Anson type release. Bore diameter: top -.613, bottom -.613. Bore restrictions: top -.004, bottom -.007. Wall thickness: top -.032, bottom -.030. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz. LOP 14-3/8″. Gun comes in its original Abercrombie & Fitch marked leather toe-under case with stitched leather corners. Interior is lined with maroon cloth, and contains A & F marked square oil bottle, pair of snap caps, leather wallet containing spare strikers and the key, 3-pc brass and cocobolo cleaning rod, along with Turks head jag and mop. Also included is an A & F marked can of Rangoon oil. According to the G&H historian, Boss #8515 was received in inventory at A&F on Feb 4, 1938. Cost: $712.50 plus $69.83 excise tax, Price: $1,275. The shotgun gun was sold first to “L.P. Brown” on Nov 6, 1939. This was probably Louis Pratt Brown, chairman of the Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and a documented customer of A&F as late as 1971. The Boss was logged back in at A&F on April 8, 1940 from Mr. Brown and was returned to the ‘new’ gun inventory. On Oct 14, 1940 the Boss was sold to “H.F. Vickers”. Since the excise tax, due upon sale, was recorded in the 1940 re-entry and not marked “Paid”, Mr. Brown may not have paid for nor taken possession and the Boss may have never been removed from the store. Harry Franklin Vickers (1898-1977) was an American inventor and industrialist. He was called the “Father of Industrial Hydraulics” by the ASME. Vickers’ many contributions to his country and global industry placed him in the company of many of the greatest individuals of his era. He was a close friend and colleague of Douglas MacArthur, who was the Chairman of Remington-Rand when Sperry and Remington merged in the early 1950s, forming Sperry Rand. Vickers later assumed the Chairman’s role subsequent to MacArthur’s retirement. The gun has remained with the Vickers Family since its purchase. PROVENANCE: Harry F. Vickers Family Collection with A&F bill of sale for this gun. G&H research letter describing the gun and A & F history. CONDITION: Extremely Fine. Investment quality, retaining nearly all of its orig bbl blue with some slight silvering at muzzles. Nearly all of the orig Damascening is still present on breech end. Action retains 95 – 98% orig brilliant case hardening color, silvered on sharp edges and beads, thinning somewhat on bottom of action. Trigger guard retains perhaps 80% of its blue, silvered on bead and thinning at grip. Top lever retains nearly all of its blue with slight silvering on thumbpiece. Some minor scratches are at right side of top pivot. Screw slots are perfect, except one on right lock. Stocks retain essentially all of their orig rubbed oil finish, a bit dry, grain slightly open, with a few very minor marks. Checkering is excellent, showing only the slightest wear. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Trigger works. Case leather is excellent with a few minor marks. Handle is fine. Interior cloth is excellent with some minor compressions from contact with gun. Accessories are excellent. An exceptional lightweight game gun, it just doesn’t get any better. 4-42379 MGM129 (65,000-85,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1330	$189,750.00	TRULY EXCEPTIONAL BOSS OVER-UNDER SIDELOCK SINGLE TRIGGER GAME GUN WITH ORIGINAL CASE AND ACCESSORIES. SN 8515. (1938) Cal. 20 ga. 2-3/4″ Chambers. Built during the late depression when all the best workmen had plenty of time to spend on gun production as order numbers had fallen off from approximately 200 guns per year in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s to around 50 by 1938; this fine gun is probably never to be equaled. Beautifully struck 26″ demi-block bbls have raised flat tapered file cut rib with third fastener extension. Right side of top bbl is engraved “Boss & Co., 41, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly. London. W.” with London 1 oz (2-3/4″) nitro proofs at rear. Left side is engraved “Made in England”. Bbl flat is stamped with London 1 oz proofs, and SN is on bottom of bottom bbl. Beautifully filed scaled down case hardened uniquely Boss styled OU action features automatic safety (SAFE relief engraved in gold), single selective trigger with fine checkered selector on left sidelock (“U” and “O” inlaid in gold), gold band tumbler end cocking indicators, bushed strikers, and very unusual rising bite third fastener similar in action