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A Fine DB Howdah Pistol by Manton & Co.
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90024
A Fine DB Howdah Pistol by Manton & Co.:
English ca. 1872. SN 1200. 16 Bore (16.83 mm) 0.663 cal. A very fine 19th century, double-barrel, howdah pistol by Manton & Co. (2). The gun is chambered for 2 5/8 in. center fire, black powder shells. The overall length is 15.5 in. Weight is slightly over 1.8 Kg (1,824 g). The barrels are seven groove, rifled damascus with a gold post fore-sight and original English browning. The pistol has a Jones patent, rotary under-lever, break-front loading mechanism with cartridge ejectors (1). The underside is engraved with "Eley’s 16G C.F." which designates the cartridge type. Beautiful color case hardening throughout. Non-rebounding side-locks with bolted hammers. The bolts retaining essentially all of their original fire-blue tempering. Border engraved lock plates with the legend: Manton & Co. Percussion fences and engraved screw heads. Well figured English walnut stocks in two parts. Checkered grip with mullered borders and vacant silver wrist escutcheon. Stamp mark of the wood stocker on the bottom of the back-strap, i.e. HGE. Color case hardened butt cap bearing lanyard ring. The fore-stock with a captive barrel bolt and silver barrel bolt escutcheons. The whole with full coverage checkering and inlaid with an engraved finial. Exceptional, bright, shiny bores appear to be un-fired. The elevated center game rib of the barrel group is engraved with the famous inscription: Manton & Co., Gunmakers to H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. K.G., London & Calcutta.
Serial number 1200 on the barrel key and well stamped London Black Powder Proof marks used between 1868-1875, with the number “16.” The London View Mark repeated on the inside of the under-lever mechanism (Fig. 1).
A Fine DB Howdah Pistol by Manton & Co.:
English ca. 1872. SN 1200. 16 Bore (16.83 mm) 0.663 cal. A very fine 19th century, double-barrel, howdah pistol by Manton & Co. (2). The gun is chambered for 2 5/8 in. center fire, black powder shells. The overall length is 15.5 in. Weight is slightly over 1.8 Kg (1,824 g). The barrels are seven groove, rifled damascus with a gold post fore-sight and original English browning. The pistol has a Jones patent, rotary under-lever, break-front loading mechanism with cartridge ejectors (1). The underside is engraved with "Eley’s 16G C.F." which designates the cartridge type. Beautiful color case hardening throughout. Non-rebounding side-locks with bolted hammers. The bolts retaining essentially all of their original fire-blue tempering. Border engraved lock plates with the legend: Manton & Co. Percussion fences and engraved screw heads. Well figured English walnut stocks in two parts. Checkered grip with mullered borders and vacant silver wrist escutcheon. Stamp mark of the wood stocker on the bottom of the back-strap, i.e. HGE. Color case hardened butt cap bearing lanyard ring. The fore-stock with a captive barrel bolt and silver barrel bolt escutcheons. The whole with full coverage checkering and inlaid with an engraved finial. Exceptional, bright, shiny bores appear to be un-fired. The elevated center game rib of the barrel group is engraved with the famous inscription: Manton & Co., Gunmakers to H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. K.G., London & Calcutta.
Serial number 1200 on the barrel key and well stamped London Black Powder Proof marks used between 1868-1875, with the number “16.” The London View Mark repeated on the inside of the under-lever mechanism (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1: London Gunmaker's Company and Black Powder Proof Marks used between 1868-1875.
Condition:
The gun appears to be un-fired, with the exception of being proofed. Well maintained, and in near new condition. Original English browning. Very strong mainspring pressure on the left and right hammers. Hammer draws are aligned and identical. Both barrels are on face and lock up tightly. Rifled bores are brilliant. Safety’s at half-cock. All screw slots, new and unused. Mechanics are perfect. High quality throughout. The pistol imparts a powerful and authoritative feel.
