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DESIREABLE JOSEPH MANTON DOUBLE FLINTLOCK GAME

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 15,000.00 USD
DESIREABLE JOSEPH MANTON DOUBLE FLINTLOCK GAME

GUN WITH "NEW IMPROVEMENTS" EX. KEITH NEAL COLLECTION. Cal. 20 bore. S# 6176 (1813). The beginning of the 19th century saw gunmakers doing their best to improve the flintlock. Joseph Manton, as the top London gunmaker became obsessed with making the locks waterproof. His other improvements were to make sighting easier and guns safer. This gun shows most of these features. The 32" stub twist barrels are fitted with his "elevating" rib which is engraved "Joseph Manton's NEW Improvements by His Majesty's Patent". Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S# and "CL" (Charles Lancaster noted barrel forger). Inset patent breeches are a fine example of Manton's attempts to make guns waterproof and have large rectangular openings either side of rib extension for any water running down outside barrel to pass through. Water would be channeled to the bottom of gun and exit through a rectangular hole behind trigger plate pineapple. Platinum lined touchholes are on circular bosses which were covered by extensions on frizzens to channel water out and away from pan. Breeches are also stamped with S#'s and "CL". Breech iron is near fully engraved with attractive sweeping scrolls and floral highlights. Locks with feather engraved chamfered plates are fitted with waterproof pans of latest style. Bridled roller frizzens with aforementioned waterproofing improvements are engraved "Joseph Manton" and "PATENT" around use numbers 6301 and 6302. Rollers are on frizzens and engage high lumps on tops of feather springs. Late style Manton cocks have notches which engage platinum weighted Manton patent gravitating stops. These were intended to be a safety feature. When the gun was put in vertical position, as when being loaded, these "safeties" would pivot automatically into position to keep cocks in place with no danger of accidental discharge. Hunters who shot high pheasants and overhead waterfowl were not overly happy with this mechanism. Locks and cocks are engraved with feather bursts, some scroll and game scenes, which consists of well executed bird dog on tails and two pheasant toward rear of cocks. "Joseph Manton" "LONDON" is under pans. Stock of lightly figured and marbled European walnut measures 13 3/4" over steel buttplate with long top tang engraved with flags and shields. Trigger plate has late style pineapple finial, trigger guard with feather engraved borders has flags, etc. on bow. S# is on tang. Flat top point pattern checkering is at grip and stock attaches to barrels with captive side bolt through silver oval escutcheons. Rosewood ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm under cap) mounts through two plain pipes and pineapple thimble matching trigger plate. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2 1/4". DAC: 1 7/16". CAST: neutral. LOP: 13 3/4". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 7 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Christie's auction info. CONDITION: good as lightly refinished. Barrels retaining nearly all of a rebrown, engraving remains clear. All iron and steel parts cleaned to silver gray over some light pitting. Stock with light oil refinish has some subsequent marks and scratches, checkering recut. Bores are shiny with light pitting, mechanically fine. PROVENANCE: Ex. Keith Neal Collection, tag on trigger guard bow with number G242. Described on pg. 253 "THE MANTONS Gunmakers". Sold Christie's Oct. 24, 2001 Lot 90. (01-21977/MGM). ANTIQUE. $7,500-15,000.