Double-Barreled Side-by-Side Tube-Lock Shotgun with Case
ca. 1819–20
Medium
Steel, wood (walnut, mahogany), horn, brass, silver
Dimensions
L. 43 5/8 in. (110.8 cm); L. of barrel 28 1/8 in. (71.4 cm); Cal. of left barrel .709 in. (18 mm); Cal. of right barrel .701 in. (17.8 mm); Wt. 7 lb. 2 oz. (3232 g)
Classification
Firearms-Guns
Culture
British, London
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Charles M. Schott Jr., 1917
Accession Number
37.29.4
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Double-Barreled Side-Side Tube-Lockgun, crafted around 1819–20 by renowned London gunmakers Charles Lancaster Joseph Manton, exemplifies pinnacle of early 19th-century British artistry. Joseph Manton, often hailed as the "father of the modern shotgun," pioneered the-lock mechanism—a transitional innovation between flintlocks and percussion caps—that offered greater reliability in damp conditions, making it ideal for British hunters pursuing game birds. Produced in London's prestigious gun quarter, this fowling piece reflects the Regency era's blend of sporting tradition and mechanical ingenuity. Crafted from high-grade steel barrels (28⅛ inches long, with .709- and .701-inch calibers), figured walnut stock, and accents of mahogany, horn, brass, and silver, the shotgun weighs a substantial 7 pounds 2 ounces. Its side-by-side configuration allowed for two quick shots, while the included case underscores its status as a gentleman's luxury item. The meticulous engraving and inlays highlight the gunmakers' artistic skill, transforming a functional weapon into a work of decorative engineering. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department (gift of Charles M. Schott Jr., 1917), this piece illuminates the cultural role of fine guns in British aristocracy, where sporting arms were symbols of status and technological prowess. Visitors will appreciate its historical bridge to modern firearms design.
About the Artist
Charles Lancaster|Joseph Manton (British|British) · |1766 –1847 |1835
British, d. 1847|British, Grantham, Lincolnshire 1766–1835 London