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LOT 1308
Cased John Manton & Son 20 Bore Flintlock Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 7623, 20 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/
blue/silver finish, walnut stock. Serial number 7623 is listed in W. Keith Neal and
D.H.L. Back, “The Manton Supplement”, p. 65, as a 16 bore double barrel shotgun from 1820 with 30 inch barrels and “1819” inscribed on the silver wrist escutcheon.
This shotgun is also noted as owned by “N. Blank, U.S.A.” The barrel length listed in the book includes the patent breeches, and the bore listed in the book is incorrect. The
Damascus barrels have a concave rib with a bead front sight, “John Manton & Son Dover Street” signed at the breech end, platinum-lined and banded patent breeches with sunburst engraving on the rib that extends onto the breech end of the barrel rib. The engraved standing breech has a grooved rear sight. The locks each have John Manton’s rainproof priming-pan and frizzen covered by patent No. 3942 from
July 21, 1815, and include the platinum powder dividing bar. The engraved locks are signed “John Manton & Son/PATENT” and the frizzens are each signed “JNO MANTON & SON/PATENT”, and have large rollers
on the frizzen springs, stepped tails, and beveled edges. The steel mounts have coordinating engraving as well as stylized pineapple finials. The trigger-guard is squared off at the front. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver. The varnished figured walnut stock has a checkered wrist. With green baize lined fitted mahogany case with Manton trade label and some later loading and maintenance equipment.
CONDITION: Very good with a period re-browned finish and dark aged patina along the barrels with light maker signature, mostly dark gray and brown patina on the locks and mounts, aged patina on the silver, sharp and distinct markings and engraving. The very good stock has softened
checkering, attractive figure, small divots and dings, a repaired crack above the nose of the lock on the right, a substantial chip visible on the left at the nose, and an old blanking screw to the underside of the butt where a sling swivel mount was once fitted. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are worn with some age and storage related wear, the case lid and partitions becoming loose. Manton double barrel shotguns were among the very best in the late flintlock era and continue to be highly sought after by collectors today.
Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500
LOT 1309
Documented Engraved and Gold Inlaid John Manton Flintlock Single Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 2838, 15 gauge, 34 3/8 inch part round bbl., brown/gold/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Serial number 2838 is listed in W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, “The Mantons: Gunmakers”, p. 73 as a 15 bore shotgun dating to 1797 and noted as owned by W. Keith Neal. Neal & Back note that the gun had a 34 inch single barrel, London proof marks, and “The flash-pan, which is semi- rainproof as above, and touch-hole are gold-lined. The barrel words are in gold. The barrel is fitted with a plug, and not a patent breech.”The multi-stage smoothbore Damascus barrel has a silver
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bead front sight, “---MANTON * LONDON---” in gold inlay on top, “2838” between London proof and view marks on the underside, a gold band at the breech end, and the noted gold-lined touch hole. The serial number is repeated on the breech plug hook and inside of the forearm. The flat beveled lock has a stepped tail, “MANTON” signed at center, the noted gold-lined semi-rainproof pan, and a roller on the frizzen. The mounts is iron and includes a large stylized pineapple finial on the trigger- guard and floral, bird, and dog motifs. The walnut half-stock also has a green horn forearm cap, a checkered wrist, a vacant gold oval wrist escutcheon, and a raised cheekpiece. The wooden ramrod is fitted with an iron worm and horn tip.