BY JOSEPH MANTON, LONDON, NO. 6938 FOR 1816, THE LOCKS NO. 8274 FOR 1818

Details

A Unique Cased Pair Of 38-Bore Pellet-Lock Duelling Pistols
By Joseph Manton, London, No. 6938 for 1816, the locks No. 8274 for 1818
Originally flintlocks, with rebrowned twist octagonal sighted barrels (some scattered pitting), case-hardened recessed patent breeches each with platinum line and platinum-lined stamp, platinum-lined touch-holes, engraved case-hardened tangs each incorporating the back-sight, signed serial numbered detented locks engraved with scrollwork terminating in marine monsters and each fitted with platinum-lined vent and rectangular gas escape hole (one lock surface pitted), figured walnut half-stocks (minor bruising), chequered butts with applied additional grip adapters, engraved blued iron mounts including serial numbered trigger-guards, trigger-plates each with pineapple finial, silver escutcheons, horn fore-end caps, original horn-tipped ramrods, and traces of original finish: in original lined and fitted mahogany case (one compartment lid missing) with accessories including three-way flask covered in red leather (worn, nozzle replaced) and numerous strikers and associated pellets, the lid with trade label (stained) for circa 1820-1825, the exterior with flush-fitting carrying handle, and circular escutcheon, the barrels forged by Charles Lancaster
15in. (38.2cm.)

Literature

W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, The Mantons: Gunmakers, pp. 22-23, 261, plates 78, 79 and 136 (label only), and colour plate 7
Arne Hoff, Feuerwaffen, vol. I, pp. 379-380, plates 289-90
D.H.L. Back, The Mantons 1782-1878, p. 111, plates 85 a-c, and 131 (label only)
S. James Gooding, 'Joseph Manton's First Percussion Lock Mechanism', Arms Collecting, vol. 39, no. 2 (May 2001), pp. 42-43, fig 5 and front cover

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

The pellet-lock mechanisms, patented under No. 3985 of 29 February 1816, were made to interchange at will with the original flintlock mechanisms. Joseph Manton's pellet-lock was not a success: of an estimated 275 pellet-lock firearms produced, only thirty-two survivors have been positively identified, of which the present pistols are the only ones not to have been converted

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