A Fine Cased 16 bore Sporting Gun
With 32 inch rebrowned two stage sighted barrel polygonal for the first 12 inches signed on the top flat “John Manton & Son DOVER STREET”, engraved patent breech with two platinum lines and platinum touch hole, finely engraved tang, flat signed and engraved lock with Manton’s patent V shaped pan including a platinum line in the bottom, finely engraved French cock, the frizzen marked “Jn Manton & Son PATENT”, highly figured bird’s eye maple half stock with chequered grip, raised cheek- piece and horn fore-end cap, engraved iron mounts including scrolled trigger guard and trigger plate with pineapple finial, vacant wrist escutcheon, silver barrel bolt escutcheons, brass tipped ramrod with capped charge extraction screw; in its original green baize lined mahogany case with accessories including a J.W. Hawksley embossed copper powder flask with graduated nozzle for 2¼ to 3 drams, oil bottle, spring clamp, fine double turnscrew and an excellent shot belt, the interior of the lid with maker’s trade label for circa 1815-1820, the exterior with circular brass carrying handle. London proof marks.
Literature: The Mantons by Neal & Back p. 97 and pages 41 & 42 regarding Patent No. 3942.