Joseph Manton, London. Cased Pair of 38-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistols. Originally Owned by General Sir Martin Hunter

Description: 10' full octagon barrels with fine silver blade front sight, discrete scratch rifling, platinum inlaid breechblock, touch-hole and inlaid maker's cartouche. Figured fruitwood stocks with flat-point-checkered bag-handle grips, horn forend tips, steel ramrod finials, horn-tipped ramrods, silver-escutcheoned crosspin fasteners, steel triggerguards with pineapple finials, seminal teardrops, steel gripcaps, vacant silver ovals and standing rear sights integral with standing breeches. Border-engraved rain-proof locks with self-priming pans, manual safeties and roller-bearing frizzens. In their mahogany case with flush-fitting brass carrying handle the lid with maker’s trade label and the compartment lids each inscribed with the serial number in ink and accessories including a 3 way flask, ball mould and cleaning rod. Built in 1814; the archetype of the English duelling pistol at its peak. Listed by number in W. Keith Neal and D. H. L. Back The Mantons: Gunmakers, London, 1966 p.254.

Joseph Mantion (1766-1835), his (half?) brother, was also a gun maker and by 1825 was considered better than John, taking his place as the recognized foremost gun maker in England. Joseph Manton apparently had no successors, but John had extablished a company, J. Manton & Son, which became J. AFAIK, the company is still in.

Provenance: According to Neal & Black, The Mantons, the duelers were originally owned by General, Sir Martin Hunter, the last surviving British officer to have fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Passed by decent to J. Bates, being in his possession at the date of the book. Disposed by him through Thomas Del Mar Ltd, London. Purchased by Geoff Walker. Acquired by Hallowell & Co. March 2012.

General Sir Martin Hunter,GCH,GCMG (1757–1846) was aBritish Army officer, andgovernor of Stirling Castle. He joined the army in 1771, as anensign in the52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot, and was madeLieutenant in 1775. He accompanied his regiment to America, where he saw action during theAmerican Revolutionary War atBunker Hill, Lexington and Concord, Brooklyn,Brandywine, andFort Washington. He was wounded during a night attack on General Wayne's brigade.

J Manton & Co

In 1777 Hunter was made captain in the 52nd. He served in India, commanding the corps who attacked the breach atCannanore in 1785, and commanded the 52nd at various sieges during the campaign under Lord Cornwallis. He was wounded during the battle atSeringapatam in 1792. In 1793, Hunter obtained a majority in the91st Foot, and in 1794, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In 1797, he married Scottish heiress Jean Dickson (d. 1845). They had a large family. Hunter held a commissions in the 60th Foot, and also the48th Foot, which he commanded inGibraltar, Trinidad and Puerto Rico. In 1800 he became Colonel, and in 1801,Brigadier-General. Hunter was made lieutenant-general in 1812, and General in 1825. Hunter died in 1846, the last surviving British officer to have fought at Lexington and Concord.

1. Joseph Manton percussion SxS shotgun GI#: 101354491 Joseph Manton percussion SxS shotgun. In modern terms this muzzle loading shotgun is a 19 gauge.
2. Joseph Manton & Son, British, London 1834–1838 This is one of the last flintlock shotguns made by Joseph Manton’s (1766–1835) firm. It bears the serial number 10,530. 1837 the flintlock had long been superseded by more advanced percussion mechanisms, suggesting that this gun may have been purchased by a conservative client.

The Hallowell & Co. Historical Gallery portrays fine guns we have handled over the years and is for informational purposes only. These guns are no longer available today. Please click on any of the links below to see what we actually do have available for purchase.

