Pair of Tube-Lock Hammers

Joseph Manton

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Joseph Manton, one of the most influential and esteemed gunmakers in London in the late 18th and early 19th century, patented the tube-lock mechanism in 1818 (patent no. 4285). London gunmakers invented dozens of new percussion technologies in the first half of the 19th century, but the tube-lock was one of the few that was widely adopted. This pair of hammers bear the same serial number (8458) as the tube-lock shotgun by Egg in the Museum's collection (acc. no. 37.29.4). They are the gun's orginal hammers, or replacements included with the set.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art