A CASED PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY JOHN MANTON, SERIAL NO. 3102 for 1799

19-Bore, Rebrowned damascus twist octagonal 10” sighted heavy barrels, each signed in gold along the top flat and engraved with a broad band of foliage at the rear of the breech, gold-lined touch-holes, engraved tangs each with back-sight. Border engraved bevelled edge stepped lockplates signed MANTON with sliding safeties, detented locks each engraved with a starburst behind rainproof pans, roller frizzens. Figured half-stock each with dark horn fore-end cap and chequered rounded butt, reblued steel trigger-guards in the French fashion, each with pineapple finial and decorated with a trophy against foliage on the border engraved bow, turned ramrod-pipes, shield-shaped vacant silver escutcheons, adjustable set triggers, and original horn-tipped ramrods each with iron worm: in an original relined and refitted mahogany case with accessories including brass-mounted three-way red leather powder-flask, compartment lids with horn lifters, the interior of the lid with copperplate maker's trade label, the exterior with circular carrying handle and vacant brass escutcheon.

The French style of triggerguard was popular at that time with the likes of Durs Egg although it is unusual to see a pair of Mantons with this style - they may have been retro fitted at the same time that the pan was upgraded to the rainproof type. The slightly earlier style of casing is nearly identical to the one illustrated on the front cover of The Mantons 1782-1878 by D.H.L. Back. The serial number is previously unrecorded however interestingly, they are 19-Bore Pistols, an unusual bore size for Manton yet the same as the previous pair made, serial number 3101 which are recorded and documented in the Manton books.

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