doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Where does Boss& Co fit in?

Movies, books and TV. How many movies or TV shows do you rememeber that had a Holland or Purdey in it? Not many but some. Now, how many had a Boss. I don't remember any. The American public gets most of what it knows from the bright screen, either the big one or the little one.

I for one never knew Bruce Springsteen made any guns, but what with him being on fire and all I'm sure they're good.

I knew he was the "Boss", but I didn't know what of...did he make guns? What kind? Or is it Springfield, and you just got confused?

BTW - If he does or did make guns, I wouldn't buy one...I don't like him personally, musically, morally, or any way.

binko

Yeah, I know, he's a bleedin' liberal. I just couldn't resist.

Everybody know the best watches are Swiss made, but trying to recall any only Rolex and Longiness come to mind. But there are several watch makers that make realy best Swiss watches and very limited in numbers.
The same with Boss and Woodward, they were and are very well known among royalties and establishment.

H&H has sold well over 100,000 guns. Many of them were of less than best (OQ1) guns. Purdey's have made/sold some 30,000 guns. Most were best guns. Boss has made some 7,000/10,000, all bests, and Woodward made some 4,000-7,000 guns, most bests. By sheer volume there are many more H&H's and Purdey's, so it is no surprise they are better known. Boss and Woodward tended to be generally lesser known, but not lesser respected by those who paid best gun money for their shootin' iron. Remember, even really obscure makers supplied a few best guns. All best guns cost within, say, 25% of one another.

In the 1880's - 1930's when the guns we chase after were in their hayday, there were many names in contention for lead dog. Only Boss, H&H, and Purdey are CIB at BV1. Of others in contention, only Woodward guns atained BV1. Scott is now at BV3 and Grant is at BV2, for example.

I track gun values by auction results, many per year. So, I think they are a reflection of the market.

You are right, Geno. There are many parallels between the Swiss watch trade and the Brit gun trade. There were companies of all in-workers, specialized out-workers, companies that used out-workers on a regular basis, suppliers of raw materials, finished parts, services, and retailers who bought from the trade under their own name.

Ironically enough, I received the Boss book today. I look forward to reading it. If the book is in the same class as the Purdey and Holland and Holland books by Donald Dallas, it will be a treat.

Thanks to all for your insight. I cuncur in that I have always believed Boss to be an equal to Purdey and H&H. I just havent been able to read as much on Boss and I have on the other two. I also havent handled as many. The ones I have seen are very nice to say the least. I hope to make a trip to London to visit all three in the next year or so, as finances permit.

Purdey and H&H can always be had in various price ranges, not so with Boss.

Look binko, Boss, H&H, Prudey are for wealthiest most privileged people in the world. This stuff is in the same league as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin,.... Rolls Royce, 10k-15k made to order suit form Milan or Florence,.....finest Italian truffles,..... Only people in right circles know these names.
Few years ago I have actually held and examined one rather closely. It was 20ga O/U made by Purdey i think. I first assumed it was Bosis, Famars or something from Italy. The gun was quite nice (nice wood, SLE, fine english-style small flower engraving largely obscured by CC) and tag had POR on it. Nope, I didn't ask how much.
It was very finely made gun built to fit original buyer and proly patterned to load of choice but it was nothing I couldnt live without. Basically it's "Robb Report" gun. Quite honestly, most people who crave one just think it's much better then it actually is.