JOHN MANTON FLINT DOUBLE RIFLE.

JOHN MANTON FLINT DOUBLE RIFLE. SN 2645. (Ca. 1797) Cal. 16 Bore (.675 Groove diameter). Ten groove rifling. 32″ Twist barrels are inlaid in gold “— MANTON * LONDON —” on low, concave, top rib with silver bead front sight. Bottoms of bbls have early London provisional and view proofs. SN is on bottom of right bbl. There are three ramrod pipes; front 2 have decorative bead turnings; rear supports the loop. Rosewood ramrod has brass button head; tail is brass, with worm under cap. Breeches have gold touch holes and inlaid gold bands at front and back. SNs are on hooks. Breech iron has feather and armorial engraving, with rear sight filed in. Nicely filed lockplates have semi-waterproof pans and decorative filed shadow line border with rebated tails. “Manton” is on each lockplate. Frizzens have rollers and decoratively filed tails. Trigger plate is filed with stylized pineapple finial, as is thimble. Double beaded trigger guard has loop semi-pistol grip, and is engraved with naive vignette of gazelle under palm tree on bow. Top of grip has sunburst with SN in oval. Dark and dense European walnut buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over steel long-tang buttplate. Game animal and palm tree motif is repeated on tang. Stock has flat chamfered toe line, shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and 18 LPI square wrap-around checkering with mullered border. Bbl attaches to stock with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. Bronze spring ramrod retainer is in rod channel. Drop at heel: 2-3/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 9 lbs. 8.6 oz, LOP 14-7/8″. CONDITION: Good. Bbls retain traces of what could be original finish, but is probably an old refinish, with good definition to twist, and has light pinprick pitting. Locks and cocks have lots of pinprick pitting, and are cleaned to silver gray. Remaining furniture is in similar condition with tailpipe (thimble) showing heavy pitting. Stocks are fine with what appears to be their original oil finish showing much carrying, use, and maintenance over the years. An area to the front of right lock has been cracked and repaired, with other repairs around thimble. Bores are fine, shiny, with strong smooth rifling. Right lock is crisp; left is very slightly mushy. Frizzens are crisp with right one a bit weak. Gold lining is missing from pans. Flint double rifles are exceedingly scarce. 4-38989 MGM129 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1241	$0.00	JOHN MANTON FLINT DOUBLE RIFLE. SN 2645. (Ca. 1797) Cal. 16 Bore (.675 Groove diameter). Ten groove rifling. 32″ Twist barrels are inlaid in gold “— MANTON * LONDON —” on low, concave, top rib with silver bead front sight. Bottoms of bbls have early London provisional and view proofs. SN is on bottom of right bbl. There are three ramrod pipes; front 2 have decorative bead turnings; rear supports the loop. Rosewood ramrod has brass button head; tail is brass, with worm under cap. Breeches have gold touch holes and inlaid gold bands at front and back. SNs are on hooks. Breech iron has feather and armorial engraving, with rear sight filed in. Nicely filed lockplates have semi-waterproof pans and decorative filed shadow line border with rebated tails. “Manton” is on each lockplate. Frizzens have rollers and decoratively filed tails. Trigger plate is filed with stylized pineapple finial, as is thimble. Double beaded trigger guard has loop semi-pistol grip, and is engraved with naive vignette of gazelle under palm tree on bow. Top of grip has sunburst with SN in oval. Dark and dense European walnut buttstock measures 14-7/8″ over steel long-tang buttplate. Game animal and palm tree motif is repeated on tang. Stock has flat chamfered toe line, shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and 18 LPI square wrap-around checkering with mullered border. Bbl attaches to stock with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. Bronze spring ramrod retainer is in rod channel. Drop at heel: 2-3/8″, drop at comb: 1-1/2″. Weight: 9 lbs. 8.6 oz, LOP 14-7/8″. CONDITION: Good. Bbls retain traces of what could be original finish, but is probably an old refinish, with good definition to twist, and has light pinprick pitting. Locks and cocks have lots of pinprick pitting, and are cleaned to silver gray. Remaining furniture is in similar condition with tailpipe (thimble) showing heavy pitting. Stocks are fine with what appears to be their original oil finish showing much carrying, use, and maintenance over the years. An area to the front of right lock has been cracked and repaired, with other repairs around thimble. Bores are fine, shiny, with strong smooth rifling. Right lock is crisp; left is very slightly mushy. Frizzens are crisp with right one a bit weak. Gold lining is missing from pans. Flint double rifles are exceedingly scarce. 4-38989 MGM129 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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