With signed rebrowned heavy octagonal sighted barrel, engraved case-hardened breech inlaid with a pair of platinum lines, pierced platinum plug, engraved case-hardened breech tang incorporating the back-sight, signed bolted detented lock engraved with bold scrolls of foliage, fitted with hammer engraved en suite, figured walnut half-stock, flat-sided chequered butt, engraved steel mounts comprising trigger-guard with pineapple finial, pear-shaped butt-plate and a pair of ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end cap, silver escutcheon engraved with the owner's crest and motto, horn-tipped wooden ramrod, probably the original. 35.5cm; 14in overall.

The crest and motto is that of the Baynes family of Baronets. Sir Christopher William Walter Baynes 1st Baronet, of Harefield Place, Middlesex. Sir Christopher was the son of William Baynes (a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to George II and George III), in turn descended from an old Yorkshire family. Sir Christopher served in the Royal Horse Guards 1781-8, and in 1796 was Major-Commandant of the Uxbridge Gentlemen and Yeomanry Cavalry, which corps he helped raise; he was also Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex.  The son of Christopher Baynes was another William Baynes, a patron of Joseph Manton and may also have owned this pistol. A cased pair of his Joseph Manton duelling pistols in a private collection exists with the unique feature of one smoothbore and one rifled (not just scratch rifling) with family motto and initials of WB on escutcheon - a variation on this pistol which does not have initials but the family crest and motto.

The family motto on the escutcheon of this pistol FUROR ARMA MINISTRAT was extremely apt - translating as ‘Fury Supplies Arms’.

Thomas Manton is recorded at 144 Long Acr, London, circa 1817-25. 

See: 

‘The Mantons, Great British Gunmakers, 1782-1878’ D.H.L Back 1993, p.136 where this pistol is attributed to the son, William Baynes, 2nd Baronet who was President of the Select Committee of the East India Company.

Also ‘The Mantons, Gunmakers’ W.Keith Neal and D.H.L. Back 1978, p.273