Manufactured in circa 1808, this gun is listed by W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back in “The Mantons: Gunmakers” on page 241 (1st ed., 1967) and described as originally being flintlock and converted in circa 1822 to patch lock. The hammers have detachable heads which would be fitted with a patch and upon firing the shooter would exchange the head for a fresh ready patched head to aid the swift reloading of the gun. Browned damascus steel barrels with solid raised rib signed "JOSH MANTON & SONS 11 HANOVER SQUARE" with single silver front bead and two ramrod pipes with brass tip hardwood rod. Casehardened breech with light scroll and border engraving, double gold bands, and silver flash hole inserts. The casehardened hammer and locks are scroll engraved with each lock displaying a game scene in two separate panels with a retriever and ducks on the right, and a pointer and grouse on the left. The blued trigger guard features two more pointing dogs with scroll accents and is marked with the serial number "4758," smooth double triggers, and the trigger plate and ramrod insert feature an engraved pineapple finial. Checkered straight hand stock with rectangular silver escutcheon on the top of the wrist and an engraved extended steel buttplate with pheasant scene on the top of the heel.

Very fine as period modified to patch lock. Barrels retain 80% of their rebrowned finish with some light smooth pitting and clear markings. The hammers, locks, and other casehardened furniture has turned a mottled gray patina with well defined engraving. The trigger guard retains approximately 20% of the reblued finish and has lost some definition to the engraving. The buttplate is mostly a mottled gray patina with clear engraving. The refinished wood has well defined checkering, some areas of discoloration, and some smoothed over dents and dings. Mechanically very fine. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.