*EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CHARLES LANCASTER “BEST” SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE OWNED BY THE MAHARAJA OF KUTCH.

SN 14388. (1927) Cal. .280 Flanged. 26″ Finely struck chopper lump bbls are fitted with full length matted rib, swamped at center forming slight quarter rib. Rear portion is mounted with one standing, one folding leaf express sight; standing leaf marked for 100 and 300 yards, folding leaf for 500. Front ramp is fitted with silver bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “Charles Lancaster” and “99 Mount Street Berkeley Square London”. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs, bottoms of bbls with “CL” and SNs. A wide sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences, and features automatic bolted safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), extended top strap which continues over comb, bushed strikers, square shouldered dolls head top fastener, line engraved tumbler end cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action is engraved with small scroll and rose bouquet highlights, bottom of action with “Charles Lancaster London” on long coiled ribbon. Lockplates have 90% coverage matching scroll surrounding large rose bouquets at centers. “Charles Lancaster” is at the bottom of each plate. Blued top lever and trigger guard are also scroll engraved, and SN is on trigger guard tang, which extends to case hardened steel grip cap. Finely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over reddish brown leather covered pad, and features thin shadow line right hand cheekpiece, drop points, point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip, and a vacant gold oval and a sling loop on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has forward pivoting release. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/4″, drop at comb: approx 1-7/8″. Weight: 9 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-7/8″. What is most likely orig oak and leather case with brass corners, is gold embossed “MAHARAJ KUMAR” “SHRI MADANSINHJI” “OF KUTCH”. Interior is lined in green baize, and has gold embossed black leather Lancaster Berkeley Square label in lid. Case contains 2-pc brass cleaning rod with short rosewood rotating handle with jag and two brushes, nickel-plated cleaning funnel, tin of Rangoon oil, round oil bottle, and two ebony handled turnscrews. PROVENANCE: Wikipedia information on Maharaja of Kutch, who ruled in 1948 until Independence. He remained head of Kutch and also served as ambassador to Norway and Chile. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain nearly all of a glossy re-black, engraving and rib matting slightly softened, and with a few light rubs. Action retains approx 80% orig case hardening color, silvered on normal wear areas. Lockplates retain nearly all of their orig color. Top lever and trigger guard have been re-blued and retain essentially all of that blue, except thumbpiece is slightly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig finish, with a few light marks. Pad is relatively new, and excellent. Checkering is very slightly worn, and a bit dirty. Bores are excellent, with just a hint of erosion in throat of right bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are off face. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is still light in color, and has quite a few light marks and some staining. Orig handle is good. Straps are missing. Interior cloth is good with some insect damage and mildew. There are some rubs and compressions. Accessories are generally fine. Label is very fine. An exceptional Lancaster rifle in a cartridge developed by Lancaster, based on the .280 Ross, and is loaded down a bit, below .280 Ross velocities and pressures. It was a favorite of King George V. 4-55359 (13,000-18,000) – Lot 2467

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Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2467	$20,125.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CHARLES LANCASTER “BEST” SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE OWNED BY THE MAHARAJA OF KUTCH. SN 14388. (1927) Cal. .280 Flanged. 26″ Finely struck chopper lump bbls are fitted with full length matted rib, swamped at center forming slight quarter rib. Rear portion is mounted with one standing, one folding leaf express sight; standing leaf marked for 100 and 300 yards, folding leaf for 500. Front ramp is fitted with silver bead. Tops of bbls are engraved “Charles Lancaster” and “99 Mount Street Berkeley Square London”. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs, bottoms of bbls with “CL” and SNs. A wide sling loop is soldered to bottom rib. Case hardened sidelock action is stocked to the fences, and features automatic bolted safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), extended top strap which continues over comb, bushed strikers, square shouldered dolls head top fastener, line engraved tumbler end cocking indicators, and double triggers. Action is engraved with small scroll and rose bouquet highlights, bottom of action with “Charles Lancaster London” on long coiled ribbon. Lockplates have 90% coverage matching scroll surrounding large rose bouquets at centers. “Charles Lancaster” is at the bottom of each plate. Blued top lever and trigger guard are also scroll engraved, and SN is on trigger guard tang, which extends to case hardened steel grip cap. Finely marbled European walnut capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over reddish brown leather covered pad, and features thin shadow line right hand cheekpiece, drop points, point pattern checkering with mullered borders at grip, and a vacant gold oval and a sling loop on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has forward pivoting release. Drop at heel: approx 3-1/4″, drop at comb: approx 1-7/8″. Weight: 9 lbs 14 oz. LOP: 14-7/8″. What is most likely orig oak and leather case with brass corners, is gold embossed “MAHARAJ KUMAR” “SHRI MADANSINHJI” “OF KUTCH”. Interior is lined in green baize, and has gold embossed black leather Lancaster Berkeley Square label in lid. Case contains 2-pc brass cleaning rod with short rosewood rotating handle with jag and two brushes, nickel-plated cleaning funnel, tin of Rangoon oil, round oil bottle, and two ebony handled turnscrews. PROVENANCE: Wikipedia information on Maharaja of Kutch, who ruled in 1948 until Independence. He remained head of Kutch and also served as ambassador to Norway and Chile. CONDITION: Excellent, as partially refinished. Bbls retain nearly all of a glossy re-black, engraving and rib matting slightly softened, and with a few light rubs. Action retains approx 80% orig case hardening color, silvered on normal wear areas. Lockplates retain nearly all of their orig color. Top lever and trigger guard have been re-blued and retain essentially all of that blue, except thumbpiece is slightly silvered. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig finish, with a few light marks. Pad is relatively new, and excellent. Checkering is very slightly worn, and a bit dirty. Bores are excellent, with just a hint of erosion in throat of right bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are off face. Ejectors are in time. Case leather is still light in color, and has quite a few light marks and some staining. Orig handle is good. Straps are missing. Interior cloth is good with some insect damage and mildew. There are some rubs and compressions. Accessories are generally fine. Label is very fine. An exceptional Lancaster rifle in a cartridge developed by Lancaster, based on the .280 Ross, and is loaded down a bit, below .280 Ross velocities and pressures. It was a favorite of King George V. 4-55359 (13,000-18,000) – Lot 2467 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CHARLES LANCASTER “BEST” SIDELOCK EJECTOR DOUBLE RIFLE WITH CASE OWNED BY THE MAHARAJA OF KUTCH.