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LOT 1336
Fine Documented Engraved Pair of John Manton & Son Single Barrel Percussion Dueling Pistols with Case -A) Manton Percussion Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 10131, 40 Bore cal., 10 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. This pair of pistols are recorded in W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back, “The Manton Supplement”, and are listed within the serial number date range for circa 1828. With browned heavy octagonal Damascus barrels with silver front sights and shallow multigroove rifling signed “JOHN MANTON
& SON DOVER STREET.” Casehardened patent breeches with pierced platinum vent plugs and engraved with rosettes. Casehardened standing breeches incorporating the notch back sights. Finely engraved with scrollwork. Casehardened detented locks signed “JNo. MANTON & SON PATENT” and with blued safety catches, dolphin hammers and finely engraved with scrollwork terminating in monsters. Blued furniture comprising trigger plates, trigger guards, pommels and ramrod entry pipe, each finely engraved with scrollwork. Silver oval barrel key escutcheons with blued barrel keys. Figured walnut half length stocks with checkered butts, dark horn forearm caps and inset at the wrists with blank rectangular silver initial escutcheons. Later wooden ramrods with brass tips. In original mahogany fitted case lined in dark blue baize, the lid with printed John Manton & Son trade label with the No. 6 Dover Street address. With accessories including red leather wrapped three way brass powder flask, combined cleaning rod/loading mallet, iron pincer type bullet mold numbered “1 / 10.157”, and key. The exterior of the case with blank circular brass escutcheon and flush fitting brass carrying handle.
CONDITION: Fine. Barrel retaining most of the professionally rebrowned finish with bold twist pattern, slight rubbing to finish at the muzzle and to the hard edges of the barrel, and clear signature. Breech, standing breech and lock each with faint traces of original casehardened finish. Crisp engraving throughout. Furniture retains 40% original blued finish and crisp engraving. Stock is fine with scattered age related storage and handling blemishes, marks and minor bruises. Mechanically excellent. Case in very good condition with some age related storage and handling marking externally, minor age staining on the trade label, age related rubbing on the partially reglued/ repaired case lining, and minor losses around edge of the lid lining.
B) Manton Percussion Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 10131, 40 Bore cal., 10 inch octagon bbl., browned/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A”. CONDITION: Fine. Barrel retaining most of the professionally rebrowned finish with bolt twist pattern and minor rubbing and fading. Signature clear. The head of the barrel key chipped on each side. Furniture retaining 30% original blued finish, and the exposed surfaces of the furniture display grey patina and crisp engraving. Stock is fine with scattered age related storage and handling blemishes, minor marks and bruises, and darker cap than A. Mechanically excellent. Overall, a fine pair of high quality pistols by the most renowned London maker of dueling pistols.
Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000