Joseph Manton (1760-1835)
JOSEPH Manton and his brother John left an indelible mark on gun-making the world over.
The Manton family ran a corn-milling business at Swallow’s Mill, Bridge End Road.
Joseph learned his trade as a gunmaker in Grantham as an apprentice, first to Grantham gunsmith John Edson, then another local gunsmith Edward Newton, and finally to his brother John in London.
Later, from his own business in London’s Hanover Square, his bespoke guns with the best flint-locks were extremely popular, costing the then extraordinarily high price of around seventy guineas.
Of the brothers, Joseph was more widely inventive and was best known for his double-barrel fowlers and early percussion locks.
Joseph’s shotguns and duelling pistols are now highly sought-after and can be snapped up by avid collectors for up to £5,000.
As well as a legacy of craftsmanship and style, many modern gunsmiths can trace their beginnings to the Mantons, such as James Purdey, founder of London-based Purdey and Sons, who had been apprenticed to Joseph.
His prized guns were used by well-known hunters such as Sir St George Gore, known as the Buffalo Slayer, but it was through another famous game shooter that Joseph Manton came to popular prominence.
Lt Colonel Peter Hawker co-operated with Joseph in the improvement of the sporting gun. In his much reprinted book Instructions to Young Sportsmen in all that relates to Guns and Shooting, Col Hawker repeatedly eulogised Manton’s work as gunmaker and inventor.
After the brothers split to form their rival gunsmithing firms,their rivalry was often rancorous, even to the point of a lawsuit being filed by Joseph against his older brother for patent violation. Joseph lost so much money in litigation he died poor aged 69.
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