The 87th London Antique Arms Fair

Transcript

The 87th London Antique Arms Fair PAIR OF SWORDS (SHUANG JIAN). CHINESE, EARLY 19TH CENTURY (XXVIS.52) © BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ARMOURIES Autumn 2011 Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, London, W6 8DR Friday 23 September Saturday 24 September HERMANN HISTORICA Swords and Daggers from the Property of a Spanish Noble Family Antique Arms & Armour Antique Arms and Armour ) Orders ) Historical Collectibles International Auctions N E X T AU C T I O N : 24 Oct. - 9 Nov. 2011 7 CATALOGUES of military and historical interest Antiquities, Antique Arms & Armour, Fine Antique & Modern Firearms, Orders and Military Collectibles Catalogues online by mid-September: www.hermann-historica.com Craftmanship from the Orient and the Far East Fine Antique and Modern Firearms Hermann Historica oHG ) Linprunstr. 16 ) D-80335 Munich ) Phone +49-89-54726490 Fax +49-89-547264999 ) E-Mail: [email protected] No.1 Wednesday 20 July Closing date for entries: Friday 3 June Wednesday 30 November Closing date for entries: Friday 14 October Britain’s Leading Auctioneer of Antique Arms and Armour Enquiries David Williams, Director Antique Arms and Armour Department +44 (0) 20 7393 3807 +44 (0) 7768 823 711 mob +44 (0) 20 7393 3932 fax [email protected] Illustrated A very fine and rare cased pair of French silver-mounted flintlock pistols of presentation quality, by Boutet, Directeur Artiste, Manufacture à Versailles, No. 156, Paris silver marks for 1798-1809. Sold for £162,000 Amina Ali-Shah, Administrator +44 (0) 20 7393 3947 +44 (0) 20 7393 3932 fax [email protected] Catalogues +44 (0) 1666 502 200 +44 (0) 1666 502 107 fax [email protected] Bonhams Montpelier Street London SW7 1HH www.bonhams.com/arms Ma Master aster Gunm Gunmaker maker Restorer Artillery Rest orer of Ar rtillery Arms A Antique Ar rms Cased p pair air of D/B Percussion Percussion Officers by Pistols b y John Manton. Cased P er rcussion P epperbox Percussion Pepperbox Revol ver b yP arker of L ondon. Revolver by Parker London. Cased p air of P ercussion pair Percussion Duelin g Pistols b y Samuel Nock. Dueling by PO Bo Box ox 355 • Hereford d • HR2 9YE Tel: Tel: 07775 643762 643762 E-mail: [email protected] in nfo@johnslougho oflondon.co.uk www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk www w.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk CONTENTS The London Antique Arms Fairs 2011 The London Antique Arms Fair is promoted by Arms Fairs Ltd. Chairman: John Slough Secretary: Adam Slough. Arms Fairs Ltd., PO Box 355, Hereford HR2 9YE Tel: 07780 663819 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk A welcome from the Chairman 7 Collecting Armour by F Wilkinson 11 Index of advertisers 23 Index of exhibitors 24 Table plan for the fair 26 ‘The Amherst Flag’ by Paul Wilcock 28 Dating the Firearms of Joseph Manton 1792–1825 by P A Scott-Edeson 37 Dating the Firearms of John Manton and John Manton & Son: 1789–1834 by P A Scott-Edeson 43 Editors: John Slough and Adam Slough The London Antique Arms Fair guide is published on behalf of Arms Fairs Ltd by John Good. © Arms Fairs Ltd., 2011. Printed in England. All material contained within is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken in compiling the publication, but the publishers can bear no responsibility for effects arising therefrom or from the advertisements contained herein. All information correct at time of printing. THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 5 Ralph Parr LANCASTER TELEPHONE 01524 811808 6 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE A WELCOME FROM THE CHAIRMAN A warm welcome to the London Antique Arms Fairs 2011 I would like to welcome you all to the London Antique Arms Fairs 2011. This fair is the perfect place to look, admire, appraise and purchase the highest quality arms and armour from across Europe. It is the only two-day arms fair in the country which gives you plenty of time to wander around and enjoy the items on show as the exhibitors are not packing up at lunchtime. It is also the fair that many dealers wait for to bring out their newest and most exciting acquisitions, so get browsing. It has fallen to me with great regret to give a mention in our show guide to one of our number who has tragically died in the past year. I refer, of course, to our friend and colleague, Chris James, a very well-respected dealer in arms, armour, medals and militaria for many years, and he will also will be remembered as the mainstay of the International Arms Fair held at the Motorbike Museum in Birmingham. His widow, Ooy, and his son, David, will carry on Chris’s work of organising the International and I would like to take this opportunity to offer them sincere condolences from all of us involved with the London Antique Arms Fair and wish them the very best in their future endeavours at the International. During the course of this present recession we have seen a move away from investment in banks, stocks and shares to a more intelligent and perceptive way of investing. Prices at auction houses around the world are reaching unprecedented highs and we are seeing more and more previously unseen items in our field of arms and armour. As more of these sleepers come to light I believe we should make greater use of the Internet in updating all the known records of gunmakers such as Purdey and Manton. David Back’s last book on Mantons is a good starting point and with the help of the two articles by Peter Scott-Edeson which appear in this show guide, I think we can build an up-to-date and useful record of the guns produced by John and Joseph Manton. Taking into account Patrick Unsworth’s excellent book, the records of Purdeys could also be updated to include guns that have come to light more recently. The more information we can get on individual guns and serial numbers, the more enlightened collectors and dealers will be and a detailed picture of the history of the collections we hold will be achieved. In this regard I would like to mention the sterling work carried out by the late Doug Nie who spent about 40 years collating information on thousands of guns made by William Tranter. It is without doubt the biggest collection of material on the subject of gun numbers and associated archives that has ever been assembled. I have been storing this material for some years on behalf of Doug’s daughter, Lynn, until a suitable home could be found for it. I am now pleased to inform all avid Tranter collectors and scholars that Doug Nie’s archive has now a permanent home in the museum housed at the Birmingham Proof House and is available to all by kind permission of Lynn Nie. I know that the curator of the museum at the Proof House has a daunting task in preserving this most valuable archive and making it readily available for inspection. I am pleased that it is now in the safest of hands, which is most fitting, as William Tranter was one of this country’s great gun inventors and a founding father of the Birmingham gun trade. I hope you will all enjoy our spring fair: find something exciting to add to your collection, do set your sights on the best you can afford and remember: “Windage and elevation - windage and elevation!” John Slough Chairman THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 7 Peter Finer SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS, ARMOUR AND RELATED OBJECTS Our ninth catalogue issingle now items available. We are interested in purchasing or complete All the items are illustrated in colour and described by cannon acknowledged collections of antique guns, pistols, swords, armour and in any experts in their Please contact you would likeexamples. to order a copy. quantity. Wefield. travel the world in us ourif search for fine catalogue will be published nextoryear. WeOur are ninth interested in purchasing single items complete collections of antique guns, pistols, swords, armour and cannon in any quantity. All the items will be illustrated in colour and described by acknowledged expertsininour their field.for fine examples. We travel the world search Please contact us if you would like to order a copy. We still have a limited number of our last catalogue 38 & 39 DUKE STREET, ST. JAMES’S, LONDON SW1Y 6DF TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 7839 5666 FAX: +44 (0)20 7839 5777 www.peterfiner.com E-MAIL: [email protected] A “CORINTHIAN” HELMET, circa 580-520 B.C. Our fine helmet, which survives in remarkably good condition, is one of a small group of this particular form that has been recorded, many of which are now in museum collections throughout the world. Its shape and style place it towards the beginning of the development of this type of classical Greek helmet, associated since the time of the historian Herodotus (c. 484-425 B.C.) with the city of Corinth. The Corinthian helmet is an abiding image of war in antiquity. SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS AR RMS & ARMOUR s EST EST.1983 .1983 SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR s EST.1983 A sel selection ection o e of British tish Mil Military ita y Lo Longarms ng g ms in sto stock ock  7 7EST EST E 3TR 3TREET REEET s $ORKING s 3URREY 3URRREEY s 5+ s 2( "3 4EL   4 EEL     WESTSTANT %MAIL WESTSTA ANT AOLCOM  7EST 3TREET s $ORKING s 3URREY s 5+ s 2( "3 4EL    %MAIL WESTSTANT AOLCOM WWWANTIQUEARMSANDARMOURCOM WWWANTIQUEARMS WWW ANTIQUEARMSSANDARMOUR SANDARMOURCOM COM SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR s EST.1983 WWWANTIQUEARMSANDARMOURCOM SPECIALISTS IN ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR s EST.1983 We sell on commission If you are thinking of selling any British antique weapons, we offer a service that Q[ UWZM ÆM`QJTM [MK]ZM IVL ÅVIVKQITTa JMVMÅKQIT \PIV [MTTQVO I\ I]K\QWV .WZ VW WJTQOI\QWV IL^QKM XTMI[M KITT WZ email us at our Dorking shop or see our _MJ[Q\M NWZ LM\IQT[ ?M PI^M I TWVO M[\IJTQ[PML M`KMTTMV\ ZMX]\I\QWV IVL PI^M JMMV [MTTQVO Q\MU[ on commission for over 20 years, from [QVOTM Q\MU[ \W MV\QZM KWTTMK\QWV[  7EST 3TREET s $ORKING s 3URREY s 5+ s 2( "3 4EL    %MAIL WESTSTANT AOLCOM WWWANTIQUEARMSANDARMOURCOM 10 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE  7EST 3TREET s $ORKING s 3URREY s 5+ s 2( "3 4EL    %MAIL WESTSTANT AOLCOM WWWANTIQUEARMSANDARMOURCOM COLLECTING ARMOUR Collecting Armour by F Wilkinson There is a certain fascination with armour; it has a certain charm and steel-clad knights are part of our romantic history. It is also an elaborate well-designed, artistic product of a highly technical process and it is, therefore, no surprise that armour is a popular collecting theme. Unfortunately, popular though it may be it is not common or easy to collect. The number of pieces that appear on the market is, in comparison with other antique arms, small and not only is the supply limited but it is also expensive. In realistic terms the collector of modest means stands little chance of acquiring any European pieces of armour that predate the 17th century. During the 19th century, many of the nouveaux riches liked to decorate their new, large houses with displays of weapons and armour. As today they found prices high so they were happy to look for cheaper substitutes. There were manufacturers who were more than happy to meet this demand. The study of arms and armour was in its infancy and in consequence many of the products, often in cast iron, were more what the makers thought armour looked like rather than being a serious copy. The Pratt brothers, two London dealers, were in the forefront and as part of their antique business happily produced some very early helmets, sometimes with convincing provenances, and these were snapped up by the market. Many bore only a passing resemblance to the genuine article and, with today’s knowledge, few modern collectors would be misled. The excessive weight of some pieces is one pointer and the shapes are often somewhat fanciful. During the 19th and early 20th centuries many important displays contained a Pratt item and today one or two may still be found in situ. The main difference is that these fakes are now collected in their own right and still sell for quite high prices. In the 1920s, Ernst Schmidt of Munich went into production and offered some extremely good quality reproductions which are more like the genuine article but still are not right. This supplier tended more towards reproducing weapons, some of which are closely based on examples from the Dresden Museum. Since some of his products are of such a high quality it is not always easy to be certain as to their authenticity, and an occasional weapon has been known to deceive the experts.1 Occasionally, miniature armours of rather thin metal appear on the market and most of these originated in Malta as puppets or decorative pieces. They are pleasing but naive and do not attract a great deal of interest. In a very different class are some superbly detailed miniature armours including one or two of mounted knights. The quality is very high and their prices reflect this. The story of armour is very closely bound even their projectiles could be stopped by metal armour. In the 14th century, the simple handgun and arquebus were developing, and for the first time a clumsy peasant could have in his hands a weapon capable of projecting a lethal missile and which required only a minimum of training in its handling. These early firearms were slow to fire and almost impossible to aim with any accuracy. However, if guns were present in quantity the chance of an ill–aimed bullet hitting a target was greatly increased. The composition of armies changed as the numbers of archers was reduced and more and more musketeers and cavalry armed with a pair of pistols were used and, consequently, the risk of being shot increased. It was quite possible to produce armour capable of stopping a bullet and the easiest way was to make the plates thicker. Some armourers produced breastplates with a second, superimposed layer of metal on top of the basic plate whilst others simply made thicker plates. During the 17th century, the art of siege warfare developed and often trenches were dug to allow the troops to edge forward under some sort of cover. For the