John Fox Twigg (1732-1790) was one of the greatest late 18th century English gunmakers and was is considered to be the "father" of the proper English dueling pistols. He formed a partnership with his nephew John Bass (1761-1794) in 1788. John Manton, Twigg's former foreman, purchased the business in 1795. The smoothbore barrels have silver blade front sights, "LONDON" stamped on top, deeply struck ordnance private proofs on the upper left flats, and "ITH" instead of Twigg's "IT" maker's mark on the underside of the barrels along with "STUBBS." The standing breeches have integral notch rear sights and burst engraving. The locks have semi-rainproof pans with slight gutter, frizzen spring rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, stepped tails with burst pattern engraving, and "Twigg" signatures that are somewhat plainer than usual for Twigg. The single set triggers have adjustment screws at the front. The trigger guards have pineapple finials and floral engraving. The pineapple finials came into fashion in the mid-1780s. The stocks have checkered wrists with silver escutcheons. The relined case has a cleaning rod.

Good with mottled gray and brown patina, mild pitting, a replacement cock, some case colors and niter blue on the lock, dark aged patina on the silver, and moderate overall wear. The stock is good and has some glued cracks in the forend, crisp checkering, a tension crack on the left at the screw, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. The case is good with mild age and storage related wear including cracks in the lid and some compression marks and fading on the relined interior which has some loose dividers.

See "A." Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr

Good with mottled gray and brown patina and mild pitting, reworked lock with 50% of the refinished case colors, aged patina on the silver, and moderate overall wear. The stock is also good and has cracks in the forend and left flat, crisp checkering, and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.