American ShotgunsEnglish ShotgunsEuropean ShotgunsDouble RiflesMagazineRiflesSingle Shot RiflesCombination Guns

WinchesterColtSmith & WessonOther HandgunsAntiqueGunsNew ArrivalsCustom KnivesOtherNeat Stuff

Who We AreHow to OrderWe want to buy your Gun(s)Recommended LinksGallery

Firearms Definitions, Abbreviations & OpinionsStore PhotosMagazine ArticlesHome

Hallowell & Co., Inc. PO Box 1445. Livingston, Montana 59047 USA Tel: 406 222-4770 Fax: 406 222-4792 Email: morris@hallowellco.com

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 6. (Mountain Time) Our inventory is constantly changing. Please bookmark this site and return often.

Joseph Manton Shotgun For Sale

SOLD FOR: $1,825.00
LSB#: 190402LH51
Make: Joseph Manton
Model: Double Rifle
Serial Number: We suspect that the rifle was not originally serialized, but “WR31011” has been marked on the bottom of each barrel.
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1820s
Caliber: 25 Gauge (.585″)
Action Type: Side-by-Side Muzzle-Loading Percussion Double Rifle With Safeties
Markings: The top of the barrel rib is marked “MANTON LONDON” and each lockplate is marked “MANTON”. The bottom of each barrel has British proof marks, “25” twice and “WR31011”.
Barrel Length: 24″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the front of the rib. The rear sight has a fixed “V”-notch with three progressively taller folding “V” notches marked “200”, “300” and “400” in a base dovetailed to the rear of the rib.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece checkered walnut with steel nosecap, straight wrist with curved guard, initial plate and sling eyelet mounted in the belly (there is another eyelet mounted to the forward ferrule) and a smooth steel buttplate. The forend has a few small losses along the top edges, there are several scattered light compressions, scuffs, bruises nicks and dings. The wood is quite dark, with some of the color likely from oil and handling. The checkering is generally well defined with more wear in the forend than the wrist. The forend is cracked though at the lug. It has been mended to prevent further chipping and damage (no wood filler), please see the pictures. The LOP measures 14 1/4″ and 13 1/4″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The plate has a light patina with a patch of more notable oxidation in the center and light wear. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair condition as Antique considering the crack.
Type of Finish: Bright, Damascus Barrels
Finish Originality: We don’t see any signs of refinishing.
Bore Condition: The bores are semi-bright with surprisingly sharp and strong rifling. There is some light erosion scattered in the bores.
Overall Condition: Originally the barrel wedge lug was free of the barrels and held in place by the ramrod which caused the stock to crack. The lug is now being held in place by a cold weld and this is no longer an issue. The barrels show scattered spots of discoloration from oxidation and the lockplates have some dark patina at their fronts with much lighter patina behind. The strike-faces of the hammers have erosion. The guard has a thick, dark patina. There are a few scattered light scuffs, nicks and dings. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair condition as Antique given the crack in the forend.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The nipples are intact, though they should be cleaned as they currently appear blocked. Each lock has a safety lever which can be engaged only when the hammer is at half-cock. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with an unfinished steel ramrod with a tapered tip. The rod has scattered surface oxidation. Overall, the rod is in about Good condition.
Our Assessment: Joseph Manton was a British gunsmith who innovated sport shooting, improved weapon quality and paved the way for the modern artillery shell. Manton was a sport shooter in his own right and a friend of Colonel Peter Hawker. From 1781 onwards, he produced about 100 weapons annually, including dueling pistols and shotguns. In the early 19^th Century, he invented the tube or pill lock, an improvement over Alexander Forsyth’s scent-bottle lock, but although readily adopted at the time, it was quickly overshadowed by the invention of the percussion cap. Manton’s weapons remain some of the most highly sought-after designs of the flintlock age and can fetch more at auction than Holland & Holland’s shotguns. His workforce included James Purdey (who went on to found Purdey’s), Thomas Boss, William Greener, and Charles Lancaster. This is a 25 bore percussion double rifle made by Manton sometime between the invention of the percussion cap and his closing of business in 1826. The rifle’s wedge lug has been repaired with a cold weld and the stock mended to prevent any further cracking or damage. We find this to be a great item for display or a nice project this winter for a gunsmith. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This antique rifle can be transferred in California.