Well, found some interesting history on this, formerly a double rifle. Appears a certain P. Lumsden bought it in 1884. He was General Sir P. Lumsden who led the British Afghan Survey Mission the next year that effectively prevented war between Britain and Russia. Below are relevant citings from Army & Navy Records at the U. of Glasgow and from the Hansard (Parliamentary Minutes) on the issue.
Oh, the dealer said someone (likely CLH) had bought it. I left the paper copies of all this with him in case the buyer shows up again. You all will find the exchange in Parliament, notably PM Gladstone's reply a marvellous example political/diplomatic non-speak...
Regards, Tim
QUOTE: According to the Army & Navy records that we hold, gun number 937 was a double express rifle, originally purchased by Sir P. Lumsden in 1884 for £19.10.00. UNQUOTE
QUOTE:
CENTRAL ASIA—THE RUSSO-AFGHAN FRONTIER.
HC Deb 05 March 1885 vol 295 cc126-9 126
§ MR. ONSLOW
asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he could state to the House the precise determination arrived at by Her Majesty's Government regarding the Afghan frontier; what is the present position of Sir P. Lumsden's Mission, and how long it is proposed to 127 keep him on the borders of Afghanistan, I and for what purpose; and, if he can now state the purport of the visit of the Amir to His Excellency the Viceroy; on what basis any understanding respecting the relative positions of England, Russia, I and Afghanistan on the Afghan frontier is to be framed?
...
MR. GLADSTONE
What I have to say upon these Questions is this—I will first take the Question of my hon. Friend 128 (Mr. Heneage), and I wish to speak explicity to the House. On the part of Her Majesty's Government I am bound to say that, at the present moment, Questions relating to policy or to future contingencies on the subject of the Afghan Frontier cannot, in our judgment, be answered without prejudice to the public interest.UNQUOTE