Takht Singh (1819-1873) and Jaswant Singh (1838-1895), Maharajas of Jodhpur, ordered a distinctive series of gilt firearms from the famous London gunmaker Charles Lancaster. The serial numbers, 3545 and 3547, date to 1862. An included May 22, 1962, letter from W. Keith Neal to Norman R. Blank states: "I have just acquired a fabulous pair of rifles, which seem to me to be so much the kind of thing you would like that I want to tell you about them. They are a cased pair of eight bore muzzle loading percussion rifles by Charles Lancaster in about unused condition of the very finest quality. The mounts are engraved with designs from Landseer and are gold plated. That is the lock inside and out, the butt, trigger guards, patch box etc. Heads of screws are also gold and it is the real heavy fire gilding. One rifle the gold is like new on the other there is just a tiny bit of wear, but they look superb. They are in their case lined with purple velvet and have a great many fittings also in fine state...These rifles were made for the Maharaja of Jodhpur and have come over from India recently, there are other pieces from the same family collection I am hoping to get...." Blank acquired the cased set from Neal in February 1963. The two rifles are nearly identical aside from the inclusion of a deer scene on the patchbox of the second rifle rather than scrolls seen on the first rifle. The trigger plates have stylized pineapple finials, and the trigger guards feature a scene of battling stags. The remaining engraving primarily consists of fine English scrollwork. The Damascus barrels have dovetailed beaded blade front sights, flat folding three-leaf rear sights (marked "100", "200", and "300"), "CHARLES LANCASTER" on the upper left flats, and "151 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON." on the upper right flats, and casehardened breech plugs with pierced platinum plugs and bands and sunken gold lined "CHARLES/LANCASTER/LONDON" maker's marks. The locks are also signed "C. LANCASTER/London" and have "JB" markings from Joseph Brasier and half-cock safeties. Aside from the barrels, breech plugs, and some small parts such as the blank silver escutcheons, the metal is gilded throughout. The figured walnut half-length stocks have dark horn forend caps and multi-point checkered forends and wrists. The set comes in an associated oak two-tier takedown case with blue felt lining, an old label on the lid referencing the serial numbers, "3486" and "3487" noted on the trade label inside, Jodhpur tags inside listing the current rifles, matching numbered tool wallets, two ball molds (one numbered 3545), a pair of powder flasks (antique replacements from James Dixon & Son), coromandel wood patch boxes, and a variety of other equipment.

Very fine with 95% plus original browned finish, 99% original casehardened finish on the breech plug, 90% original gilt finish on the locks and mounts, chipped wedge, and bent rear sight leaf. The stock is also very fine aside from a crack at the nose of the lock and repaired horn forend cap and has crisp checkering with the exception of some scuffs on the underside of the forend, minor scratches and dings, and crazing of the finish. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are good with generally mild age and storage related wear.

See "A." Provenance: The Armouries of the Maharajas of Jodhpur; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Exceptionally fine with crisp engraving and markings and 98% original brown, casehardened, and gilt finish with only minor age and storage related wear including a chipped wedge. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering aside from some scuffed spots on the forend and has some minor scratches and dings, faint cracks in the horn cap and just ahead of the lock, and some crazing of the finish. Mechanically excellent.