What is the earliest contemporary description or illustration of a blunderbuss

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by dana_w

I have some serious doubts about the “Blunderbuss Gun”. It looks a lot like some 18th or even 19th century Blunderbusses that I have seen attributed to Turkey / North Africa and the tourist trade. What do you think?

Hi Dana,


I think you are quite right with your guess, especially as the muzzle flares that abruptly. I'm afaid a good black powder load and a couple of musket balls (as was the usual load for blunderbusses, not just 'blunder') would have blown that barrel to kingdom come ...

Back to the facts: this 'Mayflower' curiosity features a genuine early-style Northern European flintlock mechanism of ca. 1690-1700.


Best,
Michael