Charles Lancaster .410 Underlever Hammergun – BEAUTIFUL SCROLL ENGRAVING

Charles Lancaster began his career as a barrel maker for the great John Manton, and stepped into gunmaking in 1926, after Manton’s death.   Quality, precision, and creativity were hallmarks of his brand.  He made four-barrel rifles and two-barrel pistols, for instance.  His legacy of fine barrel work was continued by his sons, and then their successor, Henry AA Thorn, according to Nigel Brown’s British “Gunmakers Volume One-London”.   This fine firearm was originally built as a 360 Express rifle, proofed in London.   Through review of the proof marks, and the quality of the barrel work, I believe the work was done at Charles Lancaster gunmakers, and then reproofed in London, to convert this little beauty to a .410 bore.  The bores are perfectly centered and the removal of the rear sight from the rifle almost undetectable, that only a barrel worker, and gunsmith of their caliber could have executed the work.  The .410 proof marks indicate that the work could have been performed before Charles Lancaster went out of business in 1933.  The natural result of its conversion means this dainty looking gun has a substantial feel to it, with front heavy balance, lending itself to an easy swing and follow through, with open chokes, it would be a great skeet gun.  The forend has nearly full coverage of precise, fine checkering, and a nicely engraved nib.  The round knob pistol grip buttstock has precise, fine checkering that covers the grip, follows over the wrist, and around the sideplates with excellent attention to detail.  While the metal workers did their tricks to the barrels, they left the beautiful English walnut alone, with its cheekpiece, exceptional checkering panels along the sides of the round knob pistol grip, continuing up over the wrist, and a checkered butt, finished with nicely engraved heel and toe caps.   The underlever back-action, crisp hammers, and double triggers all function as they should and deliver an air of class and history to this curious little rifle-turned-shotgun.  Few guns have the ability to attract the attention of your fellow gun club members the way this character would.