Originally manufactured in circa 1888 as a .500 (black powder express) double rifle, this has been smoothbored to 20 gauge and is potentially a candidate for conversion back to a rifle. With browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of beadwork at the breech end. Raised flat partially file cut matted rib with bead front sight, signed “A. LANCASTER. 50 GREEN STREET. GROSVENOR SQUARE. LONDON. W.” and engraved with a spray of foliage at the breech end. Casehardened action with carved percussion fences, blued sidelever and casehardened rebounding side locks each signed “A. LANCASTER” and with blued hammer. Furniture comprising blued trigger plate, trigger guard, pistol grip cap and butt plate, the last engraved “EXPRESS No.2 .500 CAL./137 GRAINS POWDER/340 GRAINS BULLET”. Border and scroll engraving throughout. The underside of the barrels and water table with Birmingham nitro reproof marks. Figured 14 1/4 inch semi-pistol grip stock with checkered grip and forearm, the latter with key fastener. The underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon. Proved at .615/.626, measuring .624/.626+, 2 3/4 inch chambers, minimum wall thickness 0.044/0.045. Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz.

This fine gun was no doubt a victim of the introduction of registration for rifles in the UK which saw many rifles smoothbored to shotguns to get around the change in legislation making this a potential candidate for conversion back to a rifle. The barrels retaining nearly all of the rebrowned finish, file cut matting and rib signature softened. Action and locks retaining 30% faded original casehardened finish, engraving clear. The blued parts retaining near 100% reblued finish, the pistol grip cap turning to plum color. Stock has scattered age related storage and handling marks, checkering well defined, a filled sling eye hole is on the underside of the butt near the escutcheon. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.