Boss & Co 12-Bore Ejector Shotgun Pair

This Boss & Co shotgun pair brings together two consecutively numbered 12-bore side-by-side shotguns with serial numbers 5223 and 5224. The current listing describes them as a genuine matched pair and dates them to around 1906. It also records self-opening actions, ejectors, double triggers and traditional Boss rose-and-scroll engraving.

At the same time, the two guns retain the balanced appearance expected from an early twentieth-century London pair. Their matching proportions, consecutive serial numbers and fitted leather case give the set a clear identity without needing exaggerated wording such as “dream pair.”

Boss & Co has a long history as a London gunmaker, while its rose-and-scroll engraving became one of the firm’s most recognizable visual styles. Boss material traces this pattern to the Sumner family of engravers in the late nineteenth century.

Boss & Co Shotgun Pair Design

The Boss & Co shotgun pair consists of two side-by-side 12-bore sporting guns built as a matching set.

The serial numbers run consecutively:

• No. 1 – 5223
• No. 2 – 5224

Consecutive numbers matter on an original pair because they help distinguish a genuine matched set from two separate guns brought together later.

The source listing specifically describes these as an “echtes Flintenpaar,” meaning a genuine shotgun pair.

As a result, the serial numbers form one of the most important identifying details of this set.

The overall arrangement follows the traditional English side-by-side format. Meanwhile, the straight lines of the stocks, slim fore-ends and engraved actions give the pair the classic appearance associated with early Boss sporting guns.

12-Bore and 70 mm Chambers

The pair carries the 12/70 specification.

In normal English catalog wording, I would write this as:

12-bore with 70 mm chambers

rather than writing “1270.”

The 70 mm chamber length corresponds to the common 2¾-inch chamber designation.

Therefore, the product title and specifications should use either:

12-bore / 70 mm

or:

12/70

Both are clear, while “1270” could easily look like a model number.

The current listing specifically records Kal. 12/70 for this pair.

Self-Opening Actions

The source describes both guns as SELFOPENER models.

A self-opening system forms an important part of the character of a traditional English sporting gun. Boss became particularly well known for mechanical development during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

In addition, Boss’s history under John Robertson includes several important developments in sporting-gun actions, triggers and ejector systems. Boss itself still identifies innovation as a major part of the company’s history.

For this pair, however, I would keep the description focused on what the actual listing confirms rather than filling the page with unrelated Boss patents.

Therefore, the simple and accurate description is:

Pair of Boss & Co self-opening ejector shotguns.

Boss Ejector System

Both guns use ejectors, another feature specifically recorded in the source listing.

Boss has a strong historical association with ejector systems, and surviving vintage Boss guns frequently appear in auction records as sidelock ejectors or easy-opening ejectors.

However, I would not add a specific patent number to this product page unless the markings on serial numbers 5223 and 5224 confirm it.

That approach keeps the description useful without claiming mechanical details that belong to a different Boss gun.

Rose-and-Scroll Engraving

The pair carries rose-and-scroll engraving, according to the current description.

This pattern suits the guns especially well because rose-and-scroll work has a strong historical connection with Boss & Co.

Boss’s own published material explains that the famous Boss rose-and-scroll style developed through the work of the Sumner engraving family during the late nineteenth century. The company describes the small floral bouquets and scrollwork as an immediately recognizable Boss style.

As a result, the engraving is not simply decoration added to an otherwise ordinary pair. It forms part of the traditional appearance associated with historical Boss guns.

At the same time, the engraving remains restrained compared with large game-scene designs. Fine scrolls and floral elements cover the metalwork without making the actions look crowded.

Consecutive Serial Numbers 5223 and 5224

The 5223/5224 numbering deserves its own place in the description.

The guns carry consecutive serial numbers rather than unrelated numbers. Therefore, the pair presents itself as a proper numbered set.

The current seller explicitly identifies them as consecutively numbered and as a genuine pair.

Pairs of English sporting guns often use corresponding numbers or markings to identify each gun within the set.

For that reason, photographs of the serial numbers, action flats, barrel flats and any visible No. 1 / No. 2 markings would be useful additions to the gallery.

