This early John Manton shotgun from c. 1785 is listed on page 60 of "The Mantons: Gunmakers" by W. Keith Neal and D. H. L. Back and identified as then owned by Neal and as having been originally made for the Duke of Hamilton. This would have been Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton, 5th Duke of Brandon, and 2nd Baron Hamilton of Hameldon (1756-1799). The gun is illustrated in plates 35 and 36 and also mentioned on page 15: "One of his earliest double guns is a 22 gauge made for the Duke of Hamilton about 1785." The browned Damascus barrels have a concave upper rib with a silver blade front sight, no lower rib, "MANTON" and "LONDON" signed on the breech sections, gold bands and vent liners, and London proof marks. The standing breech has a groove for a rear sight and foliate engraving. The locks are signed "MANTON" and have gold lined priming pans, rollers on the frizzens, ramps on the frizzen springs, sliding safeties, and stepped tails. The blued steel mounts have foliate engraving along with a scene of a dog and fowl on the heel extension. A sling swivel is mounted in the forend, and a sling stud is on the underside of the butt. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the wrist escutcheon is engraved with the motto "JAMAISE ARRIERE" (Never Behind) and the crest of the Douglas family. The stock is plain. A faint pencil marking on the forend includes "Castle". Includes a mahogany case with olive green baize lining and later John Manton trade label along with a suite of accessories and the tags from the W. Keith Neal Collection. Notes indicate the gun belonged to the Duke of Hamilton and that Neal had purchased the gun back around 1940 from a "Mr. Barlow." It was purchased by Norman R. Blank from the sale of Neal's collection in 2000. Provenance: The Collection of the Duke of Hamilton; The W. Keith Neal Collection; The Norman R. Blank Collection

Fine with 90% plus of the older re-browned finish on the barrels, bright gold, light original case colors, 30% original blue finish, gray and brown patina on the balance, distinct markings and engraving, and fairly minor overall wear. The stock is also fine and has a few small chips and general minor marks and scratches. The safeties are tight and do not operate; otherwise, the gun is mechanically fine. The case and accessories are good and have moderate age and storage related wear including cracks and repairs in the case.