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IMPRESSIVE JOHN MANTON 12 BORE BELTED BALL RIFLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
IMPRESSIVE JOHN MANTON 12 BORE BELTED BALL RIFLE

WITH CASE AND SOME ACCESSORIES. FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE NIZAM OF HYDERABAD. Cal. 12 bore 2 groove .745 bore diameter .765 groove diameter. S# 10210 (1828). The 30" slightly swamped octagon barrel fitted with under rib is gold inlaid ---MANTON LONDON--- on top flat behind one standing two folding nested leaf "V" notch rear sight. Bottom of barrel is stamped with S# and London proofs. London "V" proof is also on patent breech which is inlaid with two gold bands and unvented platinum blowout. Breech iron is engraved with shaded scroll and a tigers head. Percussion front spring lock with flat faced serpentine hammer is gold inlaid "MANTON" and engraved with scroll and standing stag. Trigger plate has stylized pineapple finial. Trigger guard with scroll on bow has spur on tang forming grip. Steel buttplate has more scroll on long top tang. Stock with silver nose cap is made of what appears to be dense tropical hardwood. Flat top point pattern checkering is at grip. Stock attaches to barrel with captive sidebolt through oval silver escutcheon and a large mahogany ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm under tail) mounts through two plain pipes and well filed steel thimble. Sling eyes are attached to mid pipe and toeline of stock. Rifle is listed in "The Manton Supplement" as being "converted". From what is not stated. Most work on this rifle appears to have been done in the Indian subcontinent and this rifle was part of the collection from the armory of the Nizam of Hyderabad as sold by Holland & Holland (inventory #491 on stock). MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2 7/16". DAC: 1 13/16". CAST: about 1/2" off. LOP: 14 1/4". WEIGHT: 8 lb. 15 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in a vintage (possibly original interior relined) deep mahogany case with dual hook and key lock closure which has inlet brass corners and circular "D" ring handle. Case is lined in green cloth and an original Manton label is in lid. Case contains large steel (2 1/16") patch cutter, ebony loading mallet, round ball mould (.745 dia. marked improved No.?), brass powder measure, large Turks head and spare main spring. CONDITION: barrel retains nearly all of a very good quality rebrown. Other iron parts retain most of a reblue. Engraving is somewhat softened. Stock retains most of what appears to be its original finish. Bore is very fine, shiny and smooth, lock good. Case exterior retains most of an oil refinish. Renewed interior cloth is fine. Reinstalled label reinstalled is foxed and has some rubs. Accessories are generally good. (01-21813/MGM). ANTIQUE. $3,000-5,000.