Thanks, guys.

I spent some time yesterday evening doing some Google searches and learned a fair amount.

Coincidently, this revelation about my rifle comes at a particularly interesting time. I am currently reading The Boer War by Thomas Pakenham. As previously mentioned, Henry Charles Keith Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, was the Secretary of War at that time. Now each reference to him in this book makes me think that I now own his son's double rifle.

Bowood House is still the private residence of the Marques of Lansdowne, but it is also open to the public for certain purposes. Here is it's interesting website.

Best regards,
Curl