John Manton shotgun

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Kestas

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A friend of mine just bought an old shotgun at a show. His guess is that the shotgun was made sometime in the early 1800s. It was made by a gunsmith named John Manton, and the gun has "London" scribed into it.

We're wondering if anyone has any information on this gun and can appraise its history, where it fits into the evolution of gun technology, and how collectible this gun is, as well as the value of this gun.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton001.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton002.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton003.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton004.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton005.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton006.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg171/smalinskas/Manton007.jpg
 
Hmm, a single barrel percussion cap single hammer muzzleloader shotgun with a partially checkered English walnut halfstock with a hand-rubbed oil finish and wooden ramrod. The lockplate and hammer aren't overly ornate, I like that. I have no idea what it's worth, but a (Jospeph?) Manton shooting iron was tops in the early 19th century.

PS: Is the nipple intact?
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Don't know much about these guns, but a Google search did help.
Quote:
The side place, slightly engraved says Joseph Manton Warrented No other markings are evident. The stock is cracked buy repaired and is length of the gun. Muzzle loader, percussion. How old? Value? I bought it in Pennsylvania. Any chance this is a revolutionary war weapon?

Answer:
Robert- If we saw some pictures that would be a big help in evaluating the age and use of your gun. However, going on the information we have, the barrel length is typical of the late 18th and early 19th century military arms, so that is a good start. Percussion arms were not made until about the 1820s, or more commonly the 1830s or 1840s, so unless there is evidence that this was converted from flintlock, it could not have been used in the Revolutionary War (1776-1783 for those of you who slept through your history classes). The famous Manton family of gun makers operated in England from the late 18th century through most of the 19th century. Joseph Manton was born in 1766, and superceded his half brother John Manton as the foremost English gunsmith in the 1820. Unless Joseph was a child prodigy making guns on his own at the age of 17 a gun made by him could not have been used in the Revolutionary War. We can only confirm what it is no, but cannot positively tell you what your gun really is. John Spangler


http://oldguns.net/q&a3_05.htm
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