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STRIKING GOLD INLAID JOSEPH MANTON 16 BORE DOUBLE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
STRIKING GOLD INLAID JOSEPH MANTON 16 BORE DOUBLE
PERCUSSION SHOTGUN WITH CASE & ACCESSORIES. Cal. 16 Bore. S# 9968 (Circa 1828). The 31" twist barrels are engraved with Joseph Manton's Davies Street address on raised concave rib. Rib and breech ends of barrels are gold inlaid for between 3-1/2"-5" with leaves, arrows and scrolls. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#'s and are also stamped with barrel maker's mark "WF", (the highly regarded William Fullerd who was Manton's favorite barrel maker). Breech plugs are unnumbered and have engraved platinum blowouts. Breech iron is gold inlaid with devices of the same style as seen on barrels with the addition of two coiled kelpies or sea monsters with arrow tipped tongues. Classic coiled sea monsters in gold adorn the front spring locks with tall flat faced hammers with dolphin heads and scroll engraving. Each lockplate is engraved "Joseph Manton Patent". Straight grip stock of very finely figured and marbled European walnut is mounted and measures 14" over iron buttplate with long top tang. Tang is engraved with game birds and scroll. This engraving is also found on trigger guard which has S# on tang. Stock has square type checkering at grip and forend and attaches to barrels with single side bolt through oval silver escutcheons. Ebony ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm under cap) is held by two plain pipes and iron thimble decorated with stylized pineapple. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: L .675. R .675. Wall thickness: L .032. R .032. STOCK: DAH: 2". DAC: 1-5/8". CAST: neutral. LOP: 14". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 10 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in vintage quartered oak case with double hook closure. Guns requiring extended shipment by sea (e.g. India & Australia) were shipped in oak cases vs. mahogany due to salt water environmental conditions. Circular top medallion is engraved "R.F.P.". Interior is lined in beige cloth and has Joseph Manton Davies Street label in lid (type used between 1812 & 1819). Case contains an array of good early tools including cleaning equipment, German silver capper by James Dixon, 14 bore dimpled wad punch, hammer nose and nipple jags with ebony handles, bone bottle with spare nipples, Sykes patent powder flask with black Morocco cover, black Morocco shot flask with German silver spout and an empty tin of Joyce percussion caps. A covered compartment with bone knob contains good case hardened main spring vice, pewter oil bottle and a powder and shot loading canister. CONDITION: fair to good. Barrels retaining most of a re-brown with good definition to pattern. All other metal parts show cleaning to silver gray. Stock shows a large number of marks and dings under an old renewed finish with subsequent wear. Stock is cracked through wrist and repaired. Repairs are covered by inlet and tacked silver strips. Checkering shows considerable wear. Bores are shiny, somewhat frosted throughout. Locks are good. Case is good. Gun fits well. Exterior shows old uncleaned finish. Interior cloth is good with rubs and compressions. Label is considerably foxed with piece missing from upper left corner. Accessories are generally good. PROVENANCE: consignor's notes. This gun is described in "The Manton Supplement" by Neil & Back on page 264. Although this description says that this gun was originally built with percussion ignition; examination of breeches, hammers and the early barrel address leads one to believe that this gun was converted from tube lock or flint. (01-25793/MGM). ANTIQUE. $3,500-4,500.