sappers whose job it was to dig the trench and who were therefore in greater danger there were siege armours, which were simply much thicker versions of the breastplate and helmet of the conventional armour. A 20th-century miniature armour 24ins tall £1200 (June 10) up with the history of firearms as there was a kind of competition between gunmakers and armourers. Until the 14th century, a well-armoured man was impervious to most weapons of the period. He was at risk from the archers, both longbow and crossbow, but their numbers varied and Domed heavy helmet with central comb for a sapper 17th century £1000 (Dec 05) THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 11 COLLECTING ARMOUR For the soldiers of the period greater safety was acquired at the cost of heavier, more cumbersome armour and there was a school of thought that, to reduce the hampering effect of the armour, some parts of it might well be discarded. First to go were the cuisses, greaves and sabatons which covered thighs, legs and feet to be replaced by thick, knee-length leather boots. Next were the arm defences: pairs of gauntlets were largely abandoned although the cavalry man did retain a guard for the left arm. As a horseman he had to hold the reins in his left hand and was thus limited in the amount of free movement. An elbow gauntlet was developed with the hand covered by a series of shaped plates and the cuff extended up to the elbow.2 Further protection was achieved by wearing a buff leather coat, which was strong enough to, at the very least, blunt a sword cut. A very fine pair of gauntlets, with etched and blued decoration: German early 17th century £2500 (Dec 07) Most troopers wore a helmet known as a zischagge or lobster-tail helmet. Most had a simple, domed, skull piece, which on the earlier examples was forged in one piece but was later replaced by those formed from two hemispheres. The neck A zischagge, probably Dutch or Flemish but with some later additions £850 (June 08) A cuisse or leg armour from a north German armour of circa 1520–30 £2000 (Dec 10) 12 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE was covered by a series of overlapping, widening plates and there two cheek pieces. Most had a fixed peak with an adjustable nasal bar to give some protection to the face. Variants had a pivoting peak with a triple-bar face guard. A zischagge, probably German, with typical neck guard, nasal bar and single piece skull £800 (June 08) COLLECTING ARMOUR The musketeer might be a danger but he was not without his own problems for, once the shot was fired, he was helpless until he had reloaded. During this period he was vulnerable and to protect him against cavalry charges the blocks of musketeers were interspersed with blocks of foot soldiers armed with long pikes able to fend off any attacks. Since these troops had to stand and face the enemy they were given some protection, and the usual 17th-century pikeman wore a cuirass of breast and back plates. A Flemish backplate circa 1600 with simple incised line decoration, mounted with brass-headed rivets. Backplates were normally thinner than breastplates. £1,000 (June 09) From the lower edge of the breast plate were suspended the tassets, a kind of skirt of plates, and on his head he wore a cabasset, a helmet of simple form with a narrow brim or a morion with high comb and curved brim. The purchaser of armour wanted more than a verbal reassurance that the armour was bulletproof and the armourer offered it by proving his armour. The plate was placed against a wall or post and a musket shot fired at it and the dent made by the bullet was indeed proof that it had failed to penetrate the armour. Unfortunately the ‘proof’ was not absolute since, so far, no set of rules governing proving have been located. It is therefore possible that the charge of powder in the musket may have been lower than the usual military load and the range might have been picked to ensure no penetration occurred. No doubt many armourers did use appropriate charges but there was no guarantee. Pikeman were gradually dispensed with and soon hardly any foot troops wore armour. The cavalry style of cuirass and helmet was to remain in use and indeed survives today with such units as the Household Cavalry or the French Republican Guard. In Britain the armour was mainly ceremonial and examples of modern breastplates do appear in sales but attract only limited biding, usually selling for a few hundred pounds. The French made more use of the heavily armoured cuirassiers and their breastplates are probably more common and those with dates from the First Empire attract very high prices. It is easy to see that the effect of the discarding of armour has led to a scarcity of pieces of a date prior to the 17th century. Armourers tended to reuse their metal and no doubt some of the earlier armour was later recycled. Complete or full armours are very rare and very expensive and seldom pre-date the latter part of the 16th century. A mid 17th-century cuirass, the breastplate bears the London Armourers’ Company mark £950 (June 08) A fine, composite full armour of Maximilian style with typical fluting circa 1520–30 £70,000 (June 08) THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 13 COLLECTING ARMOUR If an armour is described as being ‘in the style of’ it means that although it may well look the part it was made at a much later date than the style suggests. Another description is ‘composite’, which means that the armour is of the right period but is not homogeneous and the various sections may match but were not necessarily originally together. It was very flexible but difficult to produce in quantity. By the 17th century, mail was seldom used and in consequence many of the surviving European examples are pre-17th century. This makes the pieces rare and consequently complete sections of mail such as sleeves are likely to be very costly. Mail sleeve of mid 16th century, probably German with riveted links £750 (June 08) during the last decade or so, interest has grown. Complete sets of such armour may well comprise a tunic-length piece of mixed mail and plates, or a full-length hauberk, arm guards and a helmet. These helmets conform to a general pattern with a domed skull with a curtain of mail hanging from the edge. The top is often surmounted by a spike and twin plume holders. Protection for the face is provided by an adjustable nasal bar similar to that on the zischagge. Those helmets of non-Indian origin are often adjusted by a loop fitting over a hook at the front of the helmet, whilst the Indian examples more commonly are adjusted by means of a locking screw fitting. Often the helmets, or khula khuds, are decorated with etched panels of inscriptions or various figures and some are fashioned to resemble devils or monsters: these were essentially ceremonial rather than for battle. Whilst these remarks apply to mail from Europe they do not apply to Asiatic armour. Although mail was largely abandoned in Europe by 1600, in areas such as India, Turkey, Japan and other areas it continued in use for very much longer.3 Composite field armour comprising some 17th- and 16th-century pieces as well as modern additions including the helmet £4,500 (June 10) Vulnerable parts of the body, difficult to protect with large plates, were sometimes protected by small extra specially shaped pieces of armour such as besagews or guarded by pieces of mail, which was a mesh of interlinked metal rings. A pair of besagews (small plates which covered the armpits) 16th-century from North Germany £550 14 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE There are two main types of mail, known as butted and riveted. Butted is usually of lower quality and is so-called as the ends of each link are just pushed together, whereas in riveted mail each link has the tips secured by a small rivet. Complete sections of mail from areas such as India and Persia are, if not common, at least available and consequently at not unreasonable prices. Incidentally, there is some controversy as to the correct nomenclature for this armour. It is often referred to as chain mail but some authorities insist it should simply be known as mail. It is an academic argument and some of the early pioneers in the study of armour were quite happy to use the name chain mail. As armour remained in use in the East for much longer than in Europe, examples are more common and often turn up on the market. Much of Asian armour is composed of plates linked together with strips of mail. In the past, non-European armour had generally been little regarded by collectors but because some well researched books have been published A superb quality kulah-kuhd of typical form with spike and plume holders. The skull is decorated with inscriptions £10,000 (June 10) COLLECTING ARMOUR Garniture of Indo Persian armour of 19th century, comprising cuirass, arm guards, shield, helmet and steel bow £4,500 (Dec 06) A Japanese Tosei Gusoku armour dating from 19th century and composed of lacquered plates and mail; complete with fluted helmet. £2,600 (June 08) Although in Europe armour was largely obsolete the First World War saw a renewed interest in designing armours for the troops, and most consisted of overlapping metal plates. Modern technology has changed the pattern of armour, with materials such as Kevlar, and troops, police and others now wear various types of body armour. Although perhaps less appealing, collecting modern armour is a potential field which is still in the not-too-expensive area and is moderately available .4 Indian mail and lamellar shirt of mid 17th century from the armoury at Bikaner £2,200 (June 10) One very rare feature and one to be highly prized is the lining of helmets, for it must be remembered that it was important to have some padded fitting to improve comfort and to diminish the shock of a blow. It is very rare to find these fittings but it is a feature well worth looking out for. Whilst European and Asian armours share many features it is not the case with Japanese armour, still used into the mid 19th century. Its construction and design are very different, using lacquered panels and mail combined with textures. It would be very unwise to consider collecting Japanese armour before having served a long learning spell. Just as the armour differs so do the helmets. European helmets were primarily defensive although some decoration was not uncommon whereas Japanese helmets are protective but also heraldic and intended to impress and frighten the enemy; again, they are a very specialised topic. London Arms Fairs are grateful to Thomas Del Mar for supplying the illustrations of items for this article all of which were sold in his auction rooms. 1 2 3 4 Arms and armour From the Atelier of Ernst Schmidt Munich edited by S Andrew Mowbray 1957 limited edition of 1000 For the best account of the changing styles of armour see European Armour by Claude Blair London 1958 reprint 1972 Arms and Armour of Arabia by R Elgood, Aldershot 1992 Hindu Arms and Ritual Delft 2001 The Arms of Greece London 2010 Oriental Armour H R Robinson London 1967 Helmet and Body Armour in Modern Warfare Bashford Dean New York 1977 Body Armour R Woosnam Savage and A Hall London 2001 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 15 Gunmakers of London 1350-1850 Gunmakers of London Supplement 1350-1850 by Howard L. Blackmore 2 Volumes in slipcase — only $135.00 + post (Approximately £89 postpaid airmail. With the purchase of this set, any or all of the other titles may be included with no additional postage cost) By 1986, the late Howard Blackmore had compiled his monumental record of London gunmakers. It was published in England under the title A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350-1850 and in America with the title Gunmakers of London 1350-1850. 222 pp., 11x8½ inches, 122 ill. + 260 makers’ marks, His Supplement published in 1999, begins with a new introductory chapter on the “Foreign” London gunmakers followed by records of all of the new information found about previously unidentified armorers, gunmakers, gunsmiths and related trades. Where new information had been located about those who appeared in the Dictionary, they too were included in an updated entry. 160 pp., 11x8½ inches, 100 new ill. + 299 makers’ marks, hardcover en suite with the original edition. Only 79 copies of the original edition are available. The Gunmakers of London Supplement may be purchased separately: $60.00 plus post. The London Gun Trade 1850-1920: A Checklist of Tradesmen compiled by Joyce E. Gooding & Peter A. Scott-Edeson. This title is intended to help fill the gap between 1850 when Howard Blackmore’s London Gunmakers 1350-1850 and its Supplement end, and the years following World War One. It records the names, addresses and dates for gun & pistol makers, and 15 related trades. 48. pp., ill., softcover. $8.95+ post Published by MUSEUM RESTORATION SERVICE P.O. Box 70 Alexandria Bay, NY U.S.A. 13607-0070 Phone (613) 393-2980 Fax (613) 393-3378 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.armscollecting.com HISTORICAL ARMS NEW SERIES No. 1 The Queen Anne Pistol, 1660-1780 by John W. Burgoyne: 10x7 inches, 120 pp., 182 ill., hardcover, ISBN 0-88855-015-6. $35.00 +post The purpose of this book is to fill a gap in the arms literature and to trace the development of the design and decoration of a uniquely English type of pistol known colloquially as the Queen Anne, or more correctly, as the turn-off pistol. This distinctive breech-loading arm was developed in the middle years of the 17th century but found popularity during the reign of the monarch (17021714) by whose name it is known. It continued to be made until about 1780. With a comprehensive text and almost 200 illustrations, the styles and decoration from the mid 17th century through the baroque and rococo designs imported from France that were adapted by English gunmakers to produce a particularly accurate and distinctive pistol are traced and illustrated. No. 2. Trade Guns of the Hudson’s Bay Company, 1670-1970 by S. James Gooding. Historical Arms New Series No. 2: 10x7 inches, 160 pp., 140+ ill., hardcover, ISBN 0-88855-014-6. US$40.00+ post. This new study provides a detailed history of the design and development from the earliest Hudson’s Bay Company trade guns through 300 years of history. Based on archaeological evidence from the first Fort Albany constructed about 1674 and destroyed by the French in 1686, the early history can be documented and described. The extensive archives of the HBC have been called upon for descriptive text with hundreds of selected references to cover who made the guns, how they can be identified, when changes were introduced, how they were used, and what ammunition, accessories and equipment will be encountered. This important book will be of inestimable value to historians, artists, archaeologists, re-enactors, and collectors. Trade Guns of the HBC received the 2002-2005 ‘Justus Lipsius Award’ from the International Council of Museums, Arms and Military Museums Section. Cannon and artillery for hire for film industry, TV, theatre, concerts and gun salutes. John Slough of London have been in the business of restoration and conservation of cannon and artillery of all periods for over 40 years. The film industry’s increasing need for blank firing big guns with experienced armourers and firing team means we now have a dedicated stock of period cannon and artillery ready for hire as well as the ability to produce any custom made piece for individual requirements. 