John Manton was active in London from 1781 to 1834. He began making percussion weapons in 1825. The firm used the name "John Manton and Son" from 1820 though his son George Henry Manton had joined him in 1814. After John's death the family continued to operate the business into the late 19th century with some slight changes in the name. As the label on the interior of the case boasts, John Manton produced guns for the royal family. This pair of pistols have the classic dueling pistol build with large caliber smoothbore barrels, fixed blade and notch sights, high quality finish and engraving including fish motifs on the hammers, and naturally pointing stocks with checkered grips. The stocks are half length with horn forend caps, tear drop flats, and silver escutcheons and thumb plates. The latter are engraved with griffins over the initials "AC." The locks are marked "JOHN MANTON & SON PATENT" and have sliding half cock safeties. The Damascus barrels are marked "John Manton and Son Dover Street" in fancy script. The matching serial numbers are marked on the trigger guard tangs, top of the forearm, and bottom of the barrels. The latter also have London proofs. Wooden ramrods with brass tips are fitted below the barrels. Interestingly, the pistols have concealed single set trigger mechanisms. These became popular in the early 19th century but were considered by many to be unsporting given that both participants may not know of their existence thus given one an unfair advantage. Deliberate and careful aiming, which would be significantly aided by a set trigger, was also generally considered dishonorable and malicious but practices varied from country to country and even smaller localities. The pair comes in an English fitted hardwood case that has a matching griffin and "AC" marking to the pistols and also contains an interesting cruciform multi-tool that also contains two spare nipples, ram/bore rod with multiple attachments including a mallet head, several lead balls, a patch, large cap tin, powder flask, and ball mold.

Very fine. 85% plus of the original brown finish remains on the barrel. The Damascus patterns are astoundingly distinct. 90% plus of the original blue finish remain on the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard, and most of the nitre blue remains on the safety and trigger. The lock and breech have subdued case colors. The silver components display an attractive aged patina. There are some spots of light spotting and a small spot of pitting near the muzzle. The stock is also very fine with crisp checkering, a few pressure marks and dings, and some light handling marks. The action functions perfectly, and the engraving patterns and markings are crisp. The case is fine with mild storage wear and some separation and minor breaks of the dividers. The accessories are fine to very good. This pair of John Manton & Son Percussion Dueling pistols is certainly among the finer examples we have offered at auction.

As discussed in A.

Very fine. Nearly all of the original blue finish remains on the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard. The majority of the nitre blue on the trigger and sliding safety remains. The barrel retains 70% faded original brown finish and has distinct Damascus patterns and some light spotting. The lock and breech display subdued case colors. The silver has an attractive aged patina. The wood is very fine and has crisp checkering, few dings, and light scratches. The lock functions perfectly and the markings and engraving are crisp.