A lot of emotion when I write that but Boss guns when it comes down to it are emotional guns. We tend to fall in love.

Check out the features and the history and on that alone you will want this gun.

*Note these barrels have been professionally shortened to 28" from the original 30" length for quail hunting. James Purdey Kindly provided us with the ledger history:

No. 19574 Completed: 30th September 1909 For: P.R. Cobb Description: A hammerless ejector game gun Weight: 6lb. 11oz. Calibre: 12-bore Barrels: 30in. Whitworth Steel Choke: Cyl & Mod Choke Stock: 14 7/16in. From the Purdey ledgers: Built to match No. 14052 Later passed to F. Longmans of the Royal Fusiliers 29th July 1920: Both this gun and No. 14052 were purchased from C.J. Longmans 13th August 1920: Resold to Major Herbert Litchfield, Stock adjusted to 14 3/8in. 11th August 1924: Left choke reduced to pattern 160 (Tight Cyl?)

*This lovely lady was born in 1896 . *see page 303 "Atkin, Grant, & Lang" by Don Masters.~

This gun is tight and has mirror bores with no pitting. The is not any case color remaining but the engraving is sharp and crisp as well as the lettering on the rib.

This example, built in the mid 1880's has great wall thickness and choking and is tight on face and field ready. There is some very light pitting or hazing in the barrels but nothing of any consequence.

*Note the beautiful English walnut stock!

Normally this gun would be in the 6-8K range but due to some very minor surface pitting in places on the action (see the pictures, super minor) we can offer this beauty for only 4600.00. A super London high grade sidelock at almost a boxlock price. For the hunter that wants a high-quality gun that he or she is not afraid to take in the field this is a super opportunity.

After seeing my write up on this gun received this email from our famous hunting/naturalist gun writer friend concerning this gun:

Wow Kirby, What a beautiful gun. I love Lang guns. You forgot to mention in the write up that it is stocked to the fences, and has absolutely perfect chokes for a game gun. Cheers, George

The condition of this gun is very nice. It features a Purdey style hidden third bite and also the slender Churchill rib which I particularly like.

*Note the great modern stock dimensions.

This gun being near 100 years old and still retain over 50% original case color is remarkable. It handles well and is tight on face with excellent bores.

*Note the excellent choking for upland birds which I will guarantee will put more birds in your bag!

This gun features wonderful engraving and a Purdey style hidden third bite. Note the Long LOP extendable with a pad to near 16".

The triggers are a bit soft for my liking but useable. We could recommend a gunsmith to crispen them up if they are not to your liking.

*Note the long length of pull and stock dimensions that are excellent for many.

*You know this old girl has seen plenty of service and she does show some scars in handling marks in the wood and blue thinning in places. She would be a great candidate for a light restoration or used and appreciated as is. This gun I noted when first operated did not have auto ejectors. I really like this as having auto ejectors is really one more thing to go wrong and truly in the upland field unnecessary. I will get some flack over this, I am sure! I will agree to disagree.

This is a very nice example of an English sidelock. It is well balanced and feels great between the hands as any well made gun should.

I did not know much of this maker so I did some sleuthing on internet and actually found quite a lot:

Built between 1901 and 1905 by address's on rib William Atkinson was the son of Joseph Atkinson of Lancaster. He was born in 1851. By 1871 William had joined his father in the business in Lancaster, but in about 1874 he opened his own business at 52 Stricklandgate, Kendal, Westmoreland; in about 1878 this moved to 8 All Hallows Lane. There may have been a branch of the firm in Preston. In 1874 William and his wife (Eleanor b. 1850) had a son, Joseph Harvey Atkinson, and in 1876 another, Arthur Falder Atkinson (both born in Kendal), they both worked in the business as gunmaker's assistants, there were also had two daughters born in Kendal, Edith (b.1873) and Maud (b.1878) who appear to have worked in the business. In 1881 Joseph Atkinson retired and William took over the business in Lancaster re-naming it William Atkinson. In about 1885 the firm moved to 20 Market Street, between 1890 and 1901 they took over the adjoining premises at 18 Market Street. Between 1890 and 1894 the business in Kendal moved to 58 Highgate. Joseph Atkinson died in the late 1890s, and in 1900 the firm Lancaster business was re-named William Atkinson & Sons. By this time the firm had a substantial trade in bicycles. In about 1901 a branch was opened at 11 Skipton Street, Morecambe, Lancashire. This was probably run by one of the sons, it appears to have closed in about 1905. Between 1901 and 1905 the Kendal business became known as Atkinson & Griffin, it appears to have ceased trading in 1925. Between about 1905 and 1909 the firm in Lancaster occupied premises in North Road. In about 1935 the firm moved to 26 Market Street, Lancaster, but the Lancaster business appears to have closed in 1940. In 1955 Thomas Atkinson & Sons was recorded at 19a Stricklandgate, Kendal. Thomas Atkinson was certainly related, perhaps only distantly. The firm appears to have closed in about 1985.