Charles Lancaster, 151 New Bond Street, London
12 bore Box Lock Ejector
no. 07408

Date of manufacture: 1894

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Heritage Guns' Comment This gun is an example in unusually fine condition of a design that competed directly with the Anson & Deeley boxlock and represents a rare opportunity to buy a gun retailed by this respected gunmaker but designed by the famous Frederick Beesley. There is a little original colour hardening still visible on the action and this coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays. This gun comes complete with a brass cornered, leather case in very sound external condition with new handle and straps. Internally, the case has been relined with new 'Burgundy' all wool baize, carries a Heritage Guns label and is fitted out with ebony and brass tools including 3 turnscrews mounted in a hand made oak block and a two part cleaning rod. The case is further equipped with a pewter oil bottle, nickel plated snapcaps and a set of cleaning tools in a leather wallet. WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.

 

The action is of Frederick Beesley's 'Wristbreaker' design which features:
Mainsprings that only tension when gun is closed, which lends a self-opening effect,
Double triggers bolted by an automatic top tang safety slide,
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey Bolt' by way of a 'Scott Spindle',
Beesley's 'Patent Block Safety' mainspring blocks,
Perkes' patent over-center ejectors controlled by slides running from the action knuckle
to the main springs,
'Sugar Tongs' forend fastener.
Gun weight 6lb 10oz
Engraving style Best bold foliate and borders.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: To be confirmed

The fine Damascus barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾" (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs. Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type. There is vestigial pitting to the left barrel. This is pacified and has been left in to maintain wall thickness.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2004.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from lightly figured, straight grain walnut. The stock is slightly cast off for a right-handed shot.

The 20 lines per inch chequering freshened to the normal boxlock design with blank oval.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:

Perkes' ejectors patent no. 10084 of 1888,
Beesley's action patent no. 425 of 1884,
'Purdey Bolt' patent no. 1104 of 1863,
'Scott Spindle' patent no. 2752 of 1865,
Beesley's 'Patent Block Safety' and safety catch no. 14488 of 1884,
and last but not least
Henry's snap cap patent no. 3257 of 1870.