9 Pdr RML Field gun 18 pdr QF Field gun Complete on period field carriage Complete on its original field carriage 200 muzzle loading cannon and mortars 24 pdr reproduction reproductioncast iron Scottish Scottishcarronades carronades Used for the Battle Proms concerts Complete on period carriage John Slough of London, Master Gunmaker, The Old Forge, Peterchurch, Hereford HR2 0SD Tel: 07775 643 762 Email: [email protected] www.artilleryhire.com Henry Krank Dealers in Antique Arms, Armour & Accessories Wheelock Rifles, Shotguns & Pistols Matchlock & Flintlock Shotguns & Rifles Flintlock Pistols Percussion Single Shotguns Double Percussion Shotguns Percussion & Sporting Target Rifle Flintlock & Percussion Military Rifles & Pistols Percussion Pistols Percussion Revolvers Unusual Ignition Systems Visit our shop Visit our shop near Leeds. Open Mon to Sat 9am til 5pm. A huge selection of antiques are always on display. Why not make a day of your trip? Visit the Royal Armouries in Leeds, only 7 miles away from our shop. www.henrykrank.com Browse our huge collection of antique arms and armour online. Photos of 100’s of antiques for sale. We also buy antiques We buy antique arms, armour and accessories. If you have one item or a whole collection we would be happy to take a look. Henry Krank Needlefire Rifles, Shotguns & Pistols Rimfire Rifles, Shotguns & Pistols Americana Obsolete Centrefire Rifles, Shotguns & Pistols Pinfire Shotguns, Rifles & Pistols Curiosa Crossbows Armour Cannons Vintage & Antique Air Rifles Vintage & Antique Air Pistols Antique Flasks Henry Krank & Co Ltd, 100-104 Lowtown, Pudsey, West Yorkshire, LS28 9AY, UK Tel: 01132 569 163 / 565 167 Fax: 01132 574 962 Email: [email protected] Holt’s Auctioneers are the countrys leading specialists in Fine Modern and Antique Guns. We also include militaria, Edged Weapons, Sporting Ephemera and Accessories in our sales. We specialise in selling not just individual items but also in the promoting and marketing of collections world wide. Our next sales will be held on: 15th December 2011 22nd March 2012 21st June 2012 20th September 2012 at Princess Louise House Hammersmith Road, London W6 7DJ To discuss consigning any guns to Holt’s for sale by auction or for a free valuation please telephone: 01485 542 822 View the catalogue and bid online at: www.holtsauctioneers.com LondonArmsFair2011.indd 1 06/09/2011 11:35:53 SPRING 2012 27 & 28 April Antique Arms, Armour, Sporting Guns & Militaria The oldest and most prestigious antique arms fair in the country O PENING T IMES Friday 9.00am – 6.00pm Saturday 9.00am – 2.00pm T ICKET I NFORMATION Friday £15 Allows access both days Saturday £7 Children under 14 free with an adult Admission on door CORINTHIAN HELMET. GREEK, ABOUT 650 BC (IV.541). © BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ARMOURIES The T he 8 88th 8th LLondon ondon A Antique ntique Arms Arms Fair Fair Hotel H otel IIbis bis LLondon ondon E Earls arls C Court, ourt, 4 47 7 LLillie illie Road, Road, London London SW6 SW6 1UD 1UD ORRGANISED GANISED BY ARMS FAIRS LTD DIRECT IRECTORS ORS John Slough & Adam Slough 07780 0 7 7 8 0 663 6 6 3 819 819 w www.antiquearmsfairsltd.co.uk w w. a n t i q u e a r m s f a i r s l t d . c o . u k Don’t want to carry valuables? We offer a secure delivery service fully insured door to door within the UK for items purchased at the Arms Fair. Speak to our staff on the admissions desk or ring 07780 663 819. Britain’s Specialist Auctioneers of Arms, Armour, Medals & Militaria A pair of Scottish flintlock belt pistols by Ross, reserved for the Autumn Connoisseur Collectors’ Auction, 18th and 19th October 2011. 18th & 19th October AUTUMN CONNOISSEUR COLLECTORS’ AUCTION & SALE 539 Connoisseur Collectors' colour illustrated catalogue £15, R of W £17 Regular Sale catalogue £9.50, Europe £10, R of W £10.50 (All prices include postage) Get to know the real value of your collection – our last ten sale catalogues complete with prices realised, price £30 inc. post. Generous Cash Advances made for Collections submitted for Absolute sale. Your opportunity to get the Best Price by reaching our catalogue subscribers in 40 countries – Giving You the ‘Best of Both Worlds’. No charge for payment by debit card. email: [email protected] website: http://www.wallisandwallis.org INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Index of advertisers Name Page No Name Page No Antique & Classic Arms Fairs 23 Hermann Historica Arms Collecting 16 Holt’s 19 James D Julia Inc. 32 Arms Fairs Ltd 20 - 21 2 Artillery Hire 17 John Slough of London Battle Proms 33 Magazin Royal Bonhams 3 4 & 36 34 Parr, Ralph 6 Combat Stress 34 Pete Holder Antique American Firearms 44 Dixie Gun Works 34 Thomas Del Mar Ltd 52 8-9 Vincent, Garth 35 Gwilliam, E.A.F 51 Wallis & Wallis 22 Henry Krank 18 West Street Antiques 10 Finer, Peter THE BISLEY ANTIQUE & CLASSIC ARMS FAIR www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk THE BISLEY PAVILION SUNDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2011 SUNDAY 25TH MARCH 2012 A SPECIAL DAY FOR COLLECTORS AND SHOOTERS. ALL THE LEADING DEALERS. DEALERS AND COLLECTORS’ PREVIEW 8.00am, £6.00 PUBLIC ADMISSION 10am, £3.00 ENQUIRIES: PHONE 020 8452 3308 or 020 8200 6384 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 23 I N D E X O F E X H I B I TO R S Index of exhibitors Name A.A.S.N. Ltd. (Andrew Kiselev) Address and contact numbers Table No(s) PO Box 1129, St Albans, AL1 9TZ, Tel. 07989 236341 [email protected] Akaal Arms (Runjeet Singh) PO Box 11143, Birmingham B13 0WR Mob. 07866 424803 www.akaalarms.com [email protected] Anglesey Estates Ltd (C F Pritchard) 16 17 - 18 Anglesey Lodge, Anglesey St, Hednesford, Staffs 01543 426246 07831 527057 [email protected] Antique & Classic Arms Fairs 83 (Cliff Fuller) Mob. 07850 373197 www.bisleyarmsfair.co.uk [email protected] 58 Antique Sword Trader (Geoff Sherwin) Abbey House, Rosedale Abbey, Pickering, YO18 8SA 01751 417028 07795 344795 www.antiqueswordtrader.co.uk [email protected] 15 Appleby, Michael Wimbledon, London SW20 Tel. 0208 946 2495 F1 - 2 Arbour Antiques (George Yannaghas) 1 The Monkery, Church Rd, Great Milton, OX44 7PB 01844 278139 07768 604202 www.arbourantiques.co.uk [email protected] Arian Trading (George Yannaghas) 5-7 1 The Monkery, Church Rd, Great Milton, OX44 7PB 01844 278139 07768 604202 www.ariantrading.com [email protected] 4 Arms and Armour Research Group www.hud.ac.uk/armsandarmour (Paul Wilcock) University of Huddersfield/Royal Armouries [email protected] n/a Arms & Armour Society (A. Dove) PO Box 10232, London SW19 2ZD n/a Ashoka Arts Tel. 01903 814413 www.ashokaarts.com [email protected] 42 Asian Arms (Tony Paul) Tel. 07973 822 996 www.asianarms.com [email protected] 75 Beadle, Alan Bonhams 1793 Ltd 77 - 78 Antique Arms and Armour Department, Montpelier St, London SW7 1HH Tel. +44 (0)207 393 3807 Fax. +44 (0)207 393 3932 Mob. 07768 823711 www.bonhams.com [email protected] Bottomley, A. S. Holmfirth, Yorks Mob. 07770 398 270 [email protected] Cartlidge, Michael Tel. 07810 766755 [email protected] Cook, A. S. 132 Rydens Rd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 3DU, 45 52 - 54 93 Tel. 01932 228328 Fax. 01932 243126 www.antiquearms.co.uk [email protected] Craddock, Richard Tel. 07747 117472 [email protected] 94 Downing, A. R. 39 High St, Arundel, W. Sussex BN18 9AG Tel. 01903 882077 Mob 07798 050609 19 Dyson, P & Son Ltd 3 Cuckoo Lane, Honley, Holmfirth, W Yorks, HD9 6AS Tel. 01484 661062 Fax. 01484 663709 www.peterdyson.co.uk [email protected] 24 40 - 41 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 76 I N D E X O F E X H I B I TO R S English Arms & Armour Mellanoweth House, Back Lane, Angarrack, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 5JE (Terry English) Tel. 01736 753444 Flintlocks at War (Richard Smith) Taunton Antiques Market, Silver St, Taunton, TA1 3DH 85 Tel. 01803 605405 Mob. 07969 599 076 www.flintlocksatwar.com [email protected] 21 Garth Vincent Antique Arms & Armour The Old Manor House, Allington, Nr Grantham, Lincs NG32 2DH Mob. 07785 352151 Tel. 01400 281358 Fax. 01400 282658 www.garthvincent.com [email protected] Gwilliam, E. A. F. 29 - 31 Candletree House, Cricklade, nr Swindon SN6 6AX Tel. 01793 750241 Fax. 01793 750359 Mob. 07836 613632 [email protected] H.B.S.A. 67 - 69 BCM HBSA, London, WC1N 3XX Tel. 07703 218 639 www.hbsa-uk.org [email protected] n/a Hartford Antique Arms (Rex Pope) Reading Tel. 0118 969 1826 27 Hatford Antiques (P. Smith) Hatford Cottage, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8JF Tel. 01367 710241 Mob. 07836 375931 84 Henry Krank & Co. Ltd. (Z Nikacevic) 100-104 Lowtown, Pudsey, W Yorks, LS28 9AY 0113 256 5167 Fax:0113 257 4692 www.henrykrank.com [email protected] Hobson, G. J. 59 – 63 Daccombe Mill, Coffinswell, Devon TQ12 4SY Tel. 01803 873121 [email protected] Mob. 07812 133 149 Holt's Auctioneers (Robert Morgan) Church Farm Barns, Wolferton, Norfolk PE31 6HA 01485 542822 Fax:01485 544463 www.holtandcompany.co.uk [email protected] Huw Williams Antiques 20 55 The Antique Shop, Madoc St, Porthmadog, Gwynedd LL49 9NL Tel. 01766 514741 Fax. 01766 514741 Mob. 07785 747561 [email protected] www.antiquegunswales.co.uk Iosson, Andrew 23 211 Ringinglow Road, Bents Green, Sheffield S11 7PT Tel. 0114 2366360 Mob. 07979 648663 www.finesportingcollectablesltd.co.uk [email protected] John Slough of London 22 PO Box 355, Hereford HR2 9YE Tel. 01981 550145 Fax. 01432 371767 www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk [email protected] John Wilson Antiques Mob. 07941 477043 [email protected] Jonathan Barrett Limited The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, Lewes BN7 2JA 1-3 64 - 65 Tel. 01273 486501 Mob. 07717 743 061 Fax. 01273 486501 www.jonathanbarrett.com [email protected] Ken Trotman Ltd. PO Box 505, Huntingdon, PE29 2XW Tel. 01480 454292 Fax. 01480 384651 (Richard Brown) www.kentrotman.com [email protected] Lord, D. R. Cotswold Cottage, 89a Lushington Hill, Wootton Bridge, 13 - 14 50 - 51 Wootton, Isle of Wight PO33 4NR Tel/Fax. 01983 882638 [email protected] 66 M. L. A. G. B. (Ken Hocking) PO Box 340, Sevenoaks, Kent Tel. 01732 463214 n/a Magazin Royal 65 Steenstraat, B1800, Vilvoorde, Belgium Tel. 0032 475492450 (Gilbert Putterie) Fax. 0032 22677537 [email protected] www.magazinroyal.be 81 - 82 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 25 I N D E X O F E X H I B I TO R S Table plan for the fair 1 Entrance 2 F1 3 F2 4 5 6 7 Bar 36 Fire Exit 35 Fire Exit 34 37 38 33 39 66 94 65 67 64 68 7A 69 32 40 41 31 30 Loading Door Fire Exit 93 63 92 62 70 91 61 71 90 60 72 89 42 8 9 43 29 59 88 73 44 10 28 58 74 87 75 86 76 85 11 45 27 26 46 57 47 56 55 25 84 48 12 77 83 24 49 54 50 53 23 22 51 78 79 13 82 81 52 80 14 15 21 Fire Exit 26 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 20 19 18 17 16 Loading Bay Fire Exit I N D E X O F E X H I B I TO R S Martin Giles Antiques Barnet, Herts Tel. 020 8441 3380 Mob. 07860 782 286 Fax. 020 8441 3432 www.mgantiques.co.uk [email protected] 86 Michael D. Long Ltd. 86 Ireton Rd, Leicester LE4 9ET Tel. +44 (0) 845 260 1910 Mob. +44 (0)7970 161701 (Bob Hedger) Fax. +44 (0)871 250 1910 www.michaeldlong.com [email protected] Millais Antiques PO Box 545, Crawley, RH10 6FG Tel. 01293 552655 Fax. 01293 520077 (Dr G Dexter) Mob. 07710 259465 www.millaisantiques.co.uk [email protected] Nobre, Eduardo Rua des Chagas 17c, 1200 Lisbon, Portugal [email protected] Northern Arms Fairs PO Box 277, Harrogate, HG3 4XZ Tel. 01423 780759 (Alan Tidswell) Mob. 07989 779996 [email protected] Oriental Arms PO Box 55293, Haifa, Israel 34580 Tel. 00972 50 7587101 Fax. 00972 50 8251380 (Artzi Yarom) www.oriental-arms.com [email protected] Parr, Ralph Sidegarth, Aughton, Lancaster LA2 6PG Tel. 01524 811808 Fax. 01524 811445 32 - 33 56 - 57 28 44 87 70 - 72 Pembroke Fine Arms (David Scheeres) Paskeston Hall, Cosheston, SA72 4SF 01646 680391 07969 132060 www.pembrokefinearms.co.uk [email protected] Pete Holder Antique American Firearms 88 - 89 PO Box 1199, Guildford, GU1 9JR Tel. 01483 277788 Fax. 01483 277784 Mob. 07778 008 008 www.peteholder.com [email protected] 37 - 39 Petty, David 2 The Grange, Green Lane, Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EN Tel. 01628 605519 46 - 47 Phoenix Antique Arms (P Reason) 17 Darracot Close, Deal, Kent, CT14 9PU Tel. 01304 372651 Fax. 01304 372651 www.oldguns.co.uk [email protected] Rod Akeroyd & Son (Rod/Jason) 34 - 36 20 Ribblesdale Place, Preston, PR1 3NA 01772 203845 Fax:01772 203855 07765 251532/07836 599464 www.firearmscollector.com [email protected] Seidler, Christopher F. (Chris Seidler) PO Box 59979, London SW16 9AZ 0845 644 3674 www.antique-militaria.co.uk [email protected] Spoils of War (David Hughes) 7a Hop Hill Cottage, Aubourn, Lincoln, LN5 9DZ Tel. 01522 788807 Mob. 07784 002826 www.spoils-of-war.co.uk [email protected] Stand of Arms (Chris Berry) 8-9 79 - 80 Southgate, London N14 Tel. 0208 886 4730 Fax. 0208 482 2204 Mob. 07790 806364 www.militariamart.co.uk [email protected] 24 - 26 Strømberg Antiques (Steen Strømberg) Store Kongensgade 10, DK1264, Copenhagen, Denmark Tel. 0045 3332 4205 Fax. 0045 3332 4205 Mob. 0045 2046 2801 www.stromberg.dk [email protected] Wallis & Wallis (Roy Butler) 48 West St Auction Galleries, 7-9 West St, Lewes, BN7 2NJ 01273 480208 Fax:01273 476562 www.wallisandwallis.co.uk [email protected] Waterloo Militaria PO Box 2880, Romford, Essex RM7 1LA (Gary Lawrence) Mob. 07935 324562 www.waterloomilitaria.com [email protected] West Street Antiques (Jon Spooner) 90 - 92 Green Gables, 40 Abbey Crescent, Thorpe le Soken, Essex CO16 0LH Tel. 01255 862683 Fax. 01255 861623 Yorke, P. 43 63 West St., Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BS Tel. 01306 883487 Fax. 01306 883487 Mob. 07855 519934 www.antiquearmsandarmour.com [email protected] Winks, David 10 - 12 49 ‘Quills’, Bagshot Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8DE Tel. 01276 857576 73 - 74 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 27 THE AMHERST FLAG ‘The Amherst Flag’ Paul Wilcock Trustee PWO Regiment of Yorkshire Museum Head of the Arms and Armour Research Group, University of Huddersfield The regimental organisation in the British army has been systematically eroded by successive governments leading to the near disappearance of many of our most famous county regiments. In many cases, however, those responsible for the heritage of their regiments have been able to maintain their historical legacy through a network of regimental museums. These are often small and frequently under-resourced; however, they invariably hold a treasure trove of artefacts reflecting the heroic past of those who fought for their country. 