Joseph Manton Percussion Fowler

A sister piece to this gun is part of the arms collection of the Tower of London in England. This Manton fowler, which was manufactured in 1820, employs a rare tube lock-type ignition system. The tube lock employs a primer-filled cylinder that is open at one end; when struck by the hammer, a spark is produced. This system is a forerunner to the percussion "cap" primer that was used extensively during the Mexican War and the Civil War. SN 8646