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LOT 1469
Incredibly Rare and Historic Cased Set of Two Engraved and Gilded
Charles Lancaster 8 Bore Percussion Big Game Rifles Ordered by the
Maharaja of Jodhpur
-A) Lancaster 8 Bore Rifle - Serial no. 3545, 8 Bore cal., 30 5/8 inch
octagon bbl., brown/gold finish, walnut stock. Takht Singh (1819-1873) and
Jaswant Singh (1838-1895), Maharajas of Jodhpur, ordered a distinctive
series of gilt firearms from the famous London gunmaker Charles
Lancaster. The serial numbers, 3545 and 3547, date to 1862. An included
May 22, 1962, letter from W. Keith Neal to Norman R. Blank states: “I have
just acquired a fabulous pair of rifles, which seem to me to be so much
the kind of thing you would like that I want to tell you about them. They
are a cased pair of eight bore muzzle loading percussion rifles by Charles
Lancaster in about unused condition of the very finest quality. The mounts
are engraved with designs from Landseer and are gold plated. That is the
lock inside and out, the butt, trigger guards, patch box etc. Heads of screws
are also gold and it is the real heavy fire gilding. One rifle the gold is like
new on the other there is just a tiny bit of wear, but they look superb. They
are in their case lined with purple velvet and have a great many fittings
also in fine state...These rifles were made for the Maharaja of Jodhpur and
have come over from India recently, there are other pieces from the same
family collection I am hoping to get....” Blank acquired the cased set from
Neal in February 1963.
The two rifles are nearly identical aside from the inclusion of a deer
scene on the patchbox of the second rifle rather than scrolls seen on
the first rifle. The trigger plates have stylized pineapple finials, and the
trigger guards feature a scene of battling stags. The remaining engraving
primarily consists of fine English scrollwork. The Damascus barrels have
dovetailed beaded blade front sights, flat folding three-leaf rear sights
(marked “100”, “200”, and “300”), “CHARLES LANCASTER” on the upper left
flats, and “151 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON.” on the upper right flats, and
casehardened breech plugs with pierced platinum plugs and bands and
sunken gold lined “CHARLES/LANCASTER/LONDON” maker’s marks. The
locks are also signed “C. LANCASTER/London” and have “JB” markings from
Joseph Brasier and half-cock safeties. Aside from the barrels, breech plugs,
and some small parts such as the blank silver escutcheons, the metal is
gilded throughout. The figured walnut half-length stocks have dark horn
forend caps and multi-point checkered forends and wrists. The set comes
in an associated oak two-tier takedown case with blue felt lining, an old
label on the lid referencing the serial numbers, “3486” and “3487” noted
on the trade label inside, Jodhpur tags inside listing the current rifles,
matching numbered tool wallets, two ball molds (one numbered 3545),
a pair of powder flasks (antique replacements from James Dixon & Son),
coromandel wood patch boxes, and a variety of other equipment.
CONDITION: Very fine with 95% plus original browned finish, 99% original
casehardened finish on the breech plug, 90% original gilt finish on the
locks and mounts, chipped wedge, and bent rear sight leaf.