Curator's Footnotes: • This pistol is section 5 in the UK. • This pistol is category B in the EU.
• This pistol is firearms exempt in the US. (US Gun Control Act of 1968.) • No English nitro proof marks. Used between 1896-1904. • Muzzle Bore: 17.24 mm; Chamber: 19.15 mm
Some notes on the formation of Manton & Co.: In 1825 Manton & Son is started in Calcutta, presumably by Frederick Manton, the son of Joseph Manton. This causes some confusion, as there was another Manton & Son establishment in London, but this was run by John, not Joseph Manton. I also found someone quoting Howard Blackmore’s “Gunmakers of London,” that Manton & Son was founded by Frederick Manton, but managed by other sons of Joe Manton, John Augustus from 1828 to 33 and Edward from 1834 to 46. Curiously, John Augustus was also imprisoned for debt in 1836. At some further point the firm was renamed Manton & Co, which may or may not be coincidental with a change in ownership. To quote Teasdale-Buckell, “The business of Manton & Co. was purchased by Mr. William Robert Wallis about the year 1847; he worked the business successfully until his retirement from India in 1878, when the same was taken over and is now worked by his sons. The firm has flourished, and has held the appointment of gunmakers to every Viceroy of India, and bears the highest reputation as the pioneer gunmakers in India. (3)
Some notes on the development of the centerfire cartridge:
The centerfire cartridge was invented by one Monsieur Clement Pottet of Paris and improvements were made by Monsieur Francois E. Schneider, also of Paris. The centerfire cartridge was introduced to England in 1861 by Mr. George H. Daw who owned a rifle manufacturing company and bought the English patent rights from Monsieur Schneider. However Mr. Daw quickly lost the patent rights in a case brought on by Messrs. Eley Brothers, a rival manufacturer of cartridges and small revolvers, owing to the fact that the patent was not kept in force in France, where the invention was originally protected. Centerfire cartridges began to quickly replace rimfire cartridges in many applications where higher pressures were required. In fact, centerfire cartridges are the most common cartridge type in use today and are used in most modern weapons currently. The Howdah Pistol:
The howdah pistol was a large-calibre handgun, often with two or four barrels, used in India and Africa from the beginning of the nineteenth century, and into the early twentieth century, during the period of British Colonial rule. It was originally designed and intended as a necessary sidearm for hunting Bengal Tigers. Its recognized power made it a perfect defensive weapon for other dangerous animals that might be encountered in remote areas. Multi-barreled breech-loading designs were later favored over the original muzzle-loading designs for howdah pistols, because they offered faster reloading than was possible with contemporary revolvers, which had to be loaded and unloaded through a gate in the side of the frame.
The term “howdah pistol” comes from the howdah, a large platform mounted on the back of an elephant. Hunters, especially during the period of the British Raj in India, used howdahs as a platform for hunting wild animals and needed large-calibre side-arms for protection from animal attacks. The practice of hunting from the howdah basket on top of an Asian elephant was first made popular by the joint Anglo-Indian, East India Company during the 1790s. These earliest howdah pistols were flintlock designs, and it was not until about 60 years later percussion models in single or double barrel configuration were seen. By the 1890s and early 1900s cartridge firing and fully rifled howdah pistols were in normal everyday use.
Even though howdah pistols were designed for emergency defense from dangerous animals in Africa and India, British officers adopted them for personal protection in other far-flung outposts of the British Empire. By the late 19th century, top-break revolvers in more practical calibres (such as .455 Webley and .44 Russian) had become widespread, removing much of the traditional market for howdah pistols. Bibliography: 1. The Henry Jones under-lever mechanism was issued UK patent #2040 on SEP 7, 1849. 2. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel, Vol 2, p. 753. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH, Schwabisch Hall. 3. Online resources: a.) [http://nhickoryplayers.org/2015/03/manton-calcutta/] b.) [http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/]
Curator's Footnotes: • This pistol is section 5 in the UK. • This pistol is category B in the EU.
