Model : Military Match

Description: .451” Lancaster oval bore muzzle loading military match rifle by Charles Lancaster. Border engraved lock marked to the front LANCASTER. Figured walnut stock with iron furniture including two barrel bands is chequered at the wrist and is fitted with original brass tipped, steel match ram rod designed to avoid wear to the bore during loading of the rifle. Match barrel of .451” calibre rifled with Lancaster’s patent smooth oval bore rifling is fitted with a ladder rear sight graduated to 1250 yards and is engraved to the breach LANCASTERS PATENT. Designed by the famous London gun maker Charles Lancaster his oval bore rifling was like many patent designs of the day was designed to reduce as far as possible the effects of the black powder fouling on accuracy and in this it was so successful that combined with its superior accuracy it was almost adopted as the standard rifling pattern for the British army at the time. Unfortunately for Lancaster the work on the Enfield rifle was too far advanced for it to be cancelled although his oval bore rifle was adopted for use by the sappers and miners in their carbine, however his rifles were very popular with the volunteer rifle men of the day and this example was made for a target shooter of the Victorian age for use in the military match rifle competitions of the time. In very good condition with fine oval bore, nice sharp stock with good chequering and much original blue finish to the metal work. A fine example of a percussion muzzle loading target rifle by one of the best of the London makers of Victorian times.