Tube-Locked (Joseph Manton Patent No.4285) Saw-Handled Duelling Pistol by George McKnight, Dublin.

 

 

George McKnight

Gunmaker

Dublin 

Extremely rare and desirable Tube-Locked Saw-Handled Duelling Pistol detailed by Ronald A. Ogan in the Gun Report of July 1978.

All photography courtesy of both C. Mike Madsen and Garrett Brownell.

 This pistol utilising the Joseph Manton tube lock system (1818) . Alexander Forsyth successfully suing Manton for breach of his master patent covering the use of fulminate of mercury as a form of ignition for firearms.

Col Peter Hawker in Instructions to Young Sportsmen (3rd Edition) of 1824 praises Joseph Manton as one of the most gifted of gunmakers P.64 but goes on to highlight the draw backs of the tube-lock as a system due to the side entry of the ignition and the preference for the later adopted cap system with the central charge ignition. 

 

Col Lt., Peter Hawkers references to barrel boring and the evidence of the harder hitting flintlock system are interesting to all those concerned with the ballistics of early firearms.

 

 

This duelling pistol made by George McKnight of Dublin highlighting the forward thinking artisans of Dublin and their want of engaging the latest technology. 

15" Overall with a 9.5" octagonal barrel.

                                                A selection of tubes used in this system.

           Engravings from Instruction to Young Sportsmen by Lt Col Peter Hawker of 1854.

Further Notes:

1) Illustrated British Firearms Patents 1714-1853 by Stephen V.Crancsay and Merrill Lindsay. 

Winchester Press. 1969.

2)  English Gunmakers by De Witt Bailey & Douglas A. Nie. Arms & Armour Press 1978.

                                     pages 78, 84 & 94 detailing Alfred Clayton.

Please refer to our older posts with respect to George McKnight.

David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk