This may stretch the capabilities of the Mudcat to an extreme. I am calling on the abilities of our little band of music makers, especially our UK contingent, to step into what may be a foreign field.

A friend of my father's willed him an antique hunting rifle. He is looking for more information about it including when it was made and who was the original owner. This is not as odd as it may seem. The rifle was a very expensive piece of equipment back in the 19th century and the company would have kept records on the purchaser. Very likely the purchaser was a wealthy English aristocrat who purchased it for big game hunting in Africa or India.

The rifle is a .62 caliber half stock percussion rifle made by Charles Lancaster Ltd. situated at 151 New Bond Street, London, England (which went out of business in 1914). It is marked with serial number 1755. He estimates it was made around 1853 to 1855. It uses Brunswick Rifling which was only two rifling grooves with a twist of one turn in ten feet. It has a three leaf rear sight with a gold center line and a platinum plug under the nipple. There is a stag carved or etched on to the cap box. He has located a photo of a similar rifle that was made for a maharajah in India.

We are specifically looking for a possible location of the records of the Charles Lancaster company.

I have left messages at some of the newsgroups but have had no luck yet. Can the Mudcat outdo them?

What can you guys tell me?