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. This sporting gun is documented in "The Mantons: Gunmakers" by Neal and Back on pages 24 and 229 and in pages 81, 82, and 102 as well as in "British Gunmakers: Their Trade Cards, Cases & Equipment, 1760-1860" by Neal in plate 408 on page 114 (copy included) and in Back's "The Mantons: 1782-1878" on page 84 and in plates 88a+b and 100. It was sold at Bonhams Knightsbridge on November 10, 2006, in lot 32, as part of their sale of W. Keith Neal's collection. Also included is a Dec. 2, 1937, letter from H. Clarke & Sons to Neal agreeing to sell the gun to him for 10 pounds. It comes in a mahogany case with a variety of loading and maintenance equipment, including a Frith patent powder flask, flint wallet with flints, shot belt, and more. Provenance: The W. Keith Neal Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Exceptionally fine with 90% plus of the brown twist finish and distinct twist patterns on the barrel, bright gold, dark original case colors on the lock and breech, 75% original blue finish, smooth patina on the balance, and minimal overall wear. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering, some scattered light dings and scratches, and smooth oiled finish. Mechanically excellent. The case has a replacement handle and a crack in the lid and general mild wear from age and storage. The accessories are mostly fine with minor wear. This is a beautiful, documented, Joseph Manton flintlock sporting gun from the collection of British firearms and Manton family gunmakers expert W. Keith Neal.