GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
DESIRABLE LONG BARRELED CHARLES LANCASTER "TWELVE-TWENTY" SIDELOCK EJECTOR SINGLE TRIGGER GAME SHOTGUN WITH CASE.LANCASTERSXS 12/20 SIDELOCK1442912GAW/CASE, 7 ACCESSMODERN; C&R(1927) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2" Chambers. These superb guns are built on the principles of the 1914 patent of W. Baker, where locks were cocked upon the closing of the gun resulting in an easy opening gun, which could be built to light weight because of the back action locks and unique cocking arm, leaving more metal for strength in the bar. This resulted in a 12 bore gun with the weight of a 20 bore. Most were built with 26" bbls. This particular gun has 29" chopper lump bbls with narrow, swamped game rib which are engraved "Charles Lancaster" "99 Mount Street Berkeley Square London" on tops. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro proofs for 2-1/2" chambers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped "CL" and with SNs. Sidelock action features automatic safety (SAFE inlaid in gold), disc set strikers, raised rib tumbler end cocking indicators, and highly regarded Lancaster type single non-selective trigger with checkered finger blade. Action is nicely filed and engraved with near full coverage English rose and scroll. "Twelve-Twenty" is in gold on each lockplate, and makers name and "London" are on coiled riband on bottom of action. Small bow trigger guard is blued and scroll engraved, SN is at grip. Dense, dark, well marbled and lightly figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/2" over checkered wood butt, and features classic drop points, point pattern checkering on diamond hand, and a vacant gold oval on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has Anson release. Bore diameter: left -.729, right - .730. Bore restrictions: left - .019 (mod), right - .010 (IC). Wall thickness: left - .024, right - .024. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: approx 1/2 off. Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/2". Orig makers oak and leather case with brass corners has central brass medallion with engraved monogram "E A M" (?). Interior is lined in green cloth, and has Charles Lancaster Berkeley Square gold embossed black leather label in lid. Case contains Charles Lancaster marked round oil bottle. CONDITION: Very good, as partially refinished. Bbls retain 90 - 95% of a well done rust re-blue, with some light subsequent marks. Action and locks retain 20 - 30% orig case hardening color. Top lever and trigger plate retain most of their orig blue. Trigger guard re-blued, retaining nearly all of that blue, with engraving somewhat softened. Stocks retain nearly all of an old oil refinish over a few light marks, checkering re-cut. Bores are excellent. Action is tight. Bbls beginning to go off face. Ejectors are strong and in time. Trigger appears to work well. Case leather is considerably darkened, top grain has many cracks, is scuffed and rubbed on edges. Straps replaced. Handle partially detached. Interior cloth is good, soiled and rubbed. Partitions are good with some cloth rubbed through. Label is fine. A good solid example of this highly sought after English classic. 53062-3 mgm19 (6,000-10,000)