IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE BARRELLED GUNS
Year: 1806

page_text: SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOSEPH MANTON, of Davies Street, Berkeley Square, in the Parish of
Saint George, Hanover Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gun
Maker, do send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third,
by His Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the
Fifteenth day of September, in the forty-sixth year of His reign, did,
give and grant unto the said Joseph Manton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, during the term of years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain called England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick upon Tweed, my "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE BARRELLED
GUNS;" in which Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging
me, the said Joseph Manton, under my hand and seal, to cause a par-
ticular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's
Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and immediately
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation being thereunto had, may more more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Joseph Manton, do hereby declare that my said Invention is an
elevated toppiece or top rib for double gun barrels, which said toppiece
or top rib must be made high at the breech ends of the barrels and
tapering off to the muzzles. The intention of making the toppiece or
top rib high at the breech ends of the barrels is, to give the barrels
elevation to throw the centro of the charge of shot up to the object
aimed at at the distance required. I should recommend the top-
piece or top rib for general shooting to be made so high above the sur-
face of the barrels at the breech that a double gun will throw the centre
of the charge of shot up to the object aimed at at the distance of forty
yards. But if a double gun is required to throw the middle of the
charge of the shot up to the object aimed at at a greater distance, the
toppiece or top rib must be made still higher above the surface of
the barrels at the breech to give the barrels more elevation. This
improved toppiece or top rib may be worked solid out of the barrels, or
brazed, soldered, or fixed on, or made hollow, or part soldered and part
hollow, or may be partly continued on the barrels, so there is sufficient
length to direct the eye to the object. This elevated toppiece or top
rib may be made of iron, steel, brass, or any metallic or other substance
that will answer the purpose, and may be grooved out in the usual
manner, or made flat, round, or any other shape or form, according to
fancy, so that it is made sufficiently high above the surface of the
barrels at the breech to give the barrels elevation to throw the centre
of the charge of shot up to the object aimed at at the distance required.
The advantages of this elevated toppiece or top rib are, that sportsmen
will be less liable to shoot under their game, and the aim will be more
direct and less confused, and that a light double gun can be made to
throw the middle of its charge of shot up to the object aimed at at the
distance required, and also that it will not be necessary to bend the
barrels upwards, nor to make them clumsey at the breech, the elevation
being given to the barrels by this improved top piece.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Manton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Tenth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and six.
JOSEPH MANTON. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Tenth day of
October, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Joseph Manton
came before our Lord the King, in His Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Tenth day of October, in the year above written.