Manton shotgun?
I recently received an old double barreled muzzle loading shotgun from my father. It has been in our family for about 100 years. The stamp on the side reads "Manton & Co". The barrels are 30" long, and one barrel is stamped with a small five pointed star and the letter "L". I understand there are many fakes out there. Any idea if this is gun is real or a fraud?
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There are two Mantons: One is Joseph Manton of London, who's shotguns are valuable and the other is J. Manton of Belgium, who's shotguns are not. I don't think that any of the Belgian guns were muzzle loaders so that seems promising, but there should be more proof markings on an English gun and no star. How about a few photos?
By the way; I love your user name!0 -
Rufus T. Firefly,
Welcome to the Gunbroker Forums!
One method necessary to try to help you is to post sharp photographs of the proof marks and maker marks which can be found on the water table and on the underside of the barrels at the breech. Photographs of any other writing, stamps or marks will help also.
Best.0 -
I would be happy to post a couple of pictures, but I cant seem to get the "insert image" button to work. (Most likely I just can't figure out how to use it.) I will be happy to email them to anyone interested. 0 -
Rufus T. Firefly,
There are many of us interested and the directions or suggestions for posting pictures is in a 'Sticky' at the top of this forum titled 'Posting Photographs'.
If you run into a snag post again or e-mail me with my contact information in my profile and I'll try to answer your questions.
Best.
Seems I can get it to work...
http://img109.imageshack.us/i/1000114.jpg/
http://img85.imageshack.us/i/1000127.jpg/0 -
The Belgian will have "ELG" proofs. The English a combination of swords or scepters and roses. Belgians often have chamber and gauge expressed in millimeters. 0 -
OK, lets see if this works. 0 -
OK, I think I got it now. This is as clear as I can get on the stamps, sorry. It is a small star and a small capital "L". 0 -
Can't make out the close-up photo. The long shot appears to be a basic, back action, percussion shotgun. These were commonly made and used between the 1840's and 1870's. In some more remote areas where shotgun shells weren't available, perhaps much later?
The "Star over Letter" is a common Proof Mark, used in Belgium over many years.0 -
A common Belgian piece. 0 -
Looks like it turned out to be a wall hanger and not a valuable collector piece. 0
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