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Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 11:19 AM
My friend emailed me some photos of the "Manton" I have been anxious to see. I had multiple requests to post some photos. After seeing the photos I have minimal interest in the gun. It's in good shape, but a bit too bazaar to me. Do those matted ribs all around the barrels have a function other than an attempt at style points? If anyone here cares to comment please do, you won't hurt my feelings. Could anyone really think those barrels are attractive? Perhaps I don't fully appreciate European design. Can you persuade me? :eek:
Andy Kelley
03-01-2013, 11:32 AM
Bruce, Manton did a quite healthy business in India maybe the work what's done over there. I do agree that the gun is a bit strange but maybe there is a story behind it. A few years back a friend bought a gun that was sold through the Army Navy stores with strange carvings and it turned out that it was owned at one time by an officer who was killed in the Boer War.Andy
John Campbell
03-01-2013, 11:37 AM
This gun looks very teutonic to me. Engraving is very amateurish. And the "Rigby flats" on the barrel breeches are something only a German would agree to put into a set of barrels.

It is certainly NOT a Joe Manton gun!!

Still, it may appeal to some.
Dennis V. Nix
03-01-2013, 12:08 PM
Are there proof marks anywhere? My first guess is it is a gun marketed as coming from the famous Manton factory but in reality is a cheap knockoff using the Manton name to sell the gun. We all know of how marketers sold guns to this country using names such as Barker, T. Barker etc. so unsuspecting people would think they were buying the real Parker Brothers name. I have always thought the Manton guns were the classic guns of their time but this gun definitely looks bizarre and a little gaudy. I can't see the name on the lock plate well enough to see the exact initials before the Manton name. It just doesn't look right though.
Eldon Goddard
03-01-2013, 12:26 PM
Thats one crazy looking gun.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 12:27 PM
Well I must admit when I saw the photos I was disappointed, not at all what I was expecting. I will photograph the water table and underside of the barrels tomorrow when I have the gun in hand. I did get permission to put the photos on the forum.
wayne goerres
03-01-2013, 12:46 PM
Don't see one of those every day. The initial dose not look like a J Maybe an O or an A.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 12:54 PM
Wayne, Congratulations on the recent "finds". This gun is more than likely a knock off. I think it's some sort of "Gothic" butt ugly. Someone my find it attractive...not me.
charlie cleveland
03-01-2013, 01:10 PM
i kinda like this gun myself...but hey if it shoots i like it... charlie
wayne goerres
03-01-2013, 02:40 PM
The jury is out. Leaning toward ( kind of cool ). Think of the work some craftsman put in to it.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 03:12 PM
Wayne, It looks like they attached a handful of Parker matted ribs around the breeches. The guy must have thought they'd really catch on and everyone would just have to have one...the new big thing...not.
wayne goerres
03-01-2013, 04:44 PM
Harsh o so harsh. Unusual and rare may translate into value? probable not.
Drew Hause
03-01-2013, 04:54 PM
The 'Diana' breech is very likely to be from Pieper
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/24302405
Bill Murphy
03-01-2013, 06:36 PM
How big is it?
Robert Delk
03-01-2013, 06:51 PM
Isn't that the patented "reinforced breech" by Pieper,I believe?
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 07:01 PM
I just called my buddy and he thinks it's a 12 bore. I asked him to take photographs of the bottom of the barrels and the water table. He's taking the photographs now so when he emails them to me I will post them here.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 07:11 PM
My J. Stevens A&T Model 360 has the mono-block and even today I believe Beretta continues it's use.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 07:37 PM
Belgian.
Bruce Bruner
03-01-2013, 07:48 PM
Drew, If you blow up the barrel photo there is a lot of information you can decipher for us. I appreciate you thoughts.
Drew Hause
03-01-2013, 10:28 PM
It was made 1910-1921 (12 in a diamond and no Lettre Annale )
PeteM's list does not have a 'DJ' (receiver) but it could be a Dumoulin
The right barrel may have a 'LD' in an oval and could be Lambert Dumoulin
The left barrel bore is .720 with a choke constriction to .693
It probably has a steel breech and clearly Damascus barrels
Other Belgian makers copied the Pieper 'Diana' breech
It was not of high quality when new, and of less quality now