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The flat, casehardened locks are signed “MANTON” below the pans and have border and floral engraving, frizzen rollers, and sliding half-cock safeties. The blued trigger guards have the serial number in an oval among the floral and martial themed engraving. Ramrods with horn tips are fitted below the lower barrels. The checkered stocks have apertures for mounting a shoulder stock (absent). The apertures are likely working life additions. The original mahogany fitted case
has a John Manton trade label of circa 1801-1815 inside the lid, green baize lining, a combination flask, “4033” and “22” marked ball mold, brush, balls, loading and cleaning rod, and jag.
CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus of the fading original brown finish remaining along the barrels, bright gold, 85% plus original case colors and blue finish, and generally light overall age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering, a few marks and scratches, and slight handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has mild age and storage related wear including some holes and contact wear on the interior. The flask is fair, but the other accessories are fine.
B) Manton Double Barrel Flintlock Pistol - Serial no.
3870, 22 bore cal., 8 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/gold/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut grips. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus of the fading original
brown finish remaining along the barrels, bright gold, 70%
original case colors, 85% original blue finish, and general minor overall age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine
and has crisp checkering and a few dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive and rare set. Double barrel, single trigger over/under pistols like these demonstrate Manton’s talents as a maker of the best flintlock firearms in the early 19th century. Provenance: F. Theodore Dexter; The Norman R. Blank Collection. Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE MANTONS: GUNMAKERS BY NEAL & BACK
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