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VERY FINE JOHN MANTON DOUBLE FLINTLOCK GAME GUN

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
VERY FINE JOHN MANTON DOUBLE FLINTLOCK GAME GUN

WITH ORIGINAL MANTON CASE AND PERIOD ACCESSORIES. EX. W. KEITH NEAL COLLECTION.
Cal. 17 bore. S# 3331 (1800). The 32" skelp twist barrels are gold inlaid ---MANTON*LONDON--- on full length swamped rib. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with London proofs and S# which is also on patent breech plugs that are not inset. Plugs are inlaid with gold lines on tops and have gold touch holes. Locks with beveled plates having rebated pointed tails are fitted with serpentine cocks, waterproof pans, bridled frizzens and feather springs with large rollers and bulbous finials. Locks have double line border engraving on chamfers and "MANTON" is under pans. Borders of cocks are filed in usual late 18th century "Best" style with ovolo moulded edges. Top spurs turn backward. Trigger plate has early style wide pineapple finial. Trigger guard, engraved with dog on bow, has curl at rear forming grip which is engraved with S#. Well streaked and lightly figured European walnut stock measures 14 3/8" over steel buttplate with long top tang engraved with a pair of hanging birds. Stock features swept shadow line right hand cheekpiece, square grip checkering and a silver oval at top of grip engraved with a greyhounds head under the motto "VIRTUS MILLE SCUTA"(possibly the Clifford family). Stock attaches to barrels with captive sidebolt through oval silver escutcheons. A greenheart ramrod with steel tip and steel worm tail mounts through two beaded pipes and pineapple thimble. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2". DAC: 1 5/16". CAST: neutral. LOP: 14 3/8". WEIGHT: 7 lb. 6 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in an original John Manton mahogany case with pendular hook and key fastener (key escutcheon is inverted teardrop shaped bone). Top is fitted with circular "D" ring handle, central medallion is unengraved. Case is lined in green cloth and a small John Manton label in lid is of the type used between 1801-15. Bottom compartment has lift our lock tray with bone knob affixed with an original W. Keith Neal Collection tag number "C193". Case contains some early accessories including Sykes marked leather shot snake, three piece brass and rosewood cleaning rod in leather case, steel powder and shot container, walnut handled combination turn screw, early type dimpled wad punch marked "20" and a leather wallet for flints (containing five unused "Best" Brandon flints), unmarked copper bodied powder flask in a compartment with removable bottom. Another flint wallet is in this compartment contains four used flints. Space under lock platform contains lock pin. CONDITION: fine as partially refinished. Barrels retaining over 90% very well done re-brown over some light pitting. Locks have traces of original case hardening color. Trigger guard and lockplate also have traces of original blue but all are mostly gray-brown. Most bright blue remains on feather springs. Stock retains over 80% original oil finish with a large number of light marks and scratches. Bores are bright and shiny retaining most of their straight scratch "rifling". Exterior of case is fine with many scratches. Interior cloth is very good to fine with compressions and fading. Barrel partition has some later cuts. Accessories are generally good to fine. This gun is listed in "THE MANTONS GUNMAKERS" but a case is not described. A very lovely early John Manton. 01-21995/MGM). ANTIQUE. $8,000-15,000.