Lancaster was a second generation London Gunsmith who made a number of contributions to the design of armaments including systems for muzzle loading rifled cannons and his signature Lancaster Pistol, a monstrous quad-barreled firearm and logical evolution of the Howdah design. The mechanism from the Lancaster Pistol has been put to work in this arm in a significant deviation from the single and double barrel breechloaders of the day; departing from the conventional wisdom of using the opening barrel as a lever for recocking an internal hammer or striker assembly, the Lancaster uses a double action internal hammer with rotating striker and four fixed inertial firing pins. Each pull of the trigger cocks the hammer and rotates the striker to line up with the next pin, discharging each barrel in a counter-clockwise rotary sequence. The barrels themselves are arranged in a "square" configuration, two up and two down, with a single nickel sight bead in the concave top rib, that is lightly engraved at the breech and bears the legend "CHARLES LANCASTER 151 NEW BOND St LONDON, PATENT FOUR BARREL BREECH LOADING HAMMERLESS GUN". Each chamber is marked with a London "GP" and "V" proof along with the number "20". 3 inch chambers and a single extractor. The frame is engraved with "rope" pattern borders and floral screws, "CHARLES LANCASTER'S PATENT/LONDON" on each side and a gold inlaid "BOLTED" marking underneath the tang safety switch. The breech face bears another Lancaster Patent marking, and the individual recoil shields and pin bushings are punch dot numbered to match starting at the upper left barrel and running in firing sequence, with a smooth blue ring trigger. The stock is sharply checkered straight wrist walnut with diamond profiles and lightly engraved hardware on the splinter forearm, a silver inscription oval engraved with a standing falcon over "H.S" and a checkered naked butt. The symbol has not been positively identified. Measurements: bore diameter at 9 inches - 0.614, wall thickness at 9 inches - 0.55, length of pull - 14 inches, drop at comb - 1 3/8 inches, drop at heel - 1 3/4 inches, cast - on 1/2 inch, toe - out 3/4 inch, overall weight - 7 pounds 7 ounces. Included with the set is a case sized to fit both shotguns, with a set of eight nickel finished snap caps and a number of small tools, as well as detached leather labels from Charles Lancaster and I.M. Crudgington of Bath.

Very fine as refurbished with 97% of the brown Damascus barrel finish, showing a few light handling marks and strong patterns, and the frame shows about half of the original case colors, with the rest taking on a smooth gray patina. The trigger bow/tang, plate have 98% blue refinish. The freshened stock is also very fine with some professionally mended chips in the forearm, mild dings, and excellent color and grain. The case is very good. Mechanically excellent.

Nearly identical to A, with an unmarked silver inscription oval on the stock. Measurements: bore diameter at 9 inches - 0.612 to 0.614, wall thickness at 9 inches - 0.055 overall, length of pull - 14 inches, drop at comb - 1 3/8 inch round, drop at heel 2 inches, cast - zero, toe - out 3/4 inch, overall weight 7 pounds 8 ounces.

Fine as professionally refurbished. The barrels show strong Damascus colors and pattern, with mild handling marks, with 60% coverage of case colors on the receiver and over 90% blue on the trigger guard. The refinished stock is good as repaired, with mended and patched wood on the wrist around the upper tang, scattered dings, sharp checkering and highly attractive grain and color. Mechanically excellent.