The maker’s records confirm that this rare gun, serial no. 013586, was sold in 1913 to a Horace E. Cook Esq. According to Geoffrey & Susan Boothroyd in their book “The British Over-And-Under Shotgun” (Chapter 16), H.A.A. Thorn, the then owner of Charles Lancaster, took out a patent (No. 12,057 of May 14, 1910) for "providing double-barrelled guns, of the kind having superposed barrels, with ejector mechanism". Expanding on the fact that the patent is for ejectors only, a letter published in "The Field" magazine on June 30, 1910 is mentioned that confirms the guns were purchased ‘in the white’ from Germany and were finished and fitted with ejectors by Lancaster in London. With blued barrels engraved “WHITWORTH STEEL” and “2 3/4 CASE” on the bolsters, each barrel struck with London nitro proof and reproof marks and Whitworth trademark. The over barrel with white bead sight and engraved with scrollwork at the breech end and on the doll’s head extension. Scalloped boxlock action with blued toplever, automatic safety with silver inlaid “SAFE”, signed “CHARLES LANCASTER” on each side and engraved with scrollwork. Blued trigger guard with border and scroll engraving. Figured straight-hand stock including 3/4 inch orange rubber butt pad, with checkered panels to the grip and forearm, the latter with Deeley Edge fastener and dark horn cap, the underside of the butt with silver oval initial escutcheon engraved with the monogram “G.E.C.” Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore diameter nine inches from the breech, reproved but no definitive measurement visible (original 16/16 marks visible), measured at .667/.665 inches; choke constriction .014/.005 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.032 inches; 1 5/8 inch drop at comb; 3 1/4 inch drop at heel; 14 5/16 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs 6 oz. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Fine. The barrels retain 98% reblued finish with slightly softened engraving at the breech end of the over barrel. Action cleaned bright, clear engraving. Toplever, trigger guard and forearm iron reblued. Stock refinished with softened drop points, well-defined recut multi-point checkering, minor handling losses to upper corners of forearm wood, some scattered storage and handling blemishes and bruises throughout, forearm wood cracked at rear on each side. Mechanically excellent.