On 15 April 1993 Sotheby,s sold the Atkin,Grant and Lancaster collection.This sale provided a reliable source for estimating the age of early Lancaster guns.Here are a few of the manufacturing dates quoted in the sale catalogue.
1188-1840/2204-1850/3973-1865/5016-1881/6272-1889/6710-1891.
Unfortunately 1891 is the last date found on guns included in this auction. Tracing the Lancaster records is a challenge!
In 1980 the Lancaster records were I believe owned by Harris and Sheldon who at that time were owners of; Churchill,Atkin Grant and Lang.As late as 1980 Churchill was still offering the Lancaster 12/20 made to special order.During 1980,Harris and Sheldon, sold Atkin,Grant and Lang and Churchill as separate entities.It would appear that the Lancaster records were sold to a third party by one of these separated companies and/or by Harris and Sheldon.
Still posted on the internet is the following:
Charles Lancaster Gun makers Limited,
The Firs
Bishopswood,
Chard,
Somerset TAO3RU
Tel# 01460 234254
P.S Can any one provide a guide as to date of manufacture and description of a pair Lancaster gun numbers 11628/9 named as," a+w [No connection to the fast food outlets!] special hammerless ejectors?
Last edited by Roy Hebbes; 07/01/10 08:13 AM.
