Does recording a gift issue a receipt?

No. A gift you record by hand is never receipted or emailed automatically. Donors sets its receipt status from the donor's Tax receipt preference:

• Per gift: Needs receipt, and a "Create receipt" task is added for the donor. If the gift is below your Minimum amount to receipt, it's Not required instead.
• Consolidated annually: Needs receipt, left for the year-end run.
• Do not receipt: Not required.

To receipt it, open the gift and click Generate receipt, then Send receipt or Print receipt. You can also generate receipts in bulk from Receipts.