doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com J. Manton 10 Guage - Help Identify it please...

I found an old ten gauge a little while ago, I'd like to check it out.

What I know so far is that it is an English gun, the markings are J. Manton, London, Laminated Steel, this is not the Belgian knock off (learned this from proof markings and also all references I've seen to this are marked "J. Manton & Co."), at this point I have no clue of an approximate year nor do I know what it is worth (mainly just curious on this one). The barrels are 31 7.8" long.

Just for emphasis this gun is NOT marked J. Manton & Co. anywhere.

Here are photos, click on each one to see a larger version.

Side, complete:


Top, complete:


Side plate marking:


Top marking (between barrels):


Stock checkering:


Chambers:


Firing Pins:


Sight Bead:


The Crest:


I took it apart and did not find any more marking other than the British black powder proof markings on the underside of the barrel.

Thanks,
Sequoia

It's a knOck off.

Worth ?

I'd ask how much is it worth as Cracker barrel wall art.

Joe,
You have years of experience with old guns. Do you think you could elaborate your take on this gun?

Builder my eye can spot low quality when I see it. Years of abuse can't hide it.

Maybe you see something my eye missed ?

To me this looks like those all brown old guns I just walk by at gun shows. I do this because they give me a feeling and if you don't get the right feeling you are not going to buy anyway. I am sure I am not alone in that.

My eye misses a lot due to lack of experience and a little knowledge can get you in serious trouble so I am always looking to learn more from those with more experience.

Your post is a bit dramatic but leaves me wanting more insight into why you said that. I cannot learn anything from it and I look to you for that knowledge. If it is just a gut feeling from years of experience then let it be but if you can ad more it would be of help especially when I am walking around a dimly lit gun show.

Now, if I walk into a home I can give you a gut feeling that is valid regarding its worth and construction but in the gun field I need lots of help.

GSequoia: I'm sorry, but it looks to have twist barrels. You may need to get some of the rust off to identify the pattern by rubbing 0000 steel wool and KleenBore Formula 3 or even WD 40 on a patch of brl under the forend where it won't show. If it is indeed twist, it's surely a low quality Belgian 'knockoff.' An ultra close-up pic of the watertable and brl flats would help, and they likely have similar but not genuine British proof stamps.

I'm not sure how you can tell they are twist ?

London proofs wouldn't help it.

FAKE London proofs would be a give-away.
If you'll zoom the pic of the rib, I think the twist pattern is apparent. It helps to stare at the full sun through open venetian blinds first however

I tried it....

Now I can see the Persian rugg pattern.

Okay, here are the additional pictures, as usual click on them to see a much larger version.

Proofs


Table 1:


Table 2:


So, what do you think?