28 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE THE AMHERST FLAG One of the more challenging aspects of any regimental museum is the fact that while there are many wonderful pieces in the collection representing the rich tapestry of regimental history, they occasionally carry with them more questions than answers. Sometimes the link to the regiment is tenuous, but sometimes it is an object of great significance that with the passage of time has faded into the background and been overlooked. In antique terms, it is what might be regarded as a ‘sleeper’. The Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire Museum is located at Tower Street, next to the famous Cliffords Tower in York. It shares its premises with the Royal Dragoon Guards Museum and in common with many similar museums, while not large, contains a wonderful array of treasures from the Regiment’s past. In 2007, while the main store was being reorganised a large frame was found standing facing the wall. When it was moved, the frame revealed a white ensign measuring 207x170 cms, bearing the cross of St George on a faded white ground with the Union flag of 1707 represented in the top left quarter. Beneath it, on the frame was the enigmatic inscription: “THE AMHERST FLAG” “This flag, said to be the personal flag of the First Lord Amherst, Colonel of the Regiment 1751–1757 is believed to have been flown at Quebec after its capture in 1759”1 If the attribution on the plaque is correct and it flew over Quebec at its fall, the flag is not only an important regimental artefact but is an object of national, even international significance. There is, however, no reference in the regimental records detailing how the flag came to be in York, and even less information explaining the link between the flag and Amherst. The flag was in poor condition, principally due to its age. The white background had acquired a grey pallor and the silk, which must once have been vibrant red, white and blue, was now faded and brittle. Because of the treatments used on the original silk during its manufacture there was overall cracking and deterioration. It was now a sad reflection of a standard which, according to the label, had witnessed a great military victory. Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, copyright National Portrait Gallery, London Jeffrey Amherst was born in Riverhead, Kent in 1717. After being sent as a page to the first Duke of Dorset, his patron obtained a commission for him as an ensign in the 1st Regiment of Foot at the age of 14. Having seen service during the War of Austrian Succession where he acted as ADC to General Sir John Ligonier, Amherst also saw action at Dettingen, Fontenoy and Rocoux, after which he joined the personal staff of the Duke of Cumberland. The regimental connection becomes clearer in 1756 when he was made Colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot.2 The Seven Years War, sometimes described as the first ‘world war’ because of the global nature of the conflict, afforded Amherst the opportunity of command when, after repeated lobbying from Ligonier, William Pitt selected him to lead the assault on Louisbourg on the Island of Cape Breton. A combination of his success at Louisbourg and the spectacular failure of General Abercromby caused Amherst to be appointed Commander in Chief in North America. In 1759, Amherst succeeded in taking Fort Ticonderoga where Abercromby had also failed and proceeded to move north along Lake Champlain. In a letter dated August 5th 1759 to William Pitt,3 Amherst gives a detailed account of his victory and assures him of his continued progress north.4 While this was happening General Wolfe had laid siege to Quebec5 and despite illness and significant sickness among his troops, planned the taking of the city. In his final letter to the King written from HMS Sutherland he writes: “I have fixed upon a spot where we can act with most force, and are most likely to succeed.”6 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 29 THE AMHERST FLAG published in the London Gazette on 17th October 1759, Brigadier Townshend goes to great lengths to commend the Navy: “I should not do justice to the Admirals and the Naval Service if I neglected on this occasion of acknowledging how much we are indebted for our success to the constant assistance and support received from them.”11 However, this may be the thread which ties Amherst, Murray and the flag. It is interesting that the flag is regarded as being Amherst’s when, in practice, Amherst himself was many miles away when Quebec fell. It has even been suggested that due to the poor communications and difficult terrain he was unaware of the victory until some two weeks later. If that was the case why is the flag ascribed as being Amherst’s? The spot he was referring to was L’Anseau-Foulon and required his advance party to climb a steep cliff and seize the summit, allowing the rest of his force to ascend. His own commanders rejected the idea; Townshend in particular regarded it as foolish. The defending commander, General Montcalm, also rejected the possibility of an attack there on the same grounds, despite his subordinate officers being concerned at its vulnerability. By sunrise the peak was secure and Wolfe’s forces deployed on the Plains of Abraham. The encounter was brief and under Wolfe’s orders the British held their fire until at close range. The French line broke and fled, though Wolfe himself had sustained three wounds and died on the field of battle.7 Command was assumed by Brigadier Townshend (General Monckton also being wounded) and by Brigadier James Murray, and on 18th September, Quebec surrendered with the Articles of Capitulation being signed by Brigadier Townshend and Admiral Saunders.8 At this juncture a further connection appears between the Amherst flag and the 15th Regiment of Foot in the person of James Murray. Murray had commanded the left wing of the assault on the Plains of Abraham. He had been a close friend of Wolfe’s, earning a commendation for his actions at Cape Breton the previous year. Murray had begun his military career as a cadet in the 3rd Scots Regiment under his brother, who was the Colonel in 1736. He transferred to the 15th Foot in November 30 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 1741 as a captain and, having gallantly commanded the grenadier company at the Battle of Lorient, he became Major in 1749 and purchased the LieutenantColonelcy in 1751.9 Having supported Wolfe in the assault on Quebec he was appointed military commander of Quebec the day after the city was taken. It was a hard winter, with little by way of supplies in Quebec, but regardless of these conditions, Murray repulsed a further counter-attack and siege by the French. Murray now moved forces up river to join Amherst and following the capitulation of Montreal was appointed to the role of Military Governor of the district of Quebec with direct responsibility to Amherst, bringing to an end French rule in Canada. Another association between Amherst and Murray is that Amherst, on appointment as Commander in Chief in America, was appointed Colonel of the 60th Foot (Royal Americans). Murray was also appointed to be Colonel of a Battalion of the 60th in October 1759.10 However, while both Amherst and Murray provide tangible links to the 15th Regiment of Foot, there still remains little direct evidence to connect them to the flag. A puzzling aspect of the mystery is of course that the Amherst flag is neither a King’s or regimental colour, but a white ensign. The forces of the Royal Navy were heavily engaged in the campaign in 1759 and particularly in the siege of Quebec. In his letter of 20th September to Pitt, The answer may lie in an obscure text written in 1914. In his book The Fight for Oversea (sic.) Empire, Wood makes a brief reference to the events following the fall of the city of Quebec. The British marched in on the 18th and hoisted three Union Jacks in token of possession - one over the citadel, a second on a gun in the centre of the esplanade, and the third, which was hoisted by the men of the fleet, on the ground to the left of Mountain Hill, looking down.12 While it refers to Union Jacks it is quite likely that the third flag, being hoisted by sailors to signify the navy’s part in the victory, was not a Union Jack but in fact a white ensign. Murray was the Governor of Quebec and presumably as time went on these flags were replaced by more permanent fixtures. If so, what happened to the ones flown on 18th September 1759? It is unlikely that the white ensign would have been returned to its ship of origin which would have long since departed. Were they retained by the Governor? Did Murray at a later date present one of them to Amherst as a souvenir of the victory over which he had overall command? Amherst is known to have visited Quebec, presumably with Murray in September 1760, before returning to his headquarters in New York. THE AMHERST FLAG Of course we can never be certain, but Wood’s account provides a tangible explanation of why the Amherst flag is a white ensign and how it came to be in the possession of the 15th Regiment of Foot. Clearly, this wonderful historic artefact suffered over the past two and a half centuries and required care and conservation. This was carried out by textile conservators Annabel Wylie and Poppy Singer13 who, over a period of months restored the flag to enable its continued display. The Amherst Standard now resides in the officers’ mess at the headquarters of the first Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment in Munster in a suitably sealed frame. When the battalion returns to the UK it will be on view in the museum in York, where visitors will be able to view an artefact that witnessed one of the most significant victories in British military history. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Regimental records note that Amherst was Colonel from 22nd May 1756 to 21st September 1768. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Jeffrey Amherst. The DNB account confirms the regimental record of Amherst’s appointment as Colonel rather than the earlier date on the plaque. London Gazette 10th September 1759. Records of the 15th or York East Riding Regiment of Foot. The records were compiled by General A F Macintosh in 1828 who commanded the regiment from 1825 to 1834 and give a detailed account of the 15th Regiment’s involvement in North America. London Gazette 16th October 1759, The London Gazette carries a detailed account contained in letters from General Wolfe and Admiral Saunders of the campaign and the events leading up to the assault on Quebec. Lloyd C The Capture of Quebec (London 1959) p117. Knox Captain J, An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North America (London 1759). In his diary detailing the assault, Knox provides a detailed account both of Murray’s involvement and Wolfe’s death. 8 9 10 11 12 13 London Chronicle and Universal Evening Press 16th October 1759. This edition not only reproduces the letter from General Monckton confirming the victory and Wolfe’s death but also outlines the terms of capitulation requested by the French. