GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
NEAT CHARLES LANCASTER SIDE LEVER, SELF-OPENING, SPRING COCKING, SIDELOCK EJECTOR GAME SHOTGUN. CHARLES LANCASTER SXS SIDELEVER 6408 12GA (1891) Cal. 12 ga. 2-1/2" Chambers. 30" Beautifully patterned fine Damascus bbls are engraved "Charles Lancaster 151 New Bond St. London Patent Breech Loading Hammerless Gun Ejector" on slightly raised game rib. Gun in no. "1" of a pair with "1" inlaid in silver amongst some well done scroll engraving at breech end of rib. Bbl flats are stamped with London nitro re-proofs for 2-1/2" chambers. Importers name and address (Woodcock Hill) are deeply marked on bottom rib under forend. Case hardened sidelock spring cocking action has, unusual for Lancaster, side lever opening, with lever on right side. Action also features automatic safety (SAFE on lacquered rectangle), bushed strikers, and dbl triggers. Action is fitted with uniquely Lancaster deeply swamped back action locks. Action and lockplates are engraved with 80% coverage varying sized very well cut shaded scroll. "Charles Lancaster" is on each side of action over "London" and again on lockplates over "PATENT". Trigger plate is engraved "Patent Block" "Safety". Scroll engraved trigger guard has SN on tang. Well marbled and figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-7/8" over black leather covered pad. Coarse point pattern checkering is at grip, and a vacant silver oval is on toe line. Matching splinter ejector forend has forward pivoting lever release. Iron is marked "T. P. PATENT" "EJECTOR" and with number "2784343". Bore diameter: left -.733, right - .730. Bore restrictions: left - .036 (full), right - .002 (cyl). Wall thickness: left - .028, right - .027. Drop at heel: 2-7/16", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-7/8". CONDITION: Very fine, as partially refinished. Bbls retain over 90% of what appears to be their orig Damascus finish, which is quite strong and dramatic. Action retains approx 20% orig case hardening color with lockplates having most of their color. Most loss of color appears to be simply of fading with remainder of surfaces a very pleasing bright silver to gray. Trigger guard is completely gray. Stocks retain nearly all of a hand rubbed oil finish, checkering re-cut and sharp. Bores are excellent, with a couple of dents about 8" from breech ends, most likely from being held in a vice. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Ejectors are in time. 53034-2 MGM134 (4,000-6,000)