Lancaster Arms SxS Shotgun

[Barr]

I am looking for any information possible regarding my great-great grandfather's SxS shotgun I just inherited.

The gun is labeled "Lancaster Arms Co" and the barrel is marked "Laminated Steel Belgium" with the left barrel marked "Choked". There is no serial or other identifying marks discernible (no serial when made). The barrel has a set of extractors with an action lock on the bottom, some sort of alignment pin on the top of the barrels, doubleset triggers, and a set of rabbit ear hammers. The overall condition of the gun I would rate as fair with heavy pitting in the barrel from what I suspect was either blackpowder fouling that was not cleaned properly or corrosive primers.

My suspicion is that this was a field grade shotgun made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from approx 1908-1922. This will probably make a trip to a gunsmith, but I think it will be a fireplace hanger (due to an unsafe action and barrels) after I locate a possible replacement stock. The stock is split in the wrist and held together by a brass nail brad and a large staple.

Could anybody lend any insight into this gun and its possible history of manufacture? What retailer may have carried this brand? Thank you.

 

[451 Detonics]

Belgium made most likely for a US company, tons of these were imported in the late 1800, early 1900. Lancaster Arms was an American retailer based in Lancaster Penn from about 1908 to 1922 or thereabouts, they were not a manufacturer.

Check the water table for proof marks.

 

[Barr]

Where do you find a water table? Where would the proof marks be on the gun?

 

[oneounceload]

Remove the forearm, then open the gun and remove the barrels.

The water table is the part of thew action/receiver underneath the barrel, whereas the barrel flats are the underneath part of the barrels themselves. proof marks can be on either. They are various designs stamped into the metal. Anything with ELG, for example, is a Belgian gun. There are tables with all of the various proof marks.

Pics would help

 

[JohnBT]

The owner made, or had made, his patented "Infallible Single Trigger" that would fit any gun. They turn up from time on time on some nice shotguns.

www.ebay.com/itm/1914-Print-Ad-Infallible-Single-Trigger-Lancaster-Arms-/370547722451

 

[Barr]

See attached pics of proof marks.

 

[Barr]

See final attachments. Please advise if I need to make the pics more clear. The 3 numbers that are the hardest to read are 37042 and what looks like 307 on each barrel.

 

[oneounceload]

The ELG with crown is the Belgian proof mark, the 18 is the bore diameter in "mm"

It would appear on one barrel to be a bore diameter of 18.0 and a choke diameter of 18.0 - i.e., a Cylinder choke if I am reading the markings correctly

 

[JohnBT]

The ELG in the oval under the crown was used by the Liege proof house for black powder starting in 1893. According to the Blue Book, it was "the definitive black powder proof for breachloading guns."

John

 

[Barr]

From what I could tell both barrels have a constriction of 18 mm with a bore diameter of 18.2 mm and the 12 gauge black powder proof markings. The choke is approx 0.007" which would make both an improved cylinder.