For SEO, however, the serial numbers only need to appear naturally a few times. There is no reason to repeat 5223/5224 in every heading.

Dating of the Pair

The current listing gives the production period as approximately 1906.

I would word this as:

Circa 1906

rather than claiming an exact production date unless Boss’s original ledgers confirm the year.

Boss serial-number records can provide detailed information about historical guns, and specialist research on the company uses those records to identify production dates and original pairs.

Therefore, “circa 1906” is the sensible wording for the WooCommerce page based on the information currently available.

It also places the guns within an important period of Boss production under John Robertson, who led the company from 1891 until 1917.

Boss Replacement Barrels from 1960

One of the most important details of this pair is the barrel history.

The current listing states:

“1960 neue Läufe von Boss”

meaning that Boss fitted new barrels in 1960.

This detail should remain clearly visible in the description because it distinguishes the present barrel sets from the guns’ original circa-1906 configuration.

Therefore, I would describe them as:

Boss replacement barrels fitted in 1960

rather than calling the barrels original.

That wording is both accurate and easy for collectors to understand.

71 cm Barrel Length

The listing records a 71 cm barrel length.

That converts to roughly 28 inches, which fits naturally with the proportions of a traditional 12-bore side-by-side sporting gun.

For your specifications, I would write:

Barrel Length: 71 cm / approximately 28 in

Meanwhile, keeping both metric and imperial measurements makes the information easier to read for customers and collectors in different countries.

There is no need to repeat the barrel length throughout the description. One mention here and another in the specification table is enough.

38 cm Stock Length

The source listing records a 38 cm stock length.

That equals approximately 15 inches.

Therefore, a clear WooCommerce specification would be:

Stock Length: 38 cm / approximately 15 in

The listing also specifically states that the stocks do not have extensions.

That is worth mentioning because older English sporting guns often show later stock alterations or added extensions.

No Stock Extensions

The seller makes a point of stating:

“KEINE!!! Schaftverlängerung”

or no stock extension.

For a clean English catalog description, simply write:

Stocks without added extensions

There is no need for capital letters or multiple exclamation marks.

In addition, the source lists leather-covered butt pads on the stocks. This adds another traditional detail to the pair.

Together, the long stock dimensions and leather butt treatment give the guns a classic English appearance.

Double-Trigger Arrangement

Both guns use double triggers, according to the listing.

This arrangement fits naturally with the traditional side-by-side design.

Boss is also historically famous for its single-trigger development, particularly during John Robertson’s period. However, this specific pair uses two triggers, so there is no reason to build the description around Boss’s single-trigger history.

That distinction matters.

For this product, the correct wording is simply:

Traditional double-trigger configuration

rather than trying to associate the guns with features they do not have.

Traditional Wood Stocks

The guns use traditional wood stocks with straight sporting-gun proportions.

The listed stock length of 38 cm gives them a relatively long profile. Meanwhile, the leather-covered butt pads continue the traditional appearance.

The seller does not provide a formal factory wood grade.

Therefore, I would avoid phrases such as:

• exhibition-grade walnut
• grade 5 wood
• selected royal walnut

unless documentation confirms one of those descriptions.

Instead, use what the photographs actually show:

Figured wood stocks with traditional hand checkering

if the visible grain supports that description.

Recut Checkering

The current listing states that the checkering has been recut.

That restoration detail should remain in the description rather than presenting the woodwork as completely untouched.

A natural sentence would be:

The pair has received workshop attention, including refreshed checkering.

Likewise, the source says the guns have undergone workshop refurbishment.

These details give a more accurate picture of the pair’s present condition than simply calling everything “original.”

Workshop Attention

The listing describes the guns as werkstattüberarbeitet, meaning they have received workshop attention or refurbishment.

Therefore, I would not describe the set as untouched.

Instead:

The pair has received professional workshop attention, while the checkering has also been refreshed.

That sounds natural and tells the reader what matters.

The source also describes the locking condition as tight. However, mechanical condition should always reflect the latest inspection rather than relying only on an older written description.

