Shotgun, double barrelled tubelock fowling piece

This double-barrelled 'fowling piece', the precursor of the modern shotgun, was manufactured by the famous London gunmaker, Joseph Manton. It features his patented tubelock firing mechanism. This gun fired when the hammer struck a copper tube filled with explosive fulminate of mercury. The tube lock was the immediate forerunner of the percussion cap ignition system.

In his workshop on Davies Street, Joe Manton made sporting guns for royal and aristocratic clients including George III and George IV for whom he became Gunmaker-in-Ordinary in 1820. Despite his wealthy clientele and frequent technical innovation, Manton went bankrupt and was imprisoned as a debtor in 1828. This gun has the serial number 8654.