Percussion 16 Bore Shotgun

[Riley/MN]

WOW, there is some neat stuff on there - I didn't bother doing the conversion to dollars - I will have to look it up sometime. Thanks so much for the link!

[Feltwad]

Enclosed are three images of a newly aquired sxs 16 gauge percussion shotgun by Charles Lancaster London.This gun which is a back action gun is early  for this type of lock it is number 287 and built in 1828 by Lancaster ,the barrels are stamped CL plus the proof and gauge size ,the standing breech is stamped 287  also the internal of the lockplates,on the face of the lockplate is engraved C Lancaster Improvements.
Research into this gun revels 287 and 288, 289, 290  all 16 gauge sxs percussion except 290 which was a 15 gauge were purchased by the same gentleman at the same time  which indicates that they may have been trio or two pairs.
Feltwad

[Kermit]

Does guns in pairs or triples indicate a gentleman of means who hands off the empty gun(s) to a servant for reloading while he keeps on shooting driven birds?

[Feltwad]

Kermit
That is correct  for a pair you had one loader and for a trio you had two loaders .The loaders were mostly gamekeepers but some gentry had their butlers or livery men has loaders who would travel with him  too different shoots.The common practice for the loaders was too load standing behind the shooter but some shooters the loaders sat in front of the shooter which was a dangerous practice with sparks fallen from the fired gun all around them.
Feltwad
A Flint Lock will not secure a chicken house door