BY JOHN MANTON, NO. 6 DOVER STREET, LONDON, NO. 4992 FOR 1808

Details

A Cased 15-Bore Flintlock Sporting Gun
By John Manton, No. 6 Dover Street, London, No. 4992 for 1808
With rebrowned two-stage twist barrel and silver fore-sight, the breech section octagonal then sixteen-sided, long case-hardened recessed patent breech screwing over the end of the barrel, with gold line, gold-lined maker's stamp, and platinum-lined touch-hole, engraved case-hardened tang, signed engraved serial numbered lock with roller, rainproof pan and 'French' cock, the tail of the sear with a small roller, figured walnut half-stock, chequered grip, finely engraved reblued iron mounts, trigger-plate with pineapple finial, horn fore-end cap, and original brass-mounted ramrod: in lined and fitted mahogany case, probably original (bruised, lining with some damage, one partition incomplete), with accessories, the lid with trade label (damaged) for circa 1798-1815 and with flush-fitting carrying handle and circular escutcheon
34in. (86.4cm.) barrel

Provenance

Major Richard Cooper

Literature

W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, The Mantons: Gunmakers, p. 85, plates 53, 68
Idem, British Gunmakers Their Trade Cards, Cases and Equipment 1760-1860, plate 393
D.H.L. Back, The Mantons 1782-1878, p. 36, plates 30, 54

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The breech was patented by John Manton under No. 2178 on 12 April 1797
Major Richard Cooper, accomplished big game hunter and fisherman, was a colleague of Ernest Hemingway and Winston Guest. Keith Neal met Cooper at the British Sporting Exhibition at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington in 1938. They became close friends, and Neal helped him to put together a substantial collection of antique firearms. Cooper died while on safari in Tanganyika, by drowning in a water buffalo hollow

According to a signed note in the case Cooper spotted this gun in a shop window in Farnborough (in circa 1940), while 'on active service with 4th Royal Tank Regiment. He stopped his tank: bought the gun, & showed it to me later...He said "Keith this is your gun"'

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