Listed Weight

The current product information records a weight of approximately 3,100 grams.

For WooCommerce, use:

Weight: approximately 3.1 kg

If you have access to both guns, it would be even better to weigh each one separately and list:

Gun No. 1: exact weight
Gun No. 2: exact weight

That would provide more useful information than simply copying a rounded historical listing figure.

Stock Drop Measurements

The listing also gives approximate stock-drop measurements of:

• About 6.3 cm at the heel
• About 4.3 cm toward the comb/nose

These measurements help document the stock geometry.

However, they are much more suitable for a specification table than for repeating throughout the main SEO description.

Therefore, keep the main description readable and place measurements like these under Dimensions or Stock Specifications.

Fitted Leather Case

The pair includes a leather case, another detail specifically recorded in the original description.

A fitted case makes sense with a consecutively numbered pair because both guns can remain together as one set.

At the same time, I would avoid calling the case original unless its labels, age and provenance confirm that point.

Use:

Fitted leather case included

unless you have documentation establishing it as the original circa-1906 case.

If the case contains a visible Boss trade label, photograph it separately and add that detail to the gallery.

Boss & Co London Gunmaking

Boss & Co traces its history to 1812, when Thomas Boss established the business in London. The company later entered one of its most influential periods under John Robertson during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

That period matters to this pair because the current listing places serial numbers 5223 and 5224 at around 1906.

Therefore, these guns sit within the historical period strongly associated with Robertson-era Boss craftsmanship.

The company’s heritage also helps explain details such as the rose-and-scroll engraving, ejector system and carefully proportioned side-by-side actions.

You can find more historical material through Boss & Co, while additional sporting-arm catalog entries are available through Gunvexa.

Matching Pair Character

What makes this set particularly interesting is not any one specification on its own.

Instead, several details work together:

• Consecutive serial numbers
• Matching 12-bore configuration
• Self-opening actions
• Ejectors
• Matching barrel lengths
• Matching stock dimensions
• Double triggers
• Rose-and-scroll engraving
• Leather case

Together, these features give the two guns the character of a genuine sporting pair.

The seller’s description uses the term “Traumpaar,” or “dream pair.”

For your Gunvexa page, though, I would leave that phrase out. The actual specifications are interesting enough without turning the description into an advertisement.

Key Features

• Genuine Boss & Co shotgun pair
• Consecutive serial numbers 5223 and 5224
• 12-bore configuration
• 70 mm chambers
• Side-by-side layout
• Self-opening actions
• Ejectors
• Traditional double triggers
• Rose-and-scroll engraving
• Circa 1906 according to current listing
• Boss replacement barrels fitted in 1960
• 71 cm barrel length
• Approximately 38 cm stock length
• No added stock extensions
• Leather-covered butt pads
• Approximately 3.1 kg listed weight
• Traditional wood stocks
• Refreshed checkering
• Workshop attention recorded
• Fitted leather case

About the Boss & Co Pair

The Boss & Co shotgun pair with serial numbers 5223/5224 represents a traditional English two-gun sporting set.

The current listing identifies both guns as 12/70 self-opening ejectors with consecutive serial numbers, double triggers and rose-and-scroll engraving. It also records approximately 71 cm barrels, 38 cm stock lengths and a circa-1906 date.

As a result, the pair has several clear identifying details that can be documented without relying on exaggerated marketing language.

Another important point is the barrel history. Boss fitted replacement barrels in 1960, according to the current description. Therefore, the present configuration combines early Boss actions with later Boss-made barrels.

The rose-and-scroll work also connects naturally with the wider Boss tradition. Boss’s own historical material identifies this engraving style as one of the company’s most recognizable designs.

Meanwhile, the fitted leather case keeps both consecutively numbered guns together as a complete set.

More information about the maker’s history is available through Boss & Co, while Gunvexa contains additional sporting-arm catalog information.

Finally, this pair brings together consecutive serial numbers, self-opening actions, ejectors, matching dimensions, traditional engraving and a fitted leather case. Those genuine details give serial numbers 5223 and 5224 their character without needing labels such as “dream pair,” “elite” or “world-class.”