In the early 1800s the company’s Founder, Charles Lancaster, was a barrel maker for the famous gunmaker Joseph Manton. In 1811, having decided to go into business for himself, Lancaster opened his own premises in Drury Lane, from where he was able to supply barrels to much of the London Gun Trade, including his former employer and other emerging and famous gunmakers such as James Purdey.
As he outgrew his shop, Lancaster made the move to New Bond Street where, in 1826, he began making complete guns under his own name. |
Following his death in 1847, the business passed to his son, Charles William Lancaster (1820-1878), who was joined in 1855 by his brother, Charles the Founder’s second son, Alfred (1826-1890). Alfred left the business just 4 years later to start his own company, A. Lancaster Gun & Rifle Manufacturer. Alfred carried out his business in South Audley Street, near to where Purdey would eventually set up shop. Such a prestigious address clearly showed he was a successful gunmaker, as much so as his elder brother. Indeed both brothers worked together on their numerous patents, which related as much to guns and rifles as they did to the projectiles they fired, though Charles William’s own 1850 patent for the ‘Oval Bore’ rifling system was arguably the most well-known of the Lancaster designs.
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Gunmaker to the Good and the GreatThroughout the 1800s and early 1900s, Lancaster made guns and rifles for several notable clients. One of the most famous clients was Annie Oakley, America’s famous trick shooter known as ‘Little Miss Sure Shot”. Oakley formed a strong bond with the company in 1887 after Charles William watched her shooting a tournament and spotted that her lack of gun fit was affecting her performance. Charles William was able to immediately put this right by building her a gun with a very specific set of measurements that she would go on to put on all of her guns, including a number of new ones produced by Lancaster. Oakley later returned to Britain to be a guest instructor at Lancaster’s shooting grounds, where she famously instructed British women in the art of shooting.
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The Twentieth Century and BeyondIn 1932 came the first significant change in the structure of the company. Charles Lancaster was purchased by Grant & Lang, subsequently Atkin Grant & Lang. The production of new Lancaster guns and rifles dwindled throughout the 1900s and by the late 20th Century, the company was privately sold.
Lancaster had a series of owners throughout the early 2000s until it was purchased in 2007 by former Rigby riflemaker, Ronald Wharton, with the backing of his long time client and friend, Francis Beardsworth. Ron relaunched the brand as Charles Lancaster Gunmakers Ltd with the help of his wife, Margarita Booker. Following Ron's untimely death, the business remained with Margarita and Francis. |
In 2021, former long-term Purdey man, George Juer, also of William Evans and W. J. Jeffery & Co Big Game Rifle Manufacturers, joined forces with Margarita and Francis to relaunch the brand and begin an exciting journey that will see Charles Lancaster Gunmakers returned to its heyday heights and its rightful place amongst the best of British Gunmakers.
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