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, James Murray. Whitehall Evening Press 25th October 1759. This edition lists a number of appointments following the campaign against Quebec including for brigadiers Monckton and Townshend. London Gazette 17th October 1759. Wood W, The Fight For Oversea Empire: the Battle of the Plains, in Shortt A and Doughty A, eds, Canada and Its Provinces, Vol I, Toronto, Glasgow, Brook & Company, 1914, 312p., pp. 288-308. Annabel Wylie and Poppy Singer, Textile Conservators, The Old Village Hall, Plough Road, Great Bentley, Colchester, Essex, CO7 8LD. THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 31 Extraordinary Ext raorrdinar y F Firearms irrearms Auction Auct uction Event Evventt Tuesday, T uesdaay, Oct. O 4th and d Wednesday, Wednes ednesda d sdaay, Oct. 5th, 2011 Fairfield, Fairfield, Maine This extraordinary extraordinar y auction auction will will include include de oover ver $10 million million w worth orth of superb, superb, high-gr high-grade gh-grade Shotguns, Shotguns, Sporting Sporting Rifles, Important Impor portant Winchesters, Winchesters, Outstanding O utstanding Colts, ts, Rare havee time sale.. Rare Historical Historical Items, Civill War, Warr, Military Militar y and more. more. If you you appreciate appreciate ciate quality quality and rarity rarity and only only hav me ffor or oone ne auction, auction, this is the sale Wee ar W aree the world’s world’s lea le leading ading auct auctioneers ioneers of rare, rare, high-g high-grade, rade, quality quality firearms. firearms. We We do not sel selll the g greatest reatest number of firearms firearms in a yyear, earr, w wee sel selll the g greatest reatest firearms have moree items yyou sell. number of expensive expensiv p ve fir ear arms in a yyear. earr. Call Call today todaay if yyou ou hav ve one or mor ou wish to sel l. Rare and Important Historical 18th Century Silver Hilt Sword by Edmund Milne Phil. to Joseph Reed from Gen. George Washington. Reed was a Patriot, a Statesman, and Washington’s #1 Military Secretary. Spectacular rare fact. cased set of 3 engr. Colt rev. pres. to Hugh Rose comp. of Col. Colt. (Rose was good friend of Colt and witnessed his will) We believe this to be 1 of only 2 authentic fact. triple cased sets and the only one w/engr. guns. Superb Silver Inlaid British 16 Bore F/L Fowler By W. Arden Historic & Imp. Merkel O/U comb. 3 bbl set made especially for Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler and presented to him 7.10.1941 by the SS-Hauptamt Fine early Wheelock sporting rifle from Henist Collection Outstanding Negroni Snaphaunce F/L Pistol Ex Rare & Hist. grouping of British Regular Infantry articles removed from fallen Soldier at Lexington/ Concord w/ complete prov. Two Whitworth Sporting Rifles Japanese Samurai Sword in Shirasaya Keicho Shinto Katana. Superb Pair of Boss Best Sidelock 20ga Game Guns in Pristine Cond. Part of a Superb offering of Fine English Sporting Guns Awesome Purdey 3” Heavy Game gun once belonging to Hemingway compatriot Winston Guest for use at the famous “Joe Knapp Club”. Holland & Holland Royal Ejector Game Gun. 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FIREWORKS SPITFIRE CANNONS CAVALRY RECOMMENDED BY BY 7KH 2IÀFLDO :LQH :LLQH RI WKH %DWWOH % 3URPV REGISTE EGISTERED RED CHA HARITY RITY NUMBE UMBER R: 206002 WWW.BATTLEPROMS.COM W WW.BATTLEPROMS.COM T TEL: EL: 001432 1432 3355416 55416 Arms Anciennes de Qualitî Magazin Royal European & Oriental Tel: 32 (0)2 267 72 07 32 (0) 477 206 204 34 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE BELGIUM Arms & Armour By appointment only Mobile: 32 (0)475 492 450 Fax: 32 (0)2 267 7537 GARTH VINCENT ANTIQUE ARMS AND ARMOUR Address: The Old Manor House, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2DH Telephone Number: 01400 281358 | Email: [email protected] www.guns.uk.com Ma Master aster Gunm Gunmaker maker Restorer Artillery Rest orer of Ar rtillery Arms A Antique Ar rms A 13pdr Q. F. field gun – P.O.A. PO Bo Box ox 355 • Hereford d • HR2 9YE Tel: 07775 643762 643762 Tel: E-mail: [email protected] in nfo@johnslougho oflondon.co.uk www.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk www w.johnsloughoflondon.co.uk D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N Dating the Firearms of Joseph Manton 1792–1825 by P A Scott-Edeson The publication in 1967 of The Mantons, written by Keith Neal and David Back, has provided the foundation for all subsequent research into the work of both John and Joseph Manton. brother. This state of affairs is confirmed by a letter from Joseph Manton to Major Blomefield, who was the Inspector of Artillery at Woolwich, which is headed Dover Street and dated 15 July 1790. However, the failure of his attempts to persuade the Ordnance of the merits of his system of rifling cannon and the use of wooden cups to keep shot in the centre of the bores of guns must have decided Joseph to reconsider the option of becoming a civilian gunmaker. A letter from the Duke of Richmond, who was then Master General of Ordnance, to Joseph Manton is dated 15 September 1791 and addressed to 25 Davies Street, Berkeley Square. It is not clear from the rate books exactly when Joseph took over the Davies Street premises but it was probably Midsummer 1791. Joseph Manton was born in April 1766 at Grantham in Lincolnshire. He was apprenticed to the gunmaker Edward Newton of Grantham at Michaelmas 1781, but for unknown reasons he was turned over to his older brother, John, around 1784. John Manton had by then established his own business at 6 Dover Street, London, having initially worked for John Twigg, latterly as his foreman. It is probable that Joseph completed his apprenticeship in 1788. It might be reasonably assumed that once Joseph Manton had moved to Davies Street he would have immediately set himself up in business. The house, shop and workshops were clearly more than adequate to meet his needs since he was to remain at this address for the next 28 years. However, it is not until 12 May 1792 that there is a record of the existence of his civilian gunmaking business. On this date the engraver William Palmer records that he had worked on a steel gun and two pairs of pistols for Mr Joseph Manton. Careful examination of the transcript of the surviving account book confirms that this is the first time that William Palmer undertook any work for Joseph Manton. As far as is known, initially, Joseph Manton lived and worked with his brother. At this time Joseph was interested in work for the Ordnance rather than becoming a civilian gunmaker and, consequently, he would not have been seen as a rival by his It must be accepted that Joseph Manton could initially have used another engraver before entrusting his work to William Palmer. However, the available evidence is against such an hypothesis. There is an entry in the account book on 5 October Flintlock duelling pistols with 10in smooth bore barrels. No 2070 for 1804 by Joseph Manton. The record of surviving guns included in the book provided a valuable source of information with which to assess other gunmakers of the period. It also encouraged many collectors to provide details of unrecorded guns in their own collections. The publication of The Manton Supplement in 1978 and later The Mantons 1782–1878 in 1993 included this additional information as it came forward from around the world. In 1993, details of no less than 523 guns by Joseph Manton were recorded and subsequently at least a further 44 have been discovered. This article will assess the firearms production of Joseph Manton from the start of his business through to his bankruptcy in January 1826. THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 37 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N absence of any un-numbered guns made by Joseph Manton which could be linked to this period of his production, the available evidence supports the view that the business did not start until the spring of 1792 at the earliest. 1793 for work on a double gun for the Duke of Bedford. Unfortunately, this gun does not survive but the invoice for it also included a double rifle, which is numbered 112. If it is assumed that the gun and rifle were ordered at the same time and therefore had consecutive, or at least close, numbers, then at this date William Palmer had engraved approximately 120 guns between May 1792 and September 1793. In the If the gunmaking business of Joseph Manton commenced in 1792, when did it end? The answer to this question must be December 1825 on the basis that he was declared bankrupt in January 1826. In fact he had been taken to court by several tradesmen to whom he owed money at various times through 1825, but evidently by the turn of the year he could not postpone the then inevitable collapse of his business any longer. It is acknowledged that the business was resurrected in 1827 and 1834, but generally the quality of the guns was not comparable to those produced prior to 1826. Table 1 : ASSESSED GUN PRODUCTION of JOSEPH MANTON Surviving Production per 100 Serial Numbers 38 No Range No Found Serial Numbers Recorded 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 7 0 6 3 10 7 2 8 3 0 2 3 4 12 6 3 1 3 9 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 8 5 3 0 1 0 0 5 6 1 2 1 3 5 8 11 9 6 12,40,63,66,81,89,93 5,21,56,84,85,92 11,12,95 6,12,44,57,61,64,68,70,77,90 15,21,23,39,50,51,53 42,99 16,27,28,35,52,58,70,73 17,48,63 70,80 26,33,71 61,85,92,99 7,13,14,34,42,49,59,60,68,70,79,88 3,14,28,35,63,67 9,35,92 21 59,72,96 6,7,12,19,20,36,75,76,78 21,46,55,56,72 44 34 6,8,17,20,30,33,35,38,46,49,54 20,28,34,51,72,85,87,97 18,27,28,29,44 8,12,20 8 52,53,62,71,82 38,53,65,72,76,77 43 71,94 18,20,30,32,61,64,66,67,71,73,80 6,11,13,16,24,26,29,33,70,71,81,83,86 34,44,66,67,90 1,5,31,32,34,44,52,85 20,37,42,43,44,52,56,57,81,82,84 10,18,31,37,50,55,58,72,90 11,12,27,80,90,92 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE Assessed Production 100 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 100 100 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 50 0 0 0 0 50 100 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7000 7100 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900 8000 8100 8200 8300 8400 8500 8600 8700 8800 8900 9000 9100 9200 9300 9400 9500 9600 5 7 8 10 10 6 9 6 10 14 6 8 9 10 10 12 12 12 11 15 9 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 12 13 12 8 12 14 11 14 15 17 17 14 0 0 1 1 2 35,42,47,62,75 1,7,16,18,38,54,81 26,35,45,62,63,64,69,78 2,34,40,42,49,56,57,82,85,99 3,18,21,41,53,56,69,75,81,84 17,26,31,51,68,99 9,19,29,40,45,54,57,63,88 43,45,58,71,75,97 8,19,29,33,44,61,64,86,88,89 2,5,9,17,26,52,57,59,64,67,80,90,91,96 4,12,38,51,59,85 17,22,49,75,77,84,87,90 9,31,59,63,68,74,76,87,97 26,32,39,41,47,52,54,55,62,77 13,25,26,51,64,81,84,85,86,90 5,10,13,37,48,51,56,60,67,68,77,78 8,9,21,29,38,39,48,66,68,74,85,94 1,25,34,36,38,39,46,49,58,61,64,99 11,25,32,54,59,62,65,71,76,84,91 0,8,12,22,37,59,61,62,67,68,69,71,75,81,93 26,37,38,41,46,54,58,61,69 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 13 0 80 0 0 74 0 34 0 0 0 0 0 1,5,12,14,15,16,29,35,63,70,71,86 100 2,11,22,27,29,36,37,47,58,59,64,89,92 100 1,7,10,41,43,59,63,64,74,80,83,84 100 2,7,39,61,66,67,70,88 100 5,14,17,28,30,58,59,74,91,94,97,99 100 14,25,27,31,32,33,45,48,78,84,88,90,91,96 100 17,21,29,45,46,52,53,57,72,94,95 100 5,10,12,13,20,22,53,54,64,78,83,86,91,97 100 1,4,6,21,25,27,30,31,32,51,52,66,69,71,84 100 3,9,19,22,40,41,42,50,54,61,63,70,72,81,87,96,97 100 1,3,6,11,18,19,27,33,36,39,47,48,54,56,74,76,80 100 9,17,31,35,36,38,41,51,53,55,57,59,63,64 75 0 0 83 0 0 62 29,54 0 NB: Underlined numbers indicate firearms recorded since 1993. D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N It is necessary to determine the total number of guns made between 1792 and 1825 and to establish their distribution through this period of 34 years. In order to provide an estimate of the total production the following approach has been adopted. An analysis has been undertaken of all the surviving guns starting at 112, which is the lowest numbered gun to survive, through to 9654 which is the highest numbered gun to survive that is engraved with the Hanover Square address. A total record of 567 guns is involved and these have been analysed by listing them in ascending numerical order in groups of 100, starting with 100. The results are presented in Table 1. By way of explanation and example, the three numbers - 11, 12 and 95, listed after the number 400 in the table, refer to three guns having the serial numbers 411, 412 and 495. At this point it is perhaps appropriate to consider why gaps should occur in the record of surviving guns produced by Joseph Manton. There can be little doubt that where no gun is recorded in a particular run of 100 serial numbers, as presented in Table 1, it is most unlikely that the particular block of potential numbers was ever used. In addition, there can be no explanation as to why in some instances only one gun should survive in a run of 100 consecutive numbers, although one explanation could be that the record of the particular gun is in error. It is, however, relevant to observe that in the surviving ledgers of James Wilkinson, which commence in 1807, on several occasions during the following 15 years groups of potential serial numbers are skipped from time to time. It will be noted that within the numbers listed in each 100 serial number band some of the figures are given in underlined italics. These are the guns which have been recorded since the publication of The Mantons 1782–1878 in 1993. In passing it is interesting to note that although these 44 additional guns add a significant number to the total sample, they do not change the survival distribution which was already evident by 1993. The analysis technique adopted is designed to be both visual and analytical. For example, if the information presented in the Table is considered from serial number band 7000 through to the end, there is very convincing evidence of a comprehensive block of production between 8000 and 9200. The average survival rate in each band exceeds 13% and the range of numbers recorded in each band is spread throughout the possible range. The column of figures at the right-hand side of the table is intended to represent the original number of guns which would actually have been made within each run of 100 consecutive serial numbers. By and large the decision has been made on an all or nothing basis, although in a few instances an intermediate figure has been adopted. This procedure therefore requires sustained evidence of production rather than the isolated survival of a few guns over a given period. On this basis the total production during the analysis period is assessed at 6,275 guns with an average survival rate of 9%. It must be emphasised that whilst this analytical approach may not conform to accepted statistical practice, it is considered to be valid in the specific circumstances of this assessment. The next stage in the analysis of the assessed number of guns made by Joseph Manton requires the total production to be appropriately distributed through the production period. In the absence of the original registers, whose survival would self evidently have made this assessment unnecessary, the available evidence linking a specific serial number to a particular year is very limited. Unfortunately, any surviving invoice is of no value unless it can be associated with a particular gun, because serial numbers were never recorded on the invoice by Joseph Manton. Indeed, apart from John Manton, very few gunmakers of this period included serial numbers on their invoices. Notwithstanding the problems of association, a list of specific guns and dates is included in Table 2. The Duke of Bedford’s double rifle 112 and its invoice have survived and this serial number and date are therefore correct. The four entries in Colonel Peter Hawker’s diaries recording the arrival of a new gun from Joe Manton can be assumed to be accurate. The serial numbers 8414 and 8499 are quoted in two separately dated letters from Joseph Manton to the East India Company, requesting permission to export, as required under Privy Council rules at that time. These letters confirm that the guns in question were purely for sporting use and could in no way be used for military purposes. They would therefore presumably pose no threat when shipped to India if they fell into the wrong hands! There is a double pistol 1488 in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, which has the Egremont crest engraved on the escutcheon. An invoice dated 3 December 1802 for a pair of double pistols sold by Joseph Manton to the Earl TABLE 2: VERIFIABLE DATES OF JOSEPH MANTON GUNS Flintlock D/B carriage Pistols with 8.5in barrels. One barrel smooth the other barrel with polygroove rifling. No 5318 for 1811 by Joseph Manton. 