We have been given an exceptionally rare Alfred Lancaster Rhinoceros horn stocked 12 bore side-by-side hammer gun to sell as part of our 10th November Firearms, Shotguns, Airguns, Arms, and Militaria Auction. This fabulous hammer gun has 30-inch Damascus barrels with London 1855-1875 black powder proofs. The gun is fitted with Grant & Hodges 1871 Patent side lever action and has been delicately engraved with scrollwork patterns as well as the maker’s name 'A Lancaster London' and '2' for gun number two of a pair, this being repeated on the barrel rib, inside the forend and on the steel butt plate.
Click here to view the catalogue description.
What marks this gun out as so rare, almost unique is the chequered Rhino horn stock and forend. The stock has been fitted with a gold escutcheon bearing the initials GCC. The gun dates to around 1871-1875 and was made at Lancaster’s 27 South Audley Street London address which he occupied between 1859 – 1885. The shotgun has serial number 4002.
Alfred Lancaster, son of Charles Lancaster, was renowned for utilizing rare and exotic materials for gunstocks. He produced several other guns stocked in Rhinoceros horn namely the .450 double rifle made for Maharaja of Bulrampore which was sold in James D. Julia’s March 2012 sale for $138,000. A pair of 20 bore shotguns were made with Rhinoceros horn stocks by Lancaster for William Douglas, the 12th Duke of Hamilton. These guns now reside in the Royal Collection at Sandringham, the Duke and the Prince of Wales famously exchanged their guns whilst out on a shoot hoping to improve their aim.
Click here to preview the sale catalogue. (please note lots are added as they arrive for sale)
The Lancaster Shotgun has been approved by a CITES Case Officer working for Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as something of cultural importance that can be sold within the UK. It is to be offered for sale with an estimate of £15,000 – 25,000 and will be included in our 10th November sale.
Should you have any items you would like to sell in one of our Firearms, Arms and Militaria sales we would be pleased to hear from you. For more information please contact Chris Large on 01270 623878 or email chris.large@wilson55.com