Manton & Company, London & Calcutta Big Game Safari, Blue 27″ Underlever External Hammer Double Rifle, Antique
Sold For: $1,205.00
LSB#: 170307RC08
Make: Manton & Company
Model: External Hammers, Underlever, .577 Safari Double Rifle
Serial Number: 6947
Year of Manufacture: 1855 – 1875 (Based on London Proof Marks)
Caliber: .577 EX
Action Type: Underlever Top-Break, Double Trigger, Double Hammer, Rifled Double Barrel
Markings: Then top of the barrel rib is marked “MANTON & Co GUN MAKERS TO H.R.H.THE / DUKE OF EDINBURGH K.G. LONDON & CALCUTTA”. The underside of each barrel is marked “6947” and each of the barrel flats are marked with a Crown over “CP” (London proof mark), “577 EX”, Crown over “V” (London view mark), and another proof that is difficult to discern. The foreend lug on the barrel is marked “8320” The forened metal is marked “6947”. The foreend takedown lever is marked “8320”. The water table is marked on both sides with a Crown over “V” and “6947”. Each of the sideplates are marked “Manton & Co”, while the lower tang is marked “6947” . There is scroll engraving on the receiver, trigger guard and lower tang, Underlever, hammers and top tang.
Barrel Length: 27” Rifled Barrels. These barrels should be Damascus, but the refinish prevents us from seeing any of the original chaining to verify this.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is blade shaped to a bead set into the rib with an adjustment screw. The rear sight is a fixed three leaf safari style “V” notch marked “100”, “200”, and “300” set into the rib on the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are nicely finish with sharp checkering. The stock has been restored with a new recoil pad, renovated Stock and forend, and hand checkering. There are a few marks just behind the wrist on the belly fromm the restoration under the finish. There are a few small, not open, cracks stemming from the buttpad. The restoration to the stock appears to have sealed these hairline cracks. The wood to metal fit is a little shy and rough in places. The LOP measures 14 ½” from the front of the forward trigger to the back of the red 3/4” rubber recoil pad. The stocks rates in about Very good overall condition as restored. It was difficult not to rate the stock fine, but given some of the renovation was not completely polished to what we would expect.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is grey and the rifling is prese4nt, but soft. There is scattered pitting and erosion the length of the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light scratches though the finish and some light patina forming. Original erosion and pitting is visible under the finish. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are mostly clear, some are difficult to read from sanding, and some are rounded from the refinish. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition as restored.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: If only this double rifle could talk! We would love to hear the stories of African Safari. The bore is a little rough, but the barrel wall thickness still seems to be acceptable. We don’t know if it is safe to shoot the original 577 EX black powder cartridge, but it could likely be honed out and converted to a 20 gauge in the worst case. It is a little heavy, weighing in at just under 11 pounds for an upland game gun, but at least converted you could safely shoot it, in our opinion. The lockup is tight and given the reblue and restoration to the stock this will make for a nice project, wall hanger, or research project. Personally this writer feels the gun would be great next to a set of photos from a picture Safari and a small leather belt with a few rounds.