112 1488 1567 4326 5761 5802 6364 8111 8414 8499 8831 12 October 1793 3 December 1802 21 July 1802 20 November 1807 May 1812–May 1813 11 August 1812 3 July 1814 26 October 1817 15 November 1820 3 November 1820 February - May 1823 Duke of Bedford double rifle Earl of Egremont double pistols Prince of Wales double gun Colonel Hawker double gun Silver mounted double gun Colonel Hawker double gun Colonel Hawker wildfowling gun Colonel Hawker double gun East India Company certificate East India Company certificate Silver mounted duelling pistols THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 39 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N of Egremont for £42 survives. In view of the absence of any other invoice and the high price paid for the pistols, it has been assumed that the invoice refers to the pistols. An invoice dated 21 July 1802 from Joseph Manton to the Prince of Wales for a double gun is preserved in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. The Royal Collection includes a double gun 1567 by Joseph Manton made for the Prince of Wales. In the absence of any other invoices or guns it is considered that the invoice relates to double gun 1567. Finally, two silver mounted guns survive which link hallmark date letters to serial numbers. Firstly, the silver furniture of double gun 5761 is stamped with the date letter for 1812/1813. Secondly, the silver furniture of a pair of pistols has the 1822/1823 date letter. However, in addition it has the maker’s mark of Elizabeth Barnett, which was not registered until February 1823. This allows a much shorter date range to be proposed than is usually the case with silver hallmarks. Table 3: PROPOSED ALLOCATION of SERIAL NUMBERS to YEAR of MANUFACTURE Year 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 40 Serial Numbers 101 151 301 351 451 576 701 851 1101 1276 1451 1651 1801 1951 3001 3051 3301 3851 4101 4151 4401 4701 5001 5301 5601 5901 6201 6501 6801 8001 8026 8151 8276 8406 8536 8666 8796 8926 9056 Total 150 200 350 450 575 700 850 1000 1275 1450 1650 1700 1950 2100 3050 3300 3350 4000 4150 4400 4700 5000 5300 5600 5900 6200 6500 6800 7000 8025 8150 8275 8405 8535 8665 8795 8925 9055 9175 50 100 } 100 100 125 125 150 150 175 175 200 } } 200 200 250 } 250 250 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 300 } 225 125 125 125 130 130 130 130 130 120 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE The assessed production of guns by Joseph Manton during the period 1792 to 1825 has then been apportioned through the period using the available dating evidence to create the distribution presented in Table 3. It has been assumed that the increase in production occurred gradually to reach a plateau between 1808 and 1815. The following year would have effectively seen the end of flintlock production and the introduction of the pelletlock, followed by the tubelock and then finally the copper cap. The decision to cease flintlock production can be seen as disastrous for the business and it must remain a mystery as to why the introduction of the alternative detonating systems was not pursued alongside the continuing and profitable production of flintlock guns. As a footnote to the foregoing observations the flyer illustrated above is of special interest. It has survived in association with a letter from Joseph Manton dated 1 December 1818 to Joseph Dart at East India House, written to confirm the sporting bona fide of a gun to be shipped to India. The reason for its inclusion is a mystery but, as the letter was signed by Thomas Powell on behalf of Joseph Manton, perhaps it was sent in error. It is partially unique since the announcement referring to New Patent Detonating Guns is included as the upper part of an invoice in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle for the pair of pelletlock guns sold to the Prince Regent on 26 November 1816. However, the plea for payment of outstanding accounts has been added to the earlier D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N Pellet/flintlock that have been made to accept either locks. With 9.5in smooth bore barrels. No 6938 for 1816. Pellet lock no 8274 for 1818. text. The dramatic reduction in quantity and hence income from guns made by the business by the end of 1818, which is confirmed by this assessment of Joseph Manton’s production, clearly warranted this most unusual approach by a tradesman to his customers. The allocation of serial number to a particular year of manufacture has been based on the date at which it is considered the gun was delivered to the customer. Inevitably this approach, whilst eminently appropriate, will sometimes lead to anomalies when considering a specific gun. It is therefore of interest to consider the appearance of certain patented features in the surviving production of Joseph Manton guns in the light of the serial number allocation proposed in Table 3. The patent for an elevated rib was granted on 15 September 1806, and enrolled on 10 October 1806. The significance of the enrollment date is that whilst the invention was protected from the date of grant, this protection lapsed unless the patent was subsequently enrolled. This feature of the patent system may therefore account, at least in some instances, for the word patent being engraved on the work of a particular maker when no record of such a patent survives. Indeed, it should not be forgotten that, in the context of many businesses the patenting of an invention was a significant cost and therefore perhaps not one to be undertaken lightly. The lowest known numbered gun which incorporates an elevated rib is 4194, followed by 4271, 4273 and 4280. However, it will be noted that in Table 3 all four guns are considered to have been made in 1807 rather than 1806. The reason for this apparent anomaly stems from two inevitable limitations in the data used to compile the allocation. Firstly, the number of firm fixes is extremely limited but one of these is 4326, which is a double gun received by Colonel Hawker on 20 November 1807. Secondly, in the absence of more comprehensive dating evidence it has been considered appropriate to allocate serial numbers to years from 1792 through to 1815 on a gradually increasing basis rather than a fluctuating one. No explanation can be advanced to explain the apparent reticence of customers to endorse the elevated rib, except conservatism: when the choice between an elevated rib and a sunken rib appears to have been made available to the customer by other gunmakers, the latter continue to be found well into the percussion era. On 30 April 1812, Joseph Manton was granted his patent for New Improvements, which included a gravitating stop acting on the cock, a water drain through the breech and a lip to the hammer. The earliest known example is 5563, followed by 5671, 5719 and 5788. The last gun incorporates all the patented features including the use of gravitating stops without platinum inserts. Apart from 5563, the other three guns fall within 1812, not least because, in this instance, Colonel Hawker received gun number 5802 on 11 August 1812! THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 41 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O S E P H M A N TO N Pellet lock no 8274 for pellet/flintlock no 6938. The grant of a patent for the pelletlock was made on 29 February 1816. The following day, Joseph Manton announced in the press that he had been awarded his patent and that he was preparing some guns incorporating the new lock for inspection. However, almost immediately, Forsyth & Co was granted an injunction preventing the sale of locks made to the new patent on the basis that it infringed the original patent granted to Dr Alexander Forsyth in 1807. However, on 15 July 1816, this injunction was dissolved unconditionally and Joseph Manton was then free to sell guns incorporating locks made to the specification granted in his patent. The first known pelletlock gun is 8001 and Colonel Hawker records receiving gun 8111 on 26 October 1817. However, the invoice relating to the pair of pelletlock guns made for the Prince Regent is dated 27 November 1816. Although the serial numbers of these guns are not known, the survival of the invoice at least confirms that pelletlock guns could have been in the hands of Joseph Manton’s customers by that date at the latest. On this basis a small number of guns with an early 8000 serial number have been allocated to 1816. 42 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE Finally, although the pelletlock was not a success the subsequent invention of the tubelock, for which Joseph Manton was granted a patent on 3 August 1818, was a success. It continued to be made and used well into the 19th century - long after the introduction of the copper cap. The first known tubelock gun is 8243, followed by 8259 and 8280. The serial number allocation for 1818 runs through to 8275. Joseph Manton stated in legal evidence given in 1819 that he had ceased making pelletlock guns by the end of 1818, although a pair of pelletlock locks numbered 8274, which were made to replace the locks on a pair of flintlock pistols, is recorded. In conclusion, it is anticipated that the foregoing assessment of Joseph Manton’s gun production will be of interest to both collectors and researchers. Additional evidence may come to light in the future which will enable greater accuracy to be achieved in the allocation of serial numbers to specific years. Tantalizingly, there is a reference to the survival of Joseph Manton’s ledgers in London between the wars, but all attempts to discover them have not met with any success. Acknowledgements : The author wishes to acknowledge the pioneering work undertaken by David Back and Keith Neal in the writing and publishing of The Mantons in 1967, followed by The Manton Supplement and The Mantons 1782–1878. The debt which we owe both for the information contained in all three volumes and for setting out a framework for firearms research, which subsequent authors have adopted, is immeasurable. On a personal note I wish to record my very grateful thanks to David Back for putting at my disposal all the information which has came forward between 1993 and 2000 on Manton guns which is not included in the three published works. Also many thanks to John Slough for the photographs. The flyer presented in Plate 1, headed New Patent Detonating Guns, appears by kind permission of the British Library, Oriental and India Office Collection, reference OIOC E/1/138, folio 342. About the author: Peter Scott-Edeson is a long-time student of English gunmaking in the late 18th–early 19th century. This article is from a paper he presented to the Canadian Guild of Antique Arms Collectors back in 2000. He would be pleased to learn of any additional arms made by Joseph Manton which are not included in Table 1 and information on the whereabouts of any John or Joseph Manton invoices. He can be contacted at Fishery Cottage, Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0PQ. Phone: +44 (0)1822 870745. D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N Dating the Firearms of John Manton and John Manton & Son: 1789–1834 by P A Scott-Edeson This article concerns the dating of the firearms produced by John Manton, and John Manton & Son, from 1789 through to his death in 1834. John Manton was the older brother of Joseph. The Joseph Manton article was prepared because it was clear that little additional information was likely to become available in the future to amend the revised allocation, undertaken by the author, of the production schedule included in The Mantons 1782–1878 (1993) by David Back. The availability of further information to improve the accuracy of any dating assessment for John Manton is potentially significantly different. This is because in 1799 it became the practice of the firm to include the serial number of each gun when the final invoice was prepared for the customer. It is therefore not necessary for the actual gun to survive so that it can be linked to a particular invoice. Joseph Manton did not include the serial number of the gun on his invoices and in fact research suggests that it was not until the early 1820s that other gunmakers started to adopt John Manton’s practice. During the 18th and 19th centuries most of the guns ordered by members of titled or landed families from the leading London gunmakers were paid for through their London house. If the receipted invoice was retained, which was usually the case, its survival subject to a possible clear-out from time to time, was primarily dependent on the family continuing to retain a house in London. Unfortunately, at some point most of these houses were given up, and whilst furniture, works of art and personal items have been retained, old invoices have generally not survived. Nevertheless, research to date has uncovered