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I have a 1886 winchester in 45-90 with London proof marks. It also has a name and address stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and caliber stamp which I think reads Ross & Co then something I cant make out and then London. Below that name and address is the number 4528. Does anyone have any information on it?
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Have you tried contacting the Cody Firearms Museum records office? A CFM factory letter may reveal information that can be used to track down where it was shipped.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
All I did was a serial # search and it didn’t have any shipping info.
Tye said
All I did was a serial # search and it didn’t have any shipping info.
What is the serial number?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Tye,
That serial number can be lettered by the CFM, but it is a few years too early for it to have the “shipped to” information.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Tye said
I have a 1886 Winchester in 45-90 with London proof marks. It also has a name and address stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and caliber stamp which I think reads Ross & Co then something I cant make out and then London. Below that name and address is the number 4528. Does anyone have any information on it?
I think you may be in luck. I suspect the name on the barrel is Boss & Co, perhaps the most prestigious London gunmaker of all. I have seen photos of another Winchester that was retailed by Boss.
Boss & Co operated from the following two address in the rough time period the gun would have been imported into the UK.
73 St James Street, London W1 (1862-1908)
13 Dover Street London W1 (1908-1930)
Bert maybe able to give you a year when it went it was made. Does the bit you cant make out on the barrel tie in with either of these two address?
If it is a Boss & Co gun the number 4528 will be Boss & Co’s serial number, they may be able to see if they have a record of when and to whom the rifle was sold, if you can provide a year when the rifle was likely to have been imported into the UK, that would help.
I hope this does not turn out to be a wild goose chase but I cannot find any information on a gunmaker/retailer in London with the name of Ross.
Are you able to post photos?
Regards
AlanD
Sydney
Tye said
Serial# 110447
I should have mentioned that the serial number indicates the date of manufacture was in the year 1896, though it could have shipped several years later.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Serial search shows it was shipped from warehouse on Sept. 21, 1896. It could be Boss & Co on the first line. The line under that is wore bad. I think the first letter is an A. My best guess is Aime & s SL London. The script is fairly fancy so it makes it harder to make out the letters. The small s and the large s and London is all I would say is for sure in that line. I not to handy with the photos. Thanks for all the help.
I found a web sight with the same gun-www.theexplora.com. The name and address is Boss & Co. – 73 St. James’s St., London. Serial number is 4528. There is bad spot in the barrel that has covered up the 73 St. and the J in james. My gun is in less condition then the one on the web sight I mentioned. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
It may be worth sending them an email, which you can get from their website and see if they can locate any information.
The ledgers for their best guns are held on site, I have seen these and each gun has a complete page within the ledger.
Details for guns they sold but did not make but allocated a serial number to, would be recorded in a Day Book normally. I am not sure if they have access to these or they are stored off site. However, it would be worth sending an email to find out, assuming it was sold by Boss in the first place which seems likely.
Regards
AlanD
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