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LOT 3373
Historic Cased Pair of Finely Engraved Joseph Manton Percussion Dueling Pistols of Henry William Paget when Earl of Uxbridge
-A) Manton Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 6630, 48 cal., 9 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/silver finish, walnut stock. This cased set has a coronet over “P” on the case escutcheon and the silver esutcheons on the pistols for Henry William Paget (1768-1854), then the Earl of Uxbridge and Baron Paget and soon after the First Maquess of Anglesey. His father was the 9th Baron Paget and became the 2nd Earl of Uxbridge in 1784. Paget’s first wife was the daughter of one of King Georve IV’s mistresses. He succeeded his father as Early of Uxbridge in 1812 and is most famous for his military career in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, particularly at Waterloo. He served in the Flanders Campaign of 1794 and was in command of a cavalry brigade at the Battle of Castricum during the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland. He led the cavalry in Spain, including
at the Battle of Sahagun where his men devastated the opposing cavalry and the Battle of Benavente where he defeated French Imperial Guard’s chasseurs. He fought a duel with Henry Cadogan due to his affair with Cadogan’s sister Lady Charlotte Wellesley who he later married in 1810. The affair temporarily ended his military service under the Duke of Wellington since Lady Wellesley was Wellington’s sister-in-law, but he did participate in the Walcheren Expedition in 1809, and with Napoleon’s return during the Hundred Days, he was again on the Continent serving under Wellington
as the commander of the allied cavalry in Belgium at both the Battle of Quatre Bras and the famous victory at the Battle of Waterloo. During the battle, he commanded 13,000 cavalry and 44 horse artillery guns. He personally led a charge of the 2,000 heavy cavalry from the Household and Union Brigades against the French I Corps that threatened Picton’s 5th Division which was outnumbered 5 to 1. His men succeeded in driving the French back and routed part of the French force before suffering heavy losses in a counter attack by the French cavalry. He led additional
charges of light cavalry and is said to have had at least eight horses shot from under him in this one historic battle alone. Near the end of the
battle, he lost most of his right leg when it was struck by cannon fire and had to be amputated. The detached limb was buried at Waterloo and became a tourist attraction with illustrious visitors like the King of Prussia and Prince of Orange. He was created Marquess of Anglesey on July 4, 1815, as a reward for his service, suggesting these pistols predate the Battle of Waterloo. Additional honors include: an offer of a 1,200 pound annual pension for the loss of his leg which he refused, a monument at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on Anglesey in 1816, appointment as Knight of the Garter in 1818, a promotion to full general in 1819, carrying St. Edward’s Crown during the coronation of George IV in 1821, appointment as Master- General of the Ordnance 1827-1828 and 1846-1852, and appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1828-1829 and 1830-1833. His son Lord Alfred Paget was Queen Victoria’s Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal.
The set is very similar to the Joseph Manton pair (sn. 6255 c. 1814) shown opposite page 224 in “The Manton: Gunmakers” by Neal and Back. The main difference between the sets is that the current pair was expertly converted to percussion in the period of use. Like the above pair and pair 6639 noted in the “Manton Supplement,” this pair has faint “scratch” rifling. The barrels were apparently not reproved when the conversion took place as no proofs are visible. The only markings on the barrels are the serial numbers on the bottoms. They are equipped with small silver bead front sights and fixed notch rear sights on the standing breech which is finely engraved with floral patterns. The breech plugs are platinum banded
and plugged. The locks are signed “JOSEPH MANTON/LONDON” and have fine floral engraving, burst patterns under the hammers, bestial designs on the hammers, and sliding safeties. The trigger plates have stylized pineapple finials, and the trigger guards have steadying spurs, border and martial engraving, and the serial numbers. The pommel caps have border and floral engraving. The forend tips are horn, and the wedge and wrist
escutcheons are silver. The latter are inscribed with an earl’s coronet and ornate “P.” The wrists are checkered, and there are filled spots where the originally flintlock cocks would have rested. The pair comes in an original Joseph Manton case with trade label with the Davies Street address, rods, red leather wrapped combination ball and powder flask, powder measure, ball mold, large quantity of balls, some patches, and a cap tin. The lid escutcheon has an earl’s coronet and “P.”
CONDITION: Very fine with 70% brown finish and distinct twist patterns along the barrel, 75% case colors, smooth gray patina on the lower tang and otherwise 60% plus high polish blue on the furniture, attractive aged patina on the silver, crisp markings and engraving, and generally minor overall wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering, some crazing of the otherwise glossy finish, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are also fine and have mild age and storage related wear. The label is very good with stains and two noticeable circular tears at opposite corners.
B) Manton Dueling Pistol - Serial no. 6630, 48 cal., 9 3/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A”. CONDITION: Very fine with 75% brown finish and distinct twist patterns along the barrel, 80% case colors, 50% plus high polish blue on the furniture with some gray and brown patina mostly on the trigger guard, attractive aged patina on the silver, crisp markings and engraving, and generally light overall wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering, glossy finish with some crazing, and minimal overall wear including some light dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. This is a very attractive pair of Manton dueling pistols that bridge the
flintlock and percussion eras.
Provenance: The Richard P. Mellon Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000
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