Blunderbuss

Road King

Road King

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
148   0   0
Location
Maritimer in Southern Ontario
I have here an interesting flintlock gun. It is and early English made Blunderbuss. It has an iron barrel that measures 16 " long and 1 1/4" muzzle. The lock is marked "Bass" with the Tulip mark behind the ####. It also has the Bow and Quiver mark engraved on the upper tang of the buttplate. All 3 proof marks are very clear on the barrel with the London stamp also on the barrel. I have been told by a very knowledgeable person on these guns that this could be one that was given to Indians by the HB company. The Indians liked these gun as they were easy to carry in their canoes.
I would interested to hear comments from other members on this gun.
It will be offered on EE later this month.
DSC03480.jpg

DSC03481.jpg

DSC03482.jpg

DSC03483.jpg

DSC03484.jpg

DSC03485.jpg

DSC03486.jpg
 
As quoted from the book "BLUNDERBUSSES", by D.R. Baxter

"A few words, too, must be said about the two main popular misconceptions about blunderbusses, namely that they were loaded with an assortment of nails, broken glass and pebbles, and that the trumpet-like barrel of the weapon was responsible for scattering this miscellanea in a wide and deadly arc. The truth is more prosaic: blunderbusses were invariably loaded with pistol balls or swan drops (large lead pellets) and the scattering effect of any gun basically depends on the length of its barrel and the velocity of the shot as it leaves the muzzle. It has been suggested that the belling of the muzzle was to ease loading aboard coaches and to give 'relief' to the shot in the barrel and thus increase velocity. While there is truth in both observations, the answer is most probably a combination of the two, added to the fact that a large diameter bore could hold a proportionaly larger charge than usual which considerably increased velocity and penetration of the load."
 
from personal experince the flared barral was for ease of loading, as for spread you get a wicked spread from the shorter barral and can really ram a heavy load down it I built one from old parts and used it for beating round the bush it had such a wide spread theres no way you could miss. better then any shot gun for sure.
 
Wow, this is an amazing collection piece. Even more so if you can find some solid grounds for its history.

I'm curious to hear what you end up learning. Please do keep us updated.

Might we ask the sort of budget range acquiring this piece involved?
 
Perhaps as an extension to my earlier comment, I very much doubt blunderbusses were carried by Indians in their canoes. The guns are relatively useless for hunting and a trade gun or a shortened trade gun was far superior for hunting purposes. I think the principle role of blunderbusses was in Europe for protection while traveling.

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon said:
Perhaps as an extension to my earlier comment, I very much doubt blunderbusses were carried by Indians in their canoes. The guns are relatively useless for hunting and a trade gun or a shortened trade gun was far superior for hunting purposes. I think the principle role of blunderbusses was in Europe for protection while traveling.

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

Agreed.
I suppose it is possible that the HBC kept firearms for company defensive purposes, but I would expect to see some sort of property marks.
Interesting that the gun was made post -1813, yet it has a very unsophisticated lock. No bridle on the pan, and I bet the tumbler is unbridled as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom