Product Details
BOSS & CO.
A PAIR OF 12-BORE EASY-OPENING SIDELEVER SIDELOCK EJECTORS, serial no. 4239 / 40,
for 1892, 30in. nitro reproved fine damascus barrels, the ribs engraved 'BOSS & CO. 73 ST. JAMES'S STREET. LONDON.' and gold-inlaid '1' and '2' at the breech ends, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 3/4 choke, No.1 right wall at 19, some rivelling and repairs, sidelever snap-actions with top tangs gold-inlaid '1' and '2', automatic safeties with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' details, Boss 1888 improved patent ejectors, best fine acanthus scroll engraving with floral bouquets, the action bars with 'BOSS'S PATENT EJECTOR', the lockplates with 'BOSS & CO.' in scrolling banners, retaining traces of original colour-hardening, 15 7/8in. highly-figured stocks including 2 3/4in. wooden extensions and with engraved steel heel and toe plates, No.1 with grain splitting at hand, fore-end woods with some losses and repairs, weight 6lb. 14oz. (No.1) and 6lb. 15oz. (No.2), in a brass-cornered oak and leather case
Provenance: We are kindly informed that the guns were ordered in 1892 for a Mr Claude Watney
Claude Watney (b. 4th November 1866 d. 7th November 1919) was born as the second son of brewer and politician James Watney Jnr.
Educated at Eton and New College, Oxford, he entered the family brewing business as a director and by the time of his death in 1919 was deputy chairman of the business.
He had a keen interest in the burgeoning automobile industry and had showrooms in Wardour Street selling Panhard and Mercedes motor cars. He was a member of the committee of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, (which would later be known as the Royal Automobile Club having attracted the attention of King Edward VII).
In the 1904 'Motoring Annual and Motorist's Year book' Watney was described as being an "all-round sportsman"
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Estimate £5,000-7,000
S2 - Sold as a Section 2 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act