Blunderbuss

[FenrisWolf]

Dang! I hope you get answers on this piece, as I have a similar barrel and fragmentary furniture (stock is cracked and missing the lock and all fittings except buttplate) that I want to restore with modern furniture. Mine came from England and the opening in the stock fits the Tower lock pattern, but beyond that I know little about the piece.

[fernando]

Yes, it smells British. However British firearms practically allways bear proofmarks.
But i am far from being an expert and i am not at home, to consult my (insifnificant) library. Can only check it next week.
Meanwhile, can't you get brighter pictures of the barrel breech ... and a close up of the lock ? No Tower mark on the lock plate behind the cock, or a crown in front of it ?
Case not yet closed.
Fernando

[celtan]

I don't think it's a brit. Their BBs are longer in barrel. The shape of the stock suggests to me its Belgian, French, or Spanish. The a la mode lock was also used in Spain, as frequently as the Miguelete, or more. The brass barrel suggests a Naval weapon, a boarding gun. There's also the fact that I got it with the miguelete pistol shown in another post, and both their chargers/rods are virtually identical...

more pics AR

[celtan]

Hi Guys,

I was reading yesterday the book of "Small arms of the Spanish Treasure Fleets" and it states that the Spanish never made Blunderbusses in Brass. So either they are wrong, or this one is either English, Belgian or French...

Toots

Manolo

[Ed]

Dunno. The proportions look off for a Brit weapon. Also, the one thing the Brits do do is make sure things are marked.

[celtan]

I agree Ed.

There's a shield with four chambers mark right atop the brass barrel, but nothing much can be made out of it.

What do you think, Fer, ¿portugués?

Is Matchlock around? Michael seems to be the guy to ask.

Manuel

Originally Posted by Ed

Dunno. The proportions look off for a Brit weapon. Also, the one thing the Brits do do is make sure things are marked.

[Atlantia]

Hi all!
Back again :-)
Could it be an east India Co piece?
Its a nice 'stubby' little beast!

Have you taken it to bits to search for hidden markings?

Regards
Gene

[fernando]

Originally Posted by celtan

... What do you think, Fer, ¿portugués? ...

You almost made me a name ... Fertuguês ( Fertuguese) .
I don't know. When i came back home, the other day, i thaught i would locate something of the kind in my ( hoping to be) library but, instead, i only spotted a couple specimens with a much more moderate barrel. This one of yours has quite a trumpet one, half way to a grenade thrower ... pass the exageration .
Yeah, the stock looks British, but could also only be 'a la British', made anywhere else. Perhaps we could say the same about the lock ?.
Why couldn't this be a Belgium setup ... or even a Turkish cocktail, as sugested by Stu, what do i know?
French not likely ... again marks and smith name missing
Surprises might pop up when (if) you decide to dismount the barrel. Often you don't see any proof marks showing off, while smiths fancy punctioning their symbols underneath the barrel.
Hope you don't mind, i'm checking a couple sources, to hear their opinnion.
A sus ordenes.
Fernando