Product Details
* THOMAS BOSS, LONDON
A RARE 15-BORE PERCUSSION DOUBLE-BARRELLED SHOT & BALL GUN, serial no. 1360,
for 1854, with smooth-bore 28in. damascus barrels (dents to tubes), the broad flat top-rib signed 'THOMAS BOSS 73 ST. JAMES'S STREET, LONDON', the under-rib engraved 'CAPTAIN THE HON'BLE ASHLEY PONSONBY, GRENADIER GUARDS', bead fore-sight, single 100yd. standing notch rear-sight folding flush to the rib, scroll engraved breech-block with platinum line and vents, fully scroll engraved top-tang, border and scroll engraved bar-action locks signed 'THOMAS BOSS' (traces of colour), sliding safes behind the scroll engraved slab-sided hammers, figured chequered walnut straight-hand half-stock, the right hand side of butt inlet with a scroll engraved iron patchbox featuring an engraving of a lion to the lid, blued iron furniture, the trigger-guard bow engraved with an eagle and snake device, silver oval escutcheon featuring the crests of the Ponsonby and Ashley-Cooper families over the initials 'A.G.P', eyelets for sling and replacement iron ramrod.
This item was the subject of the regular "In the Gunroom" article by Holts' Historian Donald Dallas that was published in the 13th December 2018 auction catalogue. To view a copy of the article click HERE.
Other Notes: The Honourable Ashley Ponsonby was a younger son of William Ponsonby, 1st Baron de Mauley, third son of Frederick Ponsonby, 3rd Earl of Bessborough. His mother was Lady Barbara, daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 5th Earl of Shaftesbury. Ponsonby was a Captain in the Grenadier guards, the Member of Parliament for Cirencester and a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. He died in 1898, aged 66.
This gun is described in the Thomas Boss records as 'A heavy shotgun with 28in. barrels, suitable for a minie ball'. It is the only such gun so far identified. It follows the format of the rare percussion double rifle made by Boss of which only 31 were produced. For a rifle of similar form with near identical engraving attributed to the engraver John Sumner, serial no. 1053 built in 1853, see page 68 of Donald Dallas's book 'Boss & Co., Best Gunmakers'
* Please note this item is subject to 5% VAT on the hammer price.
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Estimate £3,000-5,000
(USD 3,887-6,478)
(EUR 3,329-5,548)
Currency exchange rates are based on various public sources, are provided for information purposes only, and are not verified as accurate.