Product Details
CHARLES LANCASTER, LONDON
A FINE AND EXCEPTIONAL CASED 40-BORE PERCUSSION ROTARY FOUR-BARRELLED OVAL-BORE RIFLE, serial no. 2974,
for 1857, browned twist barrel-group rotating through 180 degrees to present second pair, the top of each barrel pair signed 'CHARLES LANCASTER 151 NEW BOND STREET LONDON, PATENT SMOOTHBORED RIFLE' dove-tailed barleycorn fore-sights, rear-sights with three folding leaves, matted sighting ribs, each breech-end with shell and scroll engraving, platinum plugs, long fully scroll engraved top-tang with pull-back catch to allow rotation of the barrel-group, scroll engraved standing breech-face with applied scroll engraved nipple-protector and push-fit cross-pin for take-down, border and scroll engraved back-action locks signed in twin banners 'LANCASTER, LONDON', sliding safes behind the scroll engraved dolphin-headed hammers, figured walnut straight-hand butt-stock with raised tear-drop cheek-piece, chequered iron heel-plate with border and scroll engraved top-spur also featuring an engraving of a deer-hound, oval silver escutcheon to underside of stock, engraved and chequered trigger-guard tang, the trigger-guard bow engraved with rutting stags, the whole remaining in a remarkable state of preservation and appearing little-used with virtually all its original browned finish intact, the finish of the blued iron furniture with losses to the high spots and grip areas and fading to the colour hardened action parts, TOGETHER WITH its original manufacturers scalloped brass cornered oak case with brass circular handle inset to lid exterior (some age splitting), Charles Lancaster trade label to the interior of lid together with a gummed label for 'MR J. S. RENTIER, CALCUTTA, AGENT FOR CURTIS & HARVEY'S GUNPOWDER', the interior lined and compartmented in green baize and retaining a number of scarce accessories specifically for this rifle including correctly numbered hollow-base bullet-mould, special cross-shaped patch cutter, brass muzzle guide for the detachable handle loading rod, take-down tool, leather tool-roll with spares and dismountable combination nipple-key (chipped) plus other general cleaning items and accessories, (the case generally good condition with some compartments slightly loose and two lids missing) AND COMPLETE WITH an original set of drawings for the gun and hand-written loading information
Provenance: The makers have kindly informed us that this rifle was completed in 1857 for a 'Denison'.
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Estimate £6,000-8,000