A Rare Cased 16-Bore D.B. Sporting Gun with Two Pairs of Barrels
With 32 inch (5903) and 31 inch (5904) rebrowned twist barrels each with gold fore-sight, recessed patent breeches with rectangular gold lined maker’s stamps, gold lines and platinum lined touch holes, border engraved tang decorated with a martial trophy, basket of foliage and a starburst in the sighting groove, signed border engraved flat locks serial numbered ‘5903’, each decorated with a hare at the square tail and with engraved ‘French’ cocks, rainproof pans and large roller, highly figured half-stock (some old bruising) with cheek-piece and chequered grip, border engraved steel mounts comprising butt-plate stamped with Irish registration mark ‘CW-1009’ for Co. Carlow and decorated on the heel tang with two pointers in a landscape, scroll trigger-guard serial numbered ‘5903’ in a starburst on the scroll and decorated with a sporting trophy on the border engraved bow, trigger-plate with large pineapple finial, rear ramrod pipe en suite, gold wrist escutcheon engraved with owner’s initials JR and original brass mounted ramrod: in original lined and fitted mahogany case with accessories including a pair of original spare steels, brass mounted powder-flask embossed with deer surmounted by a hound on each side, leather shot belt, turnscrew, red leather flint wallet and patch cutter, the interior of the lid with maker’s trade label for circa 1798 to 1815, the exterior with flush fitting brass carrying handle centred on a circular vacant brass escutcheon. London proof marks.
Literature:
W. Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back, The Mantons: Gunmakers, 1966, p. 91
D.H.L. Back, Great British Gunmakers, The Mantons 1782-1878, 1993, p. 41