The Lancaster "Colonial Quality" guns were advertised as suited for hunting in India and other UK colonial holdings. This example has "COLONIAL/QUALITY" on the bottom of the barrels and on the breech face and barrels marked "CHARLES LANCASTER. 151 NEW BOND ST LONDON. BREECH LOADING RIFLE 'COLONIAL QUALITY'" on the left and "NON-FOULING SMOOTH OVAL BORE RIFLE." The chambers are 3 1/2 inches long and have a shared extractor. Lancaster first released oval bore rifling in 1850 and discontinued using it after WWI due to the increasing velocity of smokeless ammunition. During the blackpowder period it fouled less and was easier to clean. The underside of the barrels also have the matching serial number, "440" (28 gauge), London proofmarks, and "CL." The watertable has matching serial numbers and additional proofmarks. The serial number is also engraved on the bottom of the trigger guard. The back action locks have sliding safeties and are marked "CHARLES LANCASTER/LONDON." The rifle is equipped with a beaded blade front sight and notch rear sight on a textured solid rib, matching numbered checkered forearm, Jones style underlever, and a round knob shotgun buttstock with checkered grip, shadow line cheekpiece, and a checkered butt with heel and toe plates. The drop at the comb is 1 1/4 inches. Drop at heel is 2 1/2 inches, and the length of pull is 14 5/8 inches.

Very good. 95% plus of the refinished blue remains on the barrels, lever, and toe/heel plates, and traces of the original case remain. The balance has smooth gray patina, and there are some small patches of minor oxidation/pitting (mostly isolated to the toe and heel plates). Minor scratches are scattered throughout. The custom replacement wood is very fine with crisp checkering, small marks, and slight dings. Mechanically excellent.