item details
NameLancaster rifle, 1855.
ProductionCharles Lancaster; gunsmith; 1855; London
Classificationrifles, firearms
Materialssteel, wood, brass
DimensionsOverall: 70mm (width), 185mm (height), 1213mm (length)
Registration NumberDM000458
Credit lineBequest of John Kenneth Chubbin Mitchell, 1965
Overview
"Lancaster" rifle, made by Charles Lancaster, London, 1855. The distinctive feature of Lancaster rifles was their oval bore, which replaced conventional rifling with two wide grooves. This allowed the .577 calibre lead bullet to make a very close fit with the barrel when the charge was ignited.
Lancaster's oval-bore rifling system was well-suited to military use, but his rifles saw only limited service with the British Army.