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Exceptional Documented Cased Engraved and Gold Accented Joseph Manton Single Barrel 16-Bore Flintlock Sporting from the Collection of Author W. Keith Neal - Serial no. 1271, 16 gauge, 35 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., brown/gold/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. This classic English single barrel sporting gun was manufactured around 1799-1800 by Joseph Manton and was in author W. Keith Neal’s collection staring in 1937 and was sold as part of his collection 2005. Among its distinguishing characteristics is more extensive use of gold than is often found
on Joseph Manton firearms. It was owned by W.N.W. Hewett of Tyr Mab Ellis, Glamorgan, Wales, who has been identified as marrying in 1777 and dying in 1806. It has a gold bead front sight, girdles at the transition point from round to hexadecagonal and then ultimately octagonal in the breech section, no maker’s marks on the “Damascus” twist barrel itself, a golden sunken cartouche with a crown and “JOSEPH/MANTON/PATENT” on the patent breech along with a gold band and gold
vent liner, primarily martial motifs engraved on the upper tang, border and martial engraving on the flat lock which is signed “JOSEPH MANTON/LONDON” and has a roller on the frizzen and a rainproof pan that sits at a slight angle towards the frizzen, a pineapple finial on the trigger plate, scroll and border engraving on the trigger guard bow, burst engraving on the rear curl, some light engraving on the tang, mostly martial engraving on the buttplate, horn forend cap, gold wedge escutcheons, and a checkered wrist. The bottom of the barrel has “W.N.W. Hewett” followed by the London proofs flanking “1271” and then “1535” on the bottom of the patent breech.
LOT 3286
Cased Engraved William Smith Double Barrel
Flintlock Sporting Gun - Serial no. 2488, 12 gauge, 29 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/silver/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1817-1825. William Smith was gunmaker to King George IV, Tsar Alexander I, and King Maximilian I. The serial number “2488” is stamped on each lock, barrel, breech hook, and the buttplate heel extension and is handwritten on the forend under the barrels. The locks also each have “PATENT/1932” and
“PATENT/1933” respectively above “WILLIAM SMITH/PRINCES STRT LONDON” on the flat plates and above “SELF PRIMER” on the frizzens in reference to his British patent No. 3588 of July 28, 1812, and are also engraved with scrolls, masks, and foliate patterns. The elevated concave rib features a bead front sight and is signed “W Smith Princes Street London” in script. The patent breeches have double platinum bands at the front and rear and platinum liners. The wedge and wrist escutcheons
are silver. The buttplate and trigger guard are blued steel with scroll and foliate engraving. The half-length stock has a checkered wrist. With associated oak case lined in green based with a William Smith trade label inside showing this patented lock design and a set of accessories, including a shot belt, powder flask, and other loading and
maintenance equipment. An old piece of paper inside the case is signed “Revd F. Maude”, possibly indicating ownership by Reverend Francis Henry Maude (1822-1886). Also includes the receipt from July 17, 1958, from Stephen Grant & Joesph Lang, Ltd.” and a certificate from F. Theodore Dexter. Norman R. Blank’s notes indicate he used this gun for
snipe shooting in November 1958. CONDITION: Fair with staining, distinct Damascus patterns on the barrels, bright platinum bands and liners, faded case colors, blue finish on the mounts, and oxidation. The stock is
also fair and worn overall with scratches and dings, small flakes at the edges of the forend, and a substantial crack on the right side of the butt. Mechanically excellent. The restored case and the accessories are generally good with mild storage wear and some oxidation. Provenance: The Norman R. Blank Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3285