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Forums10
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Most Online1,335 Apr 27th, 2024
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4 |
This is an old WELL WORN 10 ga that belonged to a family friends Grandfather. They brought it over for me to look at. The Locks are marked J. Manton and the barrel rib is engraved Fine Damascus Steel and it has London Proof marks on the barrels. Is this really from the fabled Jos. Manton shop?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
Looks like a bad use of his name.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384 |
Stallones, the problem was, I am told, that by the time percussion guns were at the fore Manton had gone bust too many times, was in poor health and was selling stuff with his name just to try to settle debts etc, I think guns were going out from other sources as well. Certainly the later Manton stuff is nothing like the earlier stuff with reference to quality, I am sure there a couple of chaps on here who can tell you. Are there any date stamps on the flats ? best, Mike Bailey
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384 |
Stallones, the problem was, I am told, that by the time percussion guns were at the fore Manton had gone bust too many times, was in poor health and was selling stuff with his name just to try to settle debts etc, I think guns were going out from other sources as well. Certainly the later Manton stuff is nothing like the earlier stuff with reference to quality, I am sure there a couple of chaps on here who can tell you. Are there any date stamps on the flats ? best, Mike Bailey
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4 |
No date stamps,but the gun is medium high quality, with very nice locks, not quite Jno. Stanton quality,but still nice and tight.I have one near identical made by Wm Moore that I believe worked for Manton, so maybe he made it while at Manton.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
There's a nice Belgium Manton hammer gun on here... http://www.griffinhowe.com/usedgun-sg.cfmI suspect that what your friends gun is.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,736 Likes: 96 |
Stallones, oddly I had a Wm, Moore with a side lever. If I remember correctly it gave an address on the top rib as Oxford Street, London which was never a true Wm. Moore address; clearly a forgery. It had Birmingham proof marks, which may also have been forged. I de-activated it to proof house standards so that it could be sold as a wall piece. This particular gun was of very poor quality and not safe for use. A lot of the better known Gunmakers in Britain had their works forged. Sometimes if not sure they need to be looked at by an expert on the Maker.
Not saying that there was anything wrong with your Moore; I have a little beauty by him in 20 bore. But that Manton above doesn't look to me as being right somehow. Lagopus.....
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 15,456 Likes: 86 |
I'll say it...there's something fishy about that Manton.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,815 Likes: 4 |
lagopus My William Moore has William Moore and Co. Engraved on the locks and on the top rib. Also has London- Fine Twist and is a very well made gun with serial number 50 on the action and bbls.Early gun with 11 ga bbls and cyl/cyl
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,417
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,417 |
Stallones: I'm kind of with Mike, Joe & Lagopus on that one. It just doesn't look up to John or Joe Manton's level of finish. The Belgian proof marks are another givaway. If you like it & it shoots and handles well, who cares?
Best Regards, George
To see my guns go to www.mylandco.com Select "SPORTING GUNS " My E-Mail palmettotreasure@aol.com
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