This interesting sporting gun was built with an ornate barrel mated to a Henry Nock patent breech, an advanced flintlock with Manton markings, checkered walnut half-stock, and silver mounts from Moses Brent in 1809 and 1810. The barrel has very fine Baroque decoration in silver consisting of a grotesque mask front sight with the nose forming the bead, scroll and martial motifs, gold accented floral pattern girdle, "- Truea - 1674-" spuriously inlaid in gold on top between the panels of silver inlays, some additional small gold inlays, Tower private proofs on the upper left, and a casehardened patent breech with gold vent liner, "H. NOCK/LONDON" in a gold sunken cartouche on top, gold inlaid scroll patterns, and a gold band. The upper tang has a large "dished" rear sight and is engraved with scroll, floral, burst, and border designs. The bottom of the barrel has London and Birmingham proof marks, and the bottom of the patent breech has "HN/PATENT" on the left and the London view mark on the bottom. The flat bevelled lock is signed "JOSEPH MANTON/LONDON" and has a "rainproof" pan that sits a little to the rear of the vent, small roller on the frizzen, corresponding "hump" on the frizzen spring, a burst pattern engraved between the cock and fence, floral engraving on the cock and stepped tail, "JOSEPH MANTON/PATENT" on the frizzen, and border engraving on the plate and frizzen. The forend cap, wedge escutcheons, trigger guard, and buttplate are all silver, and, with the exception of the wedge escutcheons, are all engraved. The forend cap has a burst pattern at the front and scroll and floral motif at the tail. The trigger guard has a detailed urn/vase and pineapple motif on the finial and a hunting dog with a bird in its mouth and foliage on the bow. The trigger guard tang has London hallmarks, "M-B" maker's mark, and the "O" date code for 1809 as well as border engraving and a floral and scroll accent at the tail. The buttplate has a coordinating engraved dog and flying bird scene with similar foliage and scroll accents on the tang and has London hallmarked as the "P" date code for 1810. The nicely figured walnut half-stock has a checkered wrist and nice cheekpiece.

Fine as reconverted with an older light brown finish along the barrel, aged patina on the silver throughout, mostly bright gold inlays, crisp engraving and markings, some minor pitting on the barrel and lock plate, moderate oxidation and pitting on the frizzen, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has crisp checkering, some minor chips and flakes around the edges, very attractive figure, and general light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.