ITEM # 134
serial #741, .500 BPE, 27 1/2" barrels with excellent bores. This is a lovely rifle. The rifle features under lever action with the non-rebounding hammers which have sliding safeties mounted on locks. The engraving on action and locks consists of lovely late 19th-century style scroll. Animal scenes include a walking tiger on triggerguard which is hidden by lever when the rifle is closed and a walking leopard on buttplate tang. A lovely hinged iron patchbox is present on right side of stock which is beautifully engraved with standing and lying deer in wooded scene. The buttplate is finely checkered as is the iron pistol grip extension. The condition of the rifle is fabulous with the barrels retaining 80% evenly thinning original blue finish with no notable pitting. The barrel address is engraved on the under rib just ahead of forend "BOSS & CO. 73 ST. JAMES'S STREET LONDON". The action and locks retain 80% original case color which has faded in the most exposed areas yet remains brilliant in protected areas. Rifle is equipped with a low profile beaded blade front sight and single standing and single folding rear sights regulated for 100 and 200 yards. The rifle also features original iron sling studs and an un-engraved silver escutcheon on bottom of butt to rear of triggerguard tang. The checkered walnut buttstock and forend rate excellent with most of their original oil finish remaining and with strong checkering. Buttstock features a nice shadowline cheekpiece and forend is fastened by rotating lever. All exterior forend metal is finely engraved including the area beneath opening lever. Rifle remains tight and is mechanically excellent. While this rifle being number 741 falls into the 1846 date range of published serial number records, some early Boss guns were built well out of their period. A telephone conversation with the Boss company revealed that the entry for number 741 is blank however gun number 740 was also a 500 express rifle which was built in 1883 right around the time we expect this gun was built. A fabulous, all original double rifle by one of the world's most highly regarded makers. (2027-135) {ANTIQUE} [Stan Terhune Collection] (20,000/30,000) SOLD FOR $16100.00 |
||||||||||||
 |
