The Joseph Manton Manton Dueling Pistol Gold-Inlaid Presentation No. 3136 is a Antique first produced in 1832. It carries a scarcity score of 94/100 based on tracked survey data, with 4 active listings currently on the secondary market and a global benchmark price of $94,492.
This gold-inlaid Manton dueling pistol was crafted by Joseph Manton, the London gunmaker widely regarded by his contemporaries and by later historians as the preeminent English gunsmith of the early nineteenth century, credited with innovations that shaped both sporting gun and pistol design for a generation of makers who trained under him. Dueling pistols from Manton's workshop were prized for their exceptional balance, consistent lock timing, and precise fit and finish, qualities considered essential when a pistol's performance could carry life-or-death consequences. Presentation-grade examples featuring gold inlay and fine engraving were typically commissioned for wealthy patrons or as gifts marking notable occasions, distinguishing them from Manton's more standard trade production. Made in 1832, this pistol dates from the later years of Manton's career, as flintlock ignition was giving way to percussion systems and the formal duel itself was entering its final decades of social acceptance in Britain.