a number of unrecorded invoices detailing a further 19 guns spread reasonably evenly through the period from 1790 to 1826. Whilst further research will hopefully lead to more invoices being discovered, this new evidence allied to that already included in The Mantons 1782–1878 does now provide sufficient information to evaluate John Manton’s production in a similar way to that used for Joseph Manton. Initially, however, it is appropriate to sketch out John Manton’s early years prior to the establishment of his business at 6 Dover Street, London in September 1781. John Manton was born on 6th November 1752 in Grantham, Lincolnshire. On 23rd June 1768, he was apprenticed for seven years to William and John Edson, gunsmiths of Grantham. William Edson had obtained his freedom, as a ‘foreigner’, by payment of a fine in 1765. John Manton received his freedom on 14th June 1775. Subsequently, he moved to London and, at least latterly, was foreman to John Twigg in Piccadilly. Interestingly, John Twigg, who was also born in Grantham, served the latter part of his apprenticeship with the Grantham gunsmith Edward Newton, obtaining his freedom on 18th February 1756. It has been suggested that William Edson may in fact have been William Newton’s foreman but John Manton’s apprenticeship to a partnership perhaps suggests that this was not the case. It has also been suggested that William and John Edson were father and son, but this is considered unlikely, although their relationship, whether familial or otherwise, is not known. William’s son, also called John, was apprenticed to his father during much of John Manton’s apprenticeship. In any event it is clear that the link between Edward and later William Newton and John Twigg, and hence Grantham and London, would at least have provided the opportunity for John Manton, having completed his apprenticeship, to move to London and work for John Twigg. The inventory of guns manufactured by John Manton, included in The Mantons 1782–1878, has confirmed that initially guns were not allocated serial numbers. The lowest recorded number is 815 on a double barrel pistol and it has therefore been assumed that the numbering of production began at 800. Evidence from silver hallmarked gun furniture and invoices suggests that this would probably have been in 1789. Although guns continued to be produced by the business under its final trading name of John Manton, Son & Coe until the late 1870s, the present allocation of serial numbers to year of manufacture ends in 1834. It was in this year on 24th November that John Manton died. It must be noted that the available evidence to date guns after the mid 1820s is extremely limited. However, if the level of production tentatively established in the late 1820s is continued into the early 1830s then, on present evidence, the serial number allocation for 1834 is considered to run through to around 11100. In order to date John Manton’s firearms it has been necessary to assess the total number of guns manufactured between 1789 and 1834, and to determine their distribution through this 46-year period. On the basis of an analysis of all the recorded guns which have survived between 800 and 11100, the lowest numbered gun is 815 and the highest is 11093. These have been tabulated in groups of 100, starting with 800. The results are presented in Table 1 (on page 45). THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 43 requires ANTIQUE FIREARMS DRAGOON G POCKET G NAVY G ARMY G POLICE G DERRINGER SEMI-AUTOS G 1873 SINGLE ACTIONS G 1877/8 DOUBLE ACTIONS Plus ALL COLT Accessories, Cases, Moulds, Flasks, Holster, Books and Associated Material Beautiful Nimschke-style engraved Smith & Wesson Second Model American single action revolver serial number 17837 with eight inch barrel and two-piece ivory grips manufactured circa 1873 BUY SELL TRADE G G ALSO DEALING IN REMINGTON G S&W G WINCHESTER P.O. Box 138, Cranleigh, GU6 8WE Telephone: 01483 277788 Fax: 01483 277784 Mobile: 07778 008008 email: [email protected] Website: www.peteholder.co.uk D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N TABLE 1: Recorded and Assessed Production of John Manton and John Manton & Son Firearms, 1789-1834 (per 100 serial numbers) No Range No Found Serial Numbers Recorded 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 3 1 0 6 6 2 2 1 3 3 0 7 15,17,26 80 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 2 6 7 4 4 6 13 6 7 7 8 3 5 5 1 12 12 28,46 6,27,44,51,79,89 5,37,44,46,90,96,97 5,26,46,66 14,56,84,98 4,7,40,70,78,79 29,33,35,36,49,52,53,57,59,75,81,89,96 8,9,28,52,63,64 17,20,37,38,67,70,78 6,9,58,60,62,73,83 1,18,21,26,29,48,49,61 0,1,41 50,52,56,57,60 0,31,41,52,78 43 0,5,6,20,26,32,56,62,78,84,85,99 2,5,6,7,8,9,35,37,41,71,89,90 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 3 7 3 13 14 10 2 7 5 6 3 12 6 7 8 6 9 12 6 11 5 13 36,48,71 1,41,42,51,54,65,70 17,65,83 22,29,31,33,36,40,41,42,43,44,50,71,76 2,10,12,15,26,34,38,51,57,64,82,83,86,96 2,3,5,6,7,12,14,38,64,72 42,98 50,51,54,56,60,62,85 18,32,36,44,96 23,50,57,73,98,99 90,97,99 12,20,29,48,49,56,61,63,70,88,90,96 3,7,19,85,92,99 28,40,70,72,76,77,79 44,46,74,76,79,80,85,86 8,16,48,56,57,61 4,15,25,32,66,77,84,95,96 0,11,30,42,43,48,76,78,82,83,97,99 1,7,11,89,95,96 8,29,50,61,62,63,70,71,78,80,81 43,44,52,61,94 32,33,46,48,49,50,53,54,56,58,59,65,87 3,26,59,66,72,85 9,10,16,17,31,42 58,99 36,80 68 36,57,58 2,30,31 19,21,22,65,79,92,93 Assessed Production 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 5900 6000 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7 13 4 7 9 10 6 7 0 1 8 3,4,10,11,60,67,84 14,17,19,20,23,24,26,34,49,56,62,70,95 2,9,20,26 10,13,28,61,74,88,99 24,26,28,70,80,82,84,86,95 2,4,5,16,32,46,47,74,79,81 21,33,47,58,96,99 1,23,31,46,55,61,70 7000 7100 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900 8000 8100 8200 8300 8400 8500 8600 8700 8800 8900 9000 9 0 0 0 0 12 6 10 5 6 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1,5,7,12,33,56,84,85,86 9100 9200 9300 9400 9500 9600 9700 9800 9900 10000 10100 10200 10300 10400 10500 10600 10700 10800 10900 11000 15 7 5 8 13 4 12 5 2 7 13 11 3 9 16 6 12 10 11 14 19,21,24,26,29,31,33,36,37,40,42,46,57,72,93 4,38,41,53,56,57,63 45,47,59,63,64 14,33,38,47,51,84,91,99 0,5,15,16,18,19,20,22,23,25,41,57,62 29,76,89,98 19,24,33,37,39,40,46,59,69,73,85,98 36,74,82,91,94 7,10 20,30,39,60,75,76,77 1,27,28,29,31,32,35,36,37,66,76,79,80 10,25,33,38,39,44,47,52,63,89,99 16,30,99 2,5,7,36,41,60,70,71,82 14,16,24,30,32,33,54,62,63,64,71,78,79,85,87,94 25,33,78,89,93,97 12,17,19,26,58,59,64,65,66,70,73,85 0,3,8,47,57,59,62,73,83,99 3,5,7,12,13,14,16,51,56,58,80 4,8,9,13,35,49,50,63,64,65,67,83,92,93 60 1,7,12,15,16,22,24,25 30,35,38,46,50,52,60,67,69,70,93,94 18,23,28,35,69,73 0,5,30,35,38,39,65,69,87,94 8,22,30,52,57 7,16,45,53,61,69 15,16,17,18,21,82 2 34 0,5,6,10,12,14,41,59,61 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0 100 100 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 15 85 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 NB: Underlined numbers indicate firearms recorded since 1993. THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 45 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N The comprehensive blocks of production which emerged in the Joseph Manton analysis are not to be found in that undertaken for John Manton and John Manton & Son. Fortunately, for the early 1790s, the account book of the engraver William Palmer provides valuable evidence of John Manton’s actual production. It confirms that production in 1792 and 1793 was running at the equivalent of 250 guns per year. The record for 1794 is incomplete but some reduction is apparent. The evidence for the period covered by the Palmer account book suggests that such a comprehensive survival for John Manton guns may be an unreasonable expectation. Indeed, it is only from serial number 9000 onwards that there is at least an indication of the reassuring production blocks found in the Joseph Manton assessment. It is for this reason that, up to serial number 6700, no run of 100 consecutive potential serial numbers has been excluded from the assessed total production calculation, even though no or only one gun has been recorded. Thereafter, three blocks of serial numbers have been excluded, comprising 6700–6900, 7100–7500 and 8100–9000 inclusive. In addition it was felt necessary to remove 100 numbers between 9901 and 10100 to avoid a currently unsupportable surge in production. On this basis, the total production between 800 and 11100 is considered to have been 8,700 guns. The record shows that 630 guns have survived and been recorded, representing an overall survival rate of 7%. In Table 1, a number of the serial numbers are underlined. These guns have been recorded since the publication in 1993 of The Mantons 1782–1878 and amount to 76 or 12% of the 630. This figure is significantly higher than the equivalent figure for Joseph Manton at slightly less than 8%. More importantly, the new John Manton and John Manton & Son guns have provided greater confidence in the conclusions reached as a result of this assessment, having reinforced and extended the survival pattern. Once the total number of guns considered to have been manufactured between 1789 and 1834 had been 46 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE TABLE 2: Verifiable Dates of John Manton and John Manton & Son Guns 1166 May 1789–May 1790 1185 11 October 1790 Silver mounted pair of duelling pistols 1231 9 July 1790 1919 May 1790–May 1791 2246 10 December 1794 2817 May 1796–May 1797 Silver mounted pair of duelling pistols 2837 May 1797–May 1798 Silver mounted pair of duelling pistols 2909 May 1797–May 1798 Silver mounted single gun 3300 29 November 1799 3609 27 January 1802 3637 24 September 1801 3690 May 1800–May 1801 4029 1 June 1803 4196 7 July 1804 4536 17 October 1805 4699 21 August 1806 5430 21 June 1810 Invoice for double gun 5478 31 July 1810 Invoice for double gun 5608 1 February 1811 Invoice for single gun 5680 3 August 1811 Invoice for single gun 6380 May 1816–May 1817 6402 12 January 1816 Invoice for double gun 6655 5 September 1817 Invoice for double gun 7012 3 August 1819 Invoice for double gun 7538 4 December 1818 Invoice for double gun 7569 5 July 1820 7623 1819 Invoice for pair of duelling pistols Invoice for single rifle Silver mounted pair of duelling pistols Duke of York double gun Invoice for single gun Invoice for pair of pistols Invoice for single gun Silver mounted single gun Invoice for double gun Invoice for pair of pistols Colonel Hawker gun Colonel Hawker double gun Siver mounted pistol Invoice for single gun Date engraved on double gun escutcheon 7738 23 March 1820 Invoice for single duck gun 7739 23 March 1820 Invoice for single duck gun 7945 5 September 1820 Invoice for double gun 9119 17 September 1822 Invoice for double gun 9142 17 September 1822 9907 24 August 1826 10289 26 June 1827 10770 1832 assessed, it was then necessary to determine their distribution through the 46-year period. A list of specific guns with their known date of sale, or at least a proposed date or period of possible sale, has been compiled and this is presented in Table 2. The principal source of dating used to determine the yearly allocation has been surviving invoices, all of which, apart from the two earliest ones in 1790, include the serial number of the gun. Silver hallmarks can be helpful in at least potentially providing a dating period, although in this instance the date letter for a pair of duelling pistols (1919) and a single pistol (6380) are at odds with the proposed dating of both serial numbers. Invoice for double gun Invoice for double percussion gun Prize percussion gun for pigeon match Dated pair of presentation duelling pistols In the royal collection at Windsor Castle there is a double barrel sporting gun (2246), which was made for the Duke of York. His crest is engraved on the escutcheon. On 10th December 1784, John Manton was charged by William Palmer for the engraving on a steel gun for the Duke of York. The following day, he was charged for a second gun, which by implication was also for the Duke of York. In the absence of any contrary evidence it is tentatively suggested that 2246 could be one of that pair. Although latterly Colonel Hawker patronised Joseph Manton, and wrote enthusiastically about his skills as a gunmaker and inventor, initially he D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N purchased two guns from John Manton. These are recorded in his diary in 1805 and 1806, confirming both their delivery to Longparish, his country estate in Hampshire, and their serial numbers. Incidentally, the first one (4536) is only described as a gun, although it was probably a double gun, which is indeed the description given for the second one. In 1827, a double percussion gun by John Manton & Son was shot for on the 26th June as the prize gun subscribed by the Gentlemen of the Red House Club. It was won by the Hon G Anson. The shooting for a gun as the prize for important pigeon matches was a regular feature during this period and the choice of gunmaker presumably reflected a comprehensive endorsement by members of the Club. It has been assumed that the gun would have been made following the match, to meet the specific requirements of the winner, and therefore would have been delivered sometime after late June 1827. The last verifiable date for the production period is 1832. It is included in the inscription on a pair of presentation flintlock duelling pistols. They were presented by the sixth Earl of Plymouth to Captain Emmott who was Adjutant of the Worcestershire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. Although considerable research has been undertaken to establish the reason for the presentation and when it was made, so far nothing has been discovered. It is interesting that the pistols should have been made as flintlocks. They were presumably made to order, and although presented in a military context, it does seem surprising that there was apparently a need to reflect the reticence of the Board of Ordnance to endorse the percussion system! The proposed allocation of serial numbers to a particular year of manufacture is set out in Table 3 and has been based on the date at which it is considered the gun was delivered to the customer. Inevitably, this approach can lead to anomalies when considering a specific gun. The problem of the date letter in silver hallmarks in relation to the gun’s serial number has already been noted. In addition, there are some invoices for the sale of specific guns which do not tie in precisely with the proposed yearly allocation of serial numbers. This may be accounted for by the decision in the assessment to Percussion with 10in scratch rifled barrels, one of only four pairs known with no ramrod. No 11175 for 1834/35 by John Manton & Son. TABLE 3: PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF SERIAL NUMBERS TO YEAR OF MANUFACTURE Year Serial Numbers Total 1789 800 1050 250 1814 6076 6225 150 1790 1051 1300 250 1815 6226 6400 175 1791 1301 1550 250 1816 6401 6575 175 1792 1551 1800 250 1817 6576 6700 125 1793 1801 2050 250 6901 6950 50 1794 2051 2275 225 1795 2276 2500 225 1796 2501 2725 225 1797 2726 2950 225 1798 2951 3150 1799 3151 3350 1800 3351 3550 1801 3551 3750 1802 3751 1803 3951 1804 1818 } 175 6951 7100 150 7501 7525 25 1819 7526 7700 175 1820 7701 7900 200 200 1821 7901 100 200 200 1822 9001 9200 200 200 1823 9201 9400 200 200 1824 9401 9600 200 3950 200 1825 9601 9800 4150 200 1826 9801 9915 4151 4350 200 10016 10100 85 1805 4351 4550 225 1827 10101 10300 200 1806 4551 4750 200 1828 10301 10450 150 1807 4751 4950 200 1829 10451 10600 150 1808 4951 5150 200 1830 10601 10700 100 1809 5151 5350 200 1831 10701 10800 100 1810 5351 5550 200 1832 10801 10900 100 1811 5551 5750 200 1833 10901 11000 100 1812 5751 5925 175 1834 11001 11100 100 1813 5926 6075 150 } 175 200 115 } 200 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 47 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N Flintlock full-stocked duelling pistols with 10in smooth bore barrels with early Twigg style case. No 2657 for 1796 by John Manton. accommodate changes in annual production from year to year on a gradual basis, rather than introduce large fluctuations in output between years. There can be no doubt that variations in the speed of manufacture of even closely numbered guns will have occurred, sometimes quite alarmingly. The most obvious example in this assessment is double gun 7012, which was invoiced in August 1819, although it should have been sold at least a year earlier. One possible explanation is that the mahogany case in which the gun was supplied was lined in purple leather, although for this to have taken over a year to complete does seem somewhat excessive! It is also of interest to consider how other features of the firm’s production fit with the proposed allocation. These include not only the grant of patents, but also the adoption of the percussion system, specifically the copper cap to replace the 48 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE flintlock, and the change in the trading style when John Manton took his son George Henry into partnership. In 1812, John Manton sent the following printed letter to his customers adding in each instance their name at the beginning of the letter and his signature at the end. Dover Street December 31 1812 Having admitted my Son into Partnership, it is necessary that all accounts up to the present date should now be arranged. I therefore take the liberty of enclosing yours. I return my most grateful thanks for all past favours; and, sincerely hoping that our united exertions to give universal satisfaction will merit a continuance of them. I remain your much obliged humble Servant On the basis of this letter it would be reasonable to assume that from the beginning of 1813 all guns produced by the business would be marked John Manton & Son. The proposed serial number allocation suggests that the first number for 1813 should be 5925. Apart from a run of under and over double pistols numbered 5848, 5849, 5850, 5854 and 5856, which may well have taken longer than normal to manufacture, there are only two other guns recorded prior to 5925 which include & Son in the signature. The first is 5761, which was originally made as a flintlock but subsequently converted to percussion. It is possible that both the top rib and the lock plates were re-engraved with the new trading style, or as both the trigger guard and butt-plate were made of silver, this may have delayed its completion. The second is 5832, a single flintlock gun, which has a gold John Manton & Son stamp in the top of the breech plug. The lock is still marked MANTON. Two possible explanations are proposed: either the gun D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N was not made to order and when it was sold the new stamp was fitted or the original stamp was lost and subsequently replaced with the new version. The patent for John Manton’s celebrated V-shaped pans and pan-covers was enrolled on 21st July 1815. The proposed allocation of serial numbers to year of manufacture suggests that guns incorporating this patent should not be marked with serial numbers below about 6320. This is supported by the record of known surviving guns from 6326 onwards. However, three flintlock guns survive, which are recorded as having V-pan locks and yet are numbered 6095, 6120 and 6210. The second gun is in the Montagu Armoury at Boughton House, Northamptonshire and, although the lockplate may be signed John Manton & Son PATENT, it is known that the construction of the locks does not conform to the patent specification. In detail, although the external profile of the pan is V-shaped, internally it is U-shaped and there is no projecting ridge or division along the centre of the bottom of the pan. The ridge or projection along the seat of the hammer has a complementary U-shaped profile. This construction detail is found on some of the few U-shaped pans which have survived. However, the serial numbers of these guns are significantly higher than those of the early examples of the V-pan patent. The first recorded one is 7730. It may be that the Montagu Armoury gun has locks of an initial design idea before it was perfected and actually patented, or at least the patent was enrolled. The present whereabouts of 6095 and 6210 are not known. In any event detailed analysis of the surviving production suggests that it would not be appropriate to amend the proposed serial number allocation to accommodate these three guns. It is also interesting to consider the date of copper cap guns in the record of known surviving production based on the proposed allocation. Unfortunately, the first gun recorded as a caplock gun, serial number 9119, was made as a flintlock gun and has therefore been converted, although this is not noted in the record. It would be most interesting to examine this gun but neither the source of the record nor its current owner is known. Thereafter, two pairs of caplock duelling pistols are recorded with serial numbers 9129 and 9140, which would be dated to autumn 1822. These are followed by two single guns numbered 9238 and 9241, dating to the spring of 1823. On the basis of the revised serial number allocation it is evident that John Manton & Son did in fact produce copper cap guns significantly earlier than previously thought, even though flintlock guns continued to be manufactured. It must not be forgotten that although the Forsyth patent ran out in April 1821, subsequently whether flintlock or percussion guns were ordered and manufactured would largely be determined by the customer and not the gunmaker. At this point it is perhaps relevant to consider the available evidence for the manufacture of caplock guns by other leading gunmakers of the period. The records of the Dublin gunmakers Rigby have been comprehensively analysed in Messrs Rigby 1760–1869 (1992) by David Back. His research has established that the first reference to copper cap ignition was on 17th August 1822. It related to the conversion of a detonating double gun to the copper cap plan. The first record of the sale of a copper cap gun is on 18th November 1822 when a best cased double gun, serial number 5482, was purchased by the Hon W Yelverton. There is a reference to an earlier best double copper cap gun, serial number 5449, but it is not clear from the surviving record when and to whom it was sold. Another important source of information is to be found in The Early Purdeys (1996) by Patrick Unsworth, although unfortunately the records for this period are only fragmentary. The first known copper cap gun made by James Purdey is serial number 349 which is estimated to have been sold in early 1822. However, the earlier use of copper cap guns is confirmed by a reference to the sale of 300 copper caps on 6th October 1821. The only other contemporary record is the Barrel Book of the London gunmaker James Wilkinson. His business was founded in 1805 and the surviving records start in January 1807. The first reference to the sale of a percussion gun is on 25th May 1820. It would appear to have been a dual ignition single gun described as Flint Lock/Percussion and was made for use in the West Indies. It was followed by the sale of a double barrel percussion gun on 30th December 1820. A third percussion gun was ordered in late November 1820 but no sale information is recorded. During 1821, a total of 50 single and double guns were ordered, of which at least 10 were not completed before the year end. Unfortunately, the record does not always distinguish between flint and percussion, but probably at least two thirds were percussion guns. The records indicate that by 1822, of the 52 single and double guns ordered, only 11 were identified as being flintlock and, interestingly, the majority of these were single guns. It is not clear exactly what is meant by the use of the word ‘percussion’. The double gun sold on 30th December 1820 was ordered on 14th October 1820 and the entry is qualified with the words Finish on Manton’s Plan. This is presumably a reference to Joseph Manton’s tubelock which was patented in August 1818, rather than the earlier pelletlock. In view of the fact that there is no reference in the Barrel Book to the percussion system prior to 25th May 1820, perhaps in the Wilkinson records at least it can be assumed that percussion is the same as copper cap. In presenting this evidence from the original registers of the manufacture of percussion guns by James Wilkinson & Son, as the business had become by then, it is very important to bear in mind that if the original registers of John Manton & Son and James Purdey had also survived then they too might tell a similar story. Unfortunately, no research has been undertaken into the surviving guns of James Wilkinson & Son and therefore the earliest surviving percussion gun recorded is not known. It would also be expected that flintlock guns which were made at this time, but not subsequently converted to the detonating system, being obsolete, would have a greater chance of surviving than early copper cap guns. The latter would have to survive for at least 30 years, being built on the predominant ignition system in use during this period. A number of conclusions can be drawn from this assessment of the production of guns by John Manton and John Manton & Son between 1789 and 1834. The first is how the output of the firm varied through this period. In the 1790s the two principal London makers were Henry Nock and THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE 49 D AT I N G T H E F I R E A R M S O F J O H N M A N TO N Converted later to percussion from flintlock by the maker with 9.5in polygroove rifling. No 4046 for 1803 by John Manton. John Manton. However, by the early 1800s, in spite of the death of Henry Nock on 26th November 1804, other more recently established gunmakers were beginning to make a name for themselves. The steady increase in the output of the business established by Joseph Manton from the turn of the century through to 1815 has already been demonstrated. It would appear to have been matched by a decline in production by John Manton and John Manton & Son. In any event, for whatever reason John Manton & Son were able to rebuild their business from 1815 through to the early 1830s and must, at least initially, have benefited from Joseph 50 THE LONDON ANTIQUE ARMS FAIR GUIDE Manton’s decision to concentrate almost exclusively on detonator gun production in its various guises. The second feature is the clear evidence that in so far as copper cap guns are concerned, the firm of John Manton & Son was probably as innovative - or as conservative - as the rest of the London trade. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In preparing this article on John Manton I again wish to acknowledge the immeasurable contribution of David HL Back and W Keith Neal to the study of Manton firearms through The Mantons (1967), The Manton Supplement (1978) and The Mantons 1792–1878 (1993). I also wish to record my very grateful thanks to David Back for putting at my disposal all the information he has gathered from 1993 to 2000 on Manton guns as well as John Slough for the images used in this article. It would also be disingenuous of me not to thank David Harding for his generous assistance in proofing both articles as well as revisiting the Edson connection with me. In this regard an article by the late T Wimsey entitled ‘Newton of Grantham’ published in The Journal of the Arms & Armour Society (September 2000), Volume XV1, No 5, pp 281–303, provides interesting reading. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the great kindness extended to me by the late John Arlett and the Wilkinson Sword Group Limited in helping with my research into the early years of James Wilkinson and the surviving records of his business. It is hoped that the information contained in the first Barrel Book of the firm can be published in due course to bring its invaluable content to a wider audience. EDRED GWILLIAM ANTIQUE ARMS & ARMOUR FOR SALE: Always a comprehensive selection of pistols, guns, swords and armour available WANTED: I am particularly keen to purchase and always offer immediate settlement CANDLETREE HOUSE, CRICKLADE, WILTSHIRE SN6 6AX Tel: 01793 750241 Fax: 01793 750359 Mob: 07836 613632 E-mail: [email protected] (visitors strictly by appointment)