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LOT 3217
Historic Cased Pair of John Manton & Son 16 Bore Double Barreled Percussion Shotguns Formerly the Property of Albert, His Royal Highness the Prince Consort of the United Kingdom, Prince of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha -A) John Manton & Son Double Barrel Shotgun - Serial no. 11542, 16 gauge,
30 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut
stock. The escutcheons of each gun and the lid of the case are
engraved with the crowned crest of Albert, the Prince Consort, and with the motto of the Order of the Garter “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE.” Prince Albert (1819-1861), husband of Queen Victoria, was a well-known shooting enthusiast, and he was regarded as a very fine shot. His patronage of gunmakers was widespread and included such famous makers as Charles Lancaster and John Manton, the latter enjoying the patronage of practically the entire British nobility. It is believed that Albert owned a number of guns by Manton with one remaining within the Royal Collection at Sandringham along with a pair by William Moore. Famed for his passion for technological advancement, illustrated by his considerable involvement in the
organisation of The Great Exhibition of 1851, Albert was an early
convert to breech-loading guns with a pair of Lancaster base-fire
shotguns purchased two years before his death being held in the
Royal Collection at Windsor. Using the W. Keith Neal and D.H.L.
Back dating structure published in “The Manton Supplement,”
these guns date to circa 1844. With browned Damascus barrels
with silver bead front sights and signed “JOHN MANTON &
SON. DOVER STREET. LONDON” and engraved with a spray of
scrollwork on the concave ribs. Serial numbered patent breeches
each with engraved pierced platinum plug and engraved with
a shell on the rib section between. Standing breeches engraved
with further scrollwork and a partridge standing in long grass.
Locks each engraved with a differing scene of three pheasants in
their naturalistic habitat and signed “JNO. MANTON & SON. PATENT.” Well-
figured walnut half-length stocks with checkered grips, the wrists inset with silver escutcheons engraved with Albert’s crowned crest and the motto of the Order of the Garter, the underside of the butts inset with German silver escutcheons numbered “1” and “2” respectively.
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