PRINCE CHRISTIAN’S CHARLES LANCASTER DOUBLE RIFLE.

PRINCE CHRISTIAN’S CHARLES LANCASTER DOUBLE RIFLE. SN 4751. Cal. .450 BPE. Lancaster oval bore rifling. Charles Lancaster provided many guns and rifles to the British royal family throughout the latter half of the 19th century. When Prince Christian of Schleswig – Holstein married Victoria’s daughter, Princess Helena, he was granted the title “Royal Highness”, and became a member of the “Order of the Garter”; Who else other than Lancaster’s would he turn to for a bespoke rifle? The rifle built for him is unique in many ways with its unusual sighting arrangement, both triggers being set, and “Pop-up” cheekpiece. 28″ Fine Damascus bbls with full length matted rib are mounted with 3 folding leaf rear express sight, and silver bead front. Tops of bbls are engraved with Lancaster New Bond Street address and “Patent Smooth Bore Breech Loading Rifle”. Classic Lancaster “tip and slide” action is operated by side swing under-lever with protruding lug under bbl, locking under standing breech. Action is nicely filed with unusual rear express sight filed into top of standing breech for close in work, such as boar hunting. Peninsula back action non-rebounding locks with distinctively filed Lancaster hammers are fitted with front sliding stalking safeties which engage at half cock. As mentioned before both triggers are set. (It is rare to find a British rifle with even one set trigger. Undoubtedly the prince wanted this feature due to his continental roots.) Action and locks are engraved with very well cut shaded scroll. Each side of action is engraved “Charles Lancaster’s Patent”. Each lockplate is engraved “C. Lancaster. London Patent” in scroll terminated riband. Spectacular flesh-toned darkly marbled and fiddle-figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over coarsely checkered and nicely engraved steel buttplate. Stock is fitted with very unusual elevating cheekpiece for use when deer stalking or other long range pursuits. It is held in place with 4 screws. By backing each screw 2 turns, cheekpiece can be raised, then locked in place by turning screws back in. Checkering is typical Lancaster coarse point pattern with mullered borders. Prince Christian’s crest, his monogram CAC (Christian Charles Augustus) within “Order of the Garter” band surmounted by a sovereign crown, is engraved on gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter forend with inset horn tip attaches to bbl with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. Drop at heel: Approx 2-9/16″, drop at comb: Approx 1-9/16″. Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz. LOP 14-1/2″. PROVENANCE: Photocopy of Wikipedia entry on Prince Christian, and factory letter. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain nearly all of an old re-brown, Damascus pattern muddied. Engraving softened. One leaf of rear sight is missing. Action and lockplates retain 30 – 40% orig case hardening color, which is quite strong in protected areas. Locks and safeties retain most of their orig fire blue. Stocks retain most of their orig finish which has been maintained over the years with lots of oil rubbed in, to a very pleasing sheen. Checkering is slightly worn, and has not been re-cut. Bores are very fine, bright and shiny throughout, with 2 or 3 minor pits toward breeches, mostly in right bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Safeties and set triggers work. Very few guns and rifles owned by the British royal family exist outside of Sandringham. 4-38730 MGM136 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	1438	$9,200.00	PRINCE CHRISTIAN’S CHARLES LANCASTER DOUBLE RIFLE. SN 4751. Cal. .450 BPE. Lancaster oval bore rifling. Charles Lancaster provided many guns and rifles to the British royal family throughout the latter half of the 19th century. When Prince Christian of Schleswig – Holstein married Victoria’s daughter, Princess Helena, he was granted the title “Royal Highness”, and became a member of the “Order of the Garter”; Who else other than Lancaster’s would he turn to for a bespoke rifle? The rifle built for him is unique in many ways with its unusual sighting arrangement, both triggers being set, and “Pop-up” cheekpiece. 28″ Fine Damascus bbls with full length matted rib are mounted with 3 folding leaf rear express sight, and silver bead front. Tops of bbls are engraved with Lancaster New Bond Street address and “Patent Smooth Bore Breech Loading Rifle”. Classic Lancaster “tip and slide” action is operated by side swing under-lever with protruding lug under bbl, locking under standing breech. Action is nicely filed with unusual rear express sight filed into top of standing breech for close in work, such as boar hunting. Peninsula back action non-rebounding locks with distinctively filed Lancaster hammers are fitted with front sliding stalking safeties which engage at half cock. As mentioned before both triggers are set. (It is rare to find a British rifle with even one set trigger. Undoubtedly the prince wanted this feature due to his continental roots.) Action and locks are engraved with very well cut shaded scroll. Each side of action is engraved “Charles Lancaster’s Patent”. Each lockplate is engraved “C. Lancaster. London Patent” in scroll terminated riband. Spectacular flesh-toned darkly marbled and fiddle-figured Circassian walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over coarsely checkered and nicely engraved steel buttplate. Stock is fitted with very unusual elevating cheekpiece for use when deer stalking or other long range pursuits. It is held in place with 4 screws. By backing each screw 2 turns, cheekpiece can be raised, then locked in place by turning screws back in. Checkering is typical Lancaster coarse point pattern with mullered borders. Prince Christian’s crest, his monogram CAC (Christian Charles Augustus) within “Order of the Garter” band surmounted by a sovereign crown, is engraved on gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter forend with inset horn tip attaches to bbl with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. Drop at heel: Approx 2-9/16″, drop at comb: Approx 1-9/16″. Weight: 8 lbs. 12 oz. LOP 14-1/2″. PROVENANCE: Photocopy of Wikipedia entry on Prince Christian, and factory letter. CONDITION: Fine. Bbls retain nearly all of an old re-brown, Damascus pattern muddied. Engraving softened. One leaf of rear sight is missing. Action and lockplates retain 30 – 40% orig case hardening color, which is quite strong in protected areas. Locks and safeties retain most of their orig fire blue. Stocks retain most of their orig finish which has been maintained over the years with lots of oil rubbed in, to a very pleasing sheen. Checkering is slightly worn, and has not been re-cut. Bores are very fine, bright and shiny throughout, with 2 or 3 minor pits toward breeches, mostly in right bbl. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Safeties and set triggers work. Very few guns and rifles owned by the British royal family exist outside of Sandringham. 4-38730 MGM136 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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