Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
A Fine and Rare Cased Pair of Musket Bore Joseph Manton Tubelock Dueling Pistols
01-21916
Cal. .750 groove diameter, 9 groove rifling
S# 10140 both (1827)
The 10 1/2″ octagon skelp twist barrels with under ribs are fitted with case hardened patent breeches. Bottoms of barrels are stamped with S#’s and barrel forger’s initials “WF” (William Fullerd). Patent breeches with platinum touch holes and rear bands also have platinum poincon marked “JOSEPH” “MANTON” “PATENT” under a crown. Scroll engraved breech irons are fitted with “U” notch rear sights.
Locks with flat plates are fitted with Manton’s popular tubelock percussion system. It had a much deserved following as ignition was almost instantaneous. Locks are fitted with broad flat-faced hammers, back sliding safetys and tubelock mechanism with straight roller feather springs. Locks are engraved with well cut open scroll in feather borders.
Walnut half stocks with horn tips and checkered bag grips with steel caps are fitted with blued belt hooks on left sides. Trigger plates have scroll engraved pineapple finials, blued trigger guards with scroll on bows have S#’s on tangs. Stocks attach to barrels with blued side bolts through oval silver escutcheons. Ebony ramrods with brass tips and tails (worms under tails) mount through single plain pipes and well filed steel thimbles. Vacant rectangular silver crest plates are at tops of grips.
These pistols are not described by W. Keith Neal & D.H.L. Back in “The Mantons: Gunmakers”, however the number has the notation “The serial number of the lockplates of the pair of pistols, serial number 10.140”. Perhaps indicating that pistols were originally provided with a pair of interchangeable flintlocks.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pistols are housed in what appears its original mahogany case with key lock closure. Top wood has been removed and replaced by glass so pistols can be viewed. Pistols fit bottom compartments very well and this area contains some old accessories including nutcracker type ball mold stamped “13”, copper bodied three cavity powder, ball and patch flask with pellet decoration. Brass and greenheart loading rod with ebony ball end, small glass bottle and Eley cap tin containing some tubes (mostly fired). Two covered compartments have mahogany covers with bone knobs; one containing balls, the other containing a spare main spring.
ANTIQUE
