Just to update you on the Boss restoration, Steve Bertram looked it over for me, took all the appropriate measurements and submitted the information to John Foster with the intention of having him sleeve it. Sadly, Mr. Foster turned the project down flat.
His opinion was that although the down-guage sleeve could be done, he was afraid to attempt it because he didn't think the result would pass proof. Problem in short, is the fact it was built too long ago, fences are too delicate, frame too light, and lock-up is not Jones patent, but just a single bite underlever arrangement.
I told Steve to send it back to me. I'll either clean it up a little and hang it on the wall of my office for a conversation piece, or follow hOmeless jOe's admonition and prop up my back porch tomato patch with it. It has been a hot Summer down here and my heirloom Ruskins and Brandywines are drooping badly!
I do want all of you to know that I have thoroughly enjoyed owning and researching this old gun (discovering it's Royal family provenance)as well as pursuing the dream of a restoration. That experience was well worth the $750 price plus 50lb research fee to Boss and Co to me. I bought it with full knowledge of what it was, and I'll have the future enjoyment of telling the story to others...Geo
