THE ACTION AND STOCK OF A 14-BORE BASE-FIRE HAMMER GUN BY C. LANCASTER, NO. 3240

The makers have kindly confirmed that this gun was completed in 1859 for H.R.H. Prince Albert. Their records also show that the gun was returned to them in 1860 for replacement barrels. The subsequent history of the gun is unclear but there is a possibility that the entire gun was rebuilt as gun No. 3240 is recorded as being in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. The only other known examples of guns with this external mechanism are also held there, thereby indicating that this mechanism was a Royal innovation