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Mar 29th, 2024
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33 |
I have a Charles Boswell with a serial # of 39XX, which according to British Gunmakers V1 means it was made between 1872-1883 at the 6 Chapel Pl, Upper Fore St, Edmonton. However the Damascus barrels have the 126 Strand Street, London address. All serial numbers match except the trigger guard which as a 63xx serial number. The proof mark is very hard to see, but appears to be a London proof mark prior to 1875. The gun has the Lancaster Slide & Tilt w/underlever and the Lancaster style "noseless" hammers.
I have become addicted to English hammered shotguns to the detriment of my wallet.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617 |
I'm just guessing here but as they moved to 126 Strand in 1883, could the gun have been built and finished from some parts which had been stored in a workshop for a number of years ?
I've heard of similar things happening but don't know how common an occurrence it was.
Rust never sleeps !
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,718 Likes: 479
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,718 Likes: 479 |
Could have been rebarreled at some point. That might explain the different things you noted. Many guns were returned to the maker or another gunsmith to have a new set of barrels made. Then they would be sent out for proof. Rib address would be current location at the time unless requested otherwise. Trigger guard could have been replaced another time. If done by the maker I would expect a matching number so it had to be a take off. A cheap repair using parts on hand.
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33 |
Could have been rebarreled at some point. That might explain the different things you noted. Many guns were returned to the maker or another gunsmith to have a new set of barrels made. Then they would be sent out for proof. Rib address would be current location at the time unless requested otherwise. Trigger guard could have been replaced another time. If done by the maker I would expect a matching number so it had to be a take off. A cheap repair using parts on hand. Makes sense, although Nick's answer is also a possibility. Thanks to both of you for providing an answer.
I have become addicted to English hammered shotguns to the detriment of my wallet.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 459 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 459 Likes: 12 |
Some ideas;
Firstly I believe it was the practice often to take out the number when the order was taken, but there would be a bit of a delay caused by manufacture, fitting, proof etc, so actual completion and delivery might easily be a number of months later
Secondly, I don't know Boswell's history in detail, but the move may have involved being at two addresses during a transition period. Strand is a 'shop' type address/area. Possibly a workshop remained in Edmonton?
If the barrels were replacements, I would expect a later number to have been taken out for them I think.
Trigger guard sound like a replacement 'borrowed' from a later gun.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 459 Likes: 12
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 459 Likes: 12 |
Some ideas;
Firstly I believe it was the practice often to take out the number when the order was taken, but there would be a bit of a delay caused by manufacture, fitting, proof etc, so actual completion and delivery might easily be a number of months later
Secondly, I don't know Boswell's history in detail, but the move may have involved being at two addresses during a transition period. Strand is a 'shop' type address/area. Possibly a workshop remained in Edmonton?
If the barrels were replacements, I would expect a later number to have been taken out for them I think.
Trigger guard sound like a replacement 'borrowed' from a later gun.
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33 |
Some ideas;
Firstly I believe it was the practice often to take out the number when the order was taken, but there would be a bit of a delay caused by manufacture, fitting, proof etc, so actual completion and delivery might easily be a number of months later
Secondly, I don't know Boswell's history in detail, but the move may have involved being at two addresses during a transition period. Strand is a 'shop' type address/area. Possibly a workshop remained in Edmonton?
If the barrels were replacements, I would expect a later number to have been taken out for them I think.
Trigger guard sound like a replacement 'borrowed' from a later gun. Interesting, but the last serial number from Edmonton was in the 9000 range, so a gun with a serial number of 39XX would have remained in the Edmonton shop for a lot more then a few months. Alternatively the gun was made with serial number 39xx during the early part of production, it came back for a repair to the trigger guard and then at some point when production was moved to 126 Strand the gun was re-barreled. In the end I doubt I will ever know for certain the circumstances that resulted in the gun having serial number that doesn't match up the address on the barrels.
I have become addicted to English hammered shotguns to the detriment of my wallet.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 617 |
Are the barrels smokeless/nitro proofed ?
Rust never sleeps !
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 704 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 704 Likes: 1 |
Doesn't Chris Batha hold the records for Boswell?
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 352 Likes: 33 |
Are the barrels smokeless/nitro proofed ? No, they are Damascus and beautifully browned
I have become addicted to English hammered shotguns to the detriment of my wallet.
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