Manton pistol build help

[andy49]

I am trying to assemble parts for a Manton flint dueling pistol build. I have searched for all the info and pictures I can, but still can't confirm what the pistols furniture is made from. Does anyone have an idea as to the material of the trigger guard, entry thimble, (front thimble is steel)and escutcheon?
Here are some pictures.
Thanks!
http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o798/Andy_Andreson/Manton1_zpsf38c06d5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o798/Andy_Andreson/Manton3_zpsa2900965.png

[Chris Treichel]

This listing has some better pictures and mentions trigger guards and buttcaps are blued so steel. http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/john-manton-percussion-dueling-pistols-ah3353/#.UzRrgPldW1U

[smart dog]

Hi,
Rust blued steel or iron.  The pistols likely were made after 1840 and after John Manton died (1834).  The business was carried on by his son, George Henry.  The barrels look to be stub twist (not damascus) and the barrel rib and forward thimble look to be made of the same stub twist iron/steel. 

dave

[E.vonAschwege]

The furniture on many fine English guns was iron/steel.  The best ones I've seen have been polished (by hand, sharp edges) to a mirror shine, then blued to a deep black color.  I've also seen parts that were case hardened and left with a mottled blue/gray color.  Escutcheons are sometimes silver. 
-Eric

[andy49]

Thanks guys for the replies. I think you are right about the steel/iron use. I have also read about the Manton's use of silver escutcheons.
I am not familiar with stub twisted steel. It would be nice if this look could be reproduced with some sort of chemical etching.
Andy

[smart dog]

Hi Andy,
Take a look at the link below:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=8046.0

dave

[andy49]

Dave,
These pistols are incredible! Thanks for the information on the barrel finish technique and I hope to duplicate this on my build.
Andy

[Bob Roller]

There is a cased pair of Manton flinters in the Huntington Museum of Art and they have "steel"or more likely,iron trim. Some of these also had single set triggers with no obvious adjustment screw and all
of them had lightning fast locks.

Bob Roller

[Wolfeknives]

I have a set of Westley Richards percussion pistols. They look very similar to the Manton pistol shown above. The triggerguard is made of blued steel. The tapered ramrod is made of ebony, horn & brass.The escutcheon is of silver. I know that different manufacturers may have used different materials, but english pistols of this period seem to be relatively uniform.

Wofgang

[hpdrifter]

I have seen some beautiful work at this site and the pistols referenced in the post  above are certainly beautiful as well.  Kinda puts me in my place.  Don't think I could ever post my work after seeing the abundant quality of craftsmanship put forth on this website.

[mountainman70]

I have seen some beautiful work at this site and the pistols referenced in the post  above are certainly beautiful as well.  Kinda puts me in my place.  Don't think I could ever post my work after seeing the abundant quality of craftsmanship put forth on this website.

Ya gotta start somewhere,and here is a good reference point. How do ya get to Carnegie Hall?Practice,man,Practice!!! Dave

[andy49]

I have a great piece of curly/figured maple that I was planning to use for the stock. After studying many pictures it appears that I might not be able to get the maple to darken up enough and may have to use walnut.
Does anyone have a suggestion on the stock material?
Andy

[smart dog]

Hi Andy,
If you are trying to really make an English dueler, the wood should be English walnut, which happens to be one of, if not the best gunstock wood.  You can use American black walnut, which is cheaper and more available, but you have to stain it if you want to reproduce the wood color found on those Manton's.
I am not aware of any English dueling pistols made from maple.
dave