Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

M ELEY · 11th October 2008, 06:01 AM

Saw this piece awhile back and wanted to comment...

I was thinking along the same track as Gene/Atlantia here. A blunderbuss in the British fashion with decorative markings resembling that seen on E. Indian weapons. Let's consider just a few points...

Blunderbuss in most countries were MOSTLY used for guarding stage coaches, as "wall guns" on forts (usually mounted as swivel) or as boarding pieces on ships.

The brass pieces very typically (but not always, of course) were used as maritime arms because they retarded the rust effects of the sea air.

It does appear of the British pattern and the Brits certainly were in India at the time.

Although the designs could be from a number of ethnographic locations, with the evidence above, India should definitely be considered (and likewise, I don't believe these designs look European in the least).

There are no markings for the EIC/East India Company, because this could possibly be a "private purchase" boarding/defence gun. Keep in mind that far more ships that carried boarding axes, cutlass, pikes, etc, were either privateer vessels or merchant-type vessels with weapons for defence against boarding than there were naval/government-marked pieces.

That being said, without some provenance, marking, ship name, owner name or rack number (sometimes found on maritime pieces), this is all just speculation, but a possibility. I have seen some impressive boarding axes from India of the early 19th century which mimic nicely both the British axe and French 'hache de bord' pattern of 1830. Most are completely unmarked, but some have floral designs of a similar pattern to the one on this piece. (One particular example was an impressive combination weapon of flintlock/boarding axe).

Very nice piece!

11th October 2008, 06:01 AM	#7
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	My 2 cents... Saw this piece awhile back and wanted to comment... I was thinking along the same track as Gene/Atlantia here. A blunderbuss in the British fashion with decorative markings resembling that seen on E. Indian weapons. Let's consider just a few points... Blunderbuss in most countries were MOSTLY used for guarding stage coaches, as "wall guns" on forts (usually mounted as swivel) or as boarding pieces on ships. The brass pieces very typically (but not always, of course) were used as maritime arms because they retarded the rust effects of the sea air. It does appear of the British pattern and the Brits certainly were in India at the time. Although the designs could be from a number of ethnographic locations, with the evidence above, India should definitely be considered (and likewise, I don't believe these designs look European in the least). There are no markings for the EIC/East India Company, because this could possibly be a "private purchase" boarding/defence gun. Keep in mind that far more ships that carried boarding axes, cutlass, pikes, etc, were either privateer vessels or merchant-type vessels with weapons for defence against boarding than there were naval/government-marked pieces. That being said, without some provenance, marking, ship name, owner name or rack number (sometimes found on maritime pieces), this is all just speculation, but a possibility. I have seen some impressive boarding axes from India of the early 19th century which mimic nicely both the British axe and French 'hache de bord' pattern of 1830. Most are completely unmarked, but some have floral designs of a similar pattern to the one on this piece. (One particular example was an impressive combination weapon of flintlock/boarding axe). Very nice piece!