Clearly the nobility of India was infatuated by the guns and rifles being built by the great British gun houses and all credit must be given to Charles Lancaster for producing such superb examples of the gun and rifle makers craft. Founded in 1811 in the City of London, Charles Lancaster Snr was renowned as a barrel maker and soon established himself as one of the capitals premier makers. With the expansion of empire so followed the expansion of the company and in particular an association with the Indian continent. Royal patronage both at home and abroad was very much a part of the company's history from the mid 1800's up until the 1930's when the company amalgamated with Grant & Lang.
This particular percussion rifle is a 6 bore single barrel big game rifle with all furniture and lock work gold washed, as much for display of wealth as for protection from the Indian environment. Certainly unfired to this day, the rifle in its original case with every tool necessary to keep the rifle in service, is a wonderful time capsule and probably more valuable today than when it was originally built.
Stunning gold washed lock work and furniture.
 
Wonderful array of tools to keep the rifle in service.
Neill on November 3, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Spectacular, thanks for the photos. However I do think it a shame when guns and rifles are unfired, and this beauty is like having a Stradivarius unplayed.
Peter Buckley. on November 4, 2017 at 6:01 am
Dear Trigger
What a fabulous ostentatious rifle this is, purely of its time period, that patch box and butt plate just simple beauty!
Another rifle that just happened to walk through the doors of Westley Richards, It's what they call round here "muck ta midden" which means 'like attracts like'.
The Indian aristocracy certainly only wanted the very best and Charles Lancaster's guns were some of the best.
All of the accoutrements but one I know there use with the rifle, in the compartment with the spru cutter mainspring clamp is what looks like a gold washed clout nail, forgive my ignorance but could you tell me what this accessory is for?
Part One ? I wonder what part two will surprise us with???
Yet another wonderful 'post', magnificent rifle!
Kind regards. Peter.
Josh on July 31, 2020 at 1:08 am
Charles Lancaster firearms were in constant high demand in India. The Maharaja of Poonch had a bunch, including a 450/400 "magnum" 3-1/4" double rifle made in 1894 with telescopic sight. He liked it so much that he had a second one made in 1895. Of all end users, the Indians probably used their British sporting guns more than anyone else. By using them so much, they constantly tested them and reported back, and helped refine them over time. Because modern India imposed such draconian socialist policies and gun confiscation, much of the history of modern sporting arm development there has been lost or covered up. Your gun here is a prime example of how India was a crucial source of British "Best" sporting firearm demand.
Maroun harb on October 14, 2020 at 12:43 am
I would like to have this ?????