to the famed Bissel rising bite of Rigby fame. This unusual feature is only found on a handful of Boss guns, and was probably used in this case because this very lightweight gun was built for heavy proof. Action and lockplates are engraved with very finely cut small scroll and 15 rose bouquets in typical Boss house style, as normally done by Jack Sumner, but in this case is probably the work of Sumner’s former assistant and 1930’s Boss engraver Freddie Epps. “Boss & Co.” is on each lockplate. “Patent No. 3307.1909.” is on each side of action. Single trigger patent information is on trigger plate. Small single beaded blued steel trigger guard is also scroll engraved with SN in relief on grip. Very fine dark marbled and stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-3/8″ over checkered wood butt. Stock features drop points, standard point pattern checkering with mullered borders, and vacant silver oval on toe line which has approximately 3/16″ negative camber giving classic and elegant swept look to buttstock. One piece matching forend is fitted with unique Boss patent ejectors, and has Anson type release. Bore diameter: top -.613, bottom -.613. Bore restrictions: top -.004, bottom -.007. Wall thickness: top -.032, bottom -.030. Drop at heel: 2-5/16″, drop at comb: 1-3/8″. Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz. LOP 14-3/8″. Gun comes in its original Abercrombie & Fitch marked leather toe-under case with stitched leather corners. Interior is lined with maroon cloth, and contains A & F marked square oil bottle, pair of snap caps, leather wallet containing spare strikers and the key, 3-pc brass and cocobolo cleaning rod, along with Turks head jag and mop. Also included is an A & F marked can of Rangoon oil. According to the G&H historian, Boss #8515 was received in inventory at A&F on Feb 4, 1938. Cost: $712.50 plus $69.83 excise tax, Price: $1,275. The shotgun gun was sold first to “L.P. Brown” on Nov 6, 1939. This was probably Louis Pratt Brown, chairman of the Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. and a documented customer of A&F as late as 1971. The Boss was logged back in at A&F on April 8, 1940 from Mr. Brown and was returned to the ‘new’ gun inventory. On Oct 14, 1940 the Boss was sold to “H.F. Vickers”. Since the excise tax, due upon sale, was recorded in the 1940 re-entry and not marked “Paid”, Mr. Brown may not have paid for nor taken possession and the Boss may have never been removed from the store. Harry Franklin Vickers (1898-1977) was an American inventor and industrialist. He was called the “Father of Industrial Hydraulics” by the ASME. Vickers’ many contributions to his country and global industry placed him in the company of many of the greatest individuals of his era. He was a close friend and colleague of Douglas MacArthur, who was the Chairman of Remington-Rand when Sperry and Remington merged in the early 1950s, forming Sperry Rand. Vickers later assumed the Chairman’s role subsequent to MacArthur’s retirement. The gun has remained with the Vickers Family since its purchase. PROVENANCE: Harry F. Vickers Family Collection with A&F bill of sale for this gun. G&H research letter describing the gun and A & F history. CONDITION: Extremely Fine. Investment quality, retaining nearly all of its orig bbl blue with some slight silvering at muzzles. Nearly all of the orig Damascening is still present on breech end. Action retains 95 – 98% orig brilliant case hardening color, silvered on sharp edges and beads, thinning somewhat on bottom of action. Trigger guard retains perhaps 80% of its blue, silvered on bead and thinning at grip. Top lever retains nearly all of its blue with slight silvering on thumbpiece. Some minor scratches are at right side of top pivot. Screw slots are perfect, except one on right lock. Stocks retain essentially all of their orig rubbed oil finish, a bit dry, grain slightly open, with a few very minor marks. Checkering is excellent, showing only the slightest wear. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. Trigger works. Case leather is excellent with a few minor marks. Handle is fine. Interior cloth is excellent with some minor compressions from contact with gun. Accessories are excellent. An exceptional lightweight game gun, it just doesn’t get any better. 4-42379 MGM129 (65,000-85,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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