• This pistol is firearms exempt in the US. (US Gun Control Act of 1968.) • No English nitro proof marks. Used between 1896-1904. • Muzzle Bore: 17.24 mm; Chamber: 19.15 mm
Some notes on the formation of Manton & Co.: In 1825 Manton & Son is started in Calcutta, presumably by Frederick Manton, the son of Joseph Manton. This causes some confusion, as there was another Manton & Son establishment in London, but this was run by John, not Joseph Manton. I also found someone quoting Howard Blackmore’s “Gunmakers of London,” that Manton & Son was founded by Frederick Manton, but managed by other sons of Joe Manton, John Augustus from 1828 to 33 and Edward from 1834 to 46. Curiously, John Augustus was also imprisoned for debt in 1836. At some further point the firm was renamed Manton & Co, which may or may not be coincidental with a change in ownership. To quote Teasdale-Buckell, “The business of Manton & Co. was purchased by Mr. William Robert Wallis about the year 1847; he worked the business successfully until his retirement from India in 1878, when the same was taken over and is now worked by his sons. The firm has flourished, and has held the appointment of gunmakers to every Viceroy of India, and bears the highest reputation as the pioneer gunmakers in India. (3)
Some notes on the development of the centerfire cartridge:
The centerfire cartridge was invented by one Monsieur Clement Pottet of Paris and improvements were made by Monsieur Francois E. Schneider, also of Paris. The centerfire cartridge was introduced to England in 1861 by Mr. George H. Daw who owned a rifle manufacturing company and bought the English patent rights from Monsieur Schneider. However Mr. Daw quickly lost the patent rights in a case brought on by Messrs. Eley Brothers, a rival manufacturer of cartridges and small revolvers, owing to the fact that the patent was not kept in force in France, where the invention was originally protected. Centerfire cartridges began to quickly replace rimfire cartridges in many applications where higher pressures were required. In fact, centerfire cartridges are the most common cartridge type in use today and are used in most modern weapons currently. The Howdah Pistol:
The howdah pistol was a large-calibre handgun, often with two or four barrels, used in India and Africa from the beginning of the nineteenth century, and into the early twentieth century, during the period of British Colonial rule. It was originally designed and intended as a necessary sidearm for hunting Bengal Tigers. Its recognized power made it a perfect defensive weapon for other dangerous animals that might be encountered in remote areas. Multi-barreled breech-loading designs were later favored over the original muzzle-loading designs for howdah pistols, because they offered faster reloading than was possible with contemporary revolvers, which had to be loaded and unloaded through a gate in the side of the frame.
The term “howdah pistol” comes from the howdah, a large platform mounted on the back of an elephant. Hunters, especially during the period of the British Raj in India, used howdahs as a platform for hunting wild animals and needed large-calibre side-arms for protection from animal attacks. The practice of hunting from the howdah basket on top of an Asian elephant was first made popular by the joint Anglo-Indian, East India Company during the 1790s. These earliest howdah pistols were flintlock designs, and it was not until about 60 years later percussion models in single or double barrel configuration were seen. By the 1890s and early 1900s cartridge firing and fully rifled howdah pistols were in normal everyday use.
Even though howdah pistols were designed for emergency defense from dangerous animals in Africa and India, British officers adopted them for personal protection in other far-flung outposts of the British Empire. By the late 19th century, top-break revolvers in more practical calibres (such as .455 Webley and .44 Russian) had become widespread, removing much of the traditional market for howdah pistols. Bibliography: 1. The Henry Jones under-lever mechanism was issued UK patent #2040 on SEP 7, 1849. 2. Heer, Eugene (1978) Der Neue Stockel, Vol 2, p. 753. Journal Verlag Schwend GmbH, Schwabisch Hall. 3. Online resources: a.) [http://nhickoryplayers.org/2015/03/manton-calcutta/] b.) [http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/]
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