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#1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Picked up this blunderbuss last weekend. My gut tells me it's European, probably Spanish, but... Youse guys are pretty savvy on these things so thought I'd try here. Condition is unbelievably awesome! The only markings are the unit? and rack? numbers. Barrel is 9 1/4" long, with an overall length of 22 1/2". Guess that would put it in the "Knee Pistol" category. Muzzle is 1 1/2" across, with a bore of about 54/58 caliber. Weighs in at about six pounds. Any ideas?
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#2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,731
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If European it would likely have proof marks. Unusual IMHO to see a belt hook on a blunderbuss. Also stamp looks very crude.
Not my particular field but looks very "new" to me with sharp edges on the upper barrel. If this was old I would expect to see some wear..... Stu |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Up until around 1900, Spanish guns are seldom proof marked. I think it is navy, and the markings were done aboard ship. That would account for the crudeness. As to condition, I don't think it was ever used. It looks unfired.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
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This is Indian work of the latter 19th century. The mark on the barrel indicates it came out of the Jaipur arsenal. The lock and several other parts are probably from an English sporting gun, while the remainder is locally made. Its condition suggests it saw relatively little use before being placed in the arsenal.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Thanks Oliver. Now, I have a starting point. I figured it was late 19th, possibly even very early 20th century. The age of the blunderbuss was pretty much over, when percussion ignition came into use. But, in backwater areas, old traditions die hard.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
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That notion may hold true for Western Europe, but everywhere from the Balkans to Xinjiang, and probably farther, not only blunderbusses but flintlock and even matchlock mechanisms remained in use well into the 20th century.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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I totally agree, Oliver. Even here in the US, "Poor Boy" percussion mountain rifles were still in use, well into the 20th century.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 363
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Everything is too crisp, too clean for it to have any age. The alpha-numerical font type also does not stand up to scrutiny. It is a simple, post WWII style of lettering. The finish on the stock is without any sign of handling, no patina.
If you look at the muzzle, the way it was machined with a very steep angle toward the bore screams late, IMHO. Older barrels were forged with a consistent, gradual wall thickness. I suspect it was made in the 20 th century possibly for the African trade using a few old parts and new stock and barrel. My copy is not available, but the old Shooter's bible always had listings for these modern weapons made for trade to the Belgian Congo and the like. It's a pretty good looking gun (except for the back-action lock, which I am extremely prejudiced against, for personal, visual reasons), but, has no real age. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO area.
Posts: 1,623
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I think this gun might be included in the catagory "forever a mystery". Lol.
![]() I think some individual built this gun from some surplus parts sometime in the 20th Century. From the photos the Inletting of the metal to wood parts looks very good. Not semi-mass production. And the contour of the forearm of the stock to the muzzle. This was built by someone that knew what they were doing. The ramrod looks like it was turned from bar stock. Not a forgeing. The butt plate, trigger guard, trigger, and back action lock look typical of late English/European/American percussion fowlers. The barrel, with it's late style stampings is the big mystery. If the breech were inspected, it would not surprise me if the barrel was in firing condition. While not a big fan of back-action locks, I like this gun. Whoever assembled it did a good job. Rick. |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 1
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it is from the Jaipur arsenal india . i have some guns from there they sold off 1000's in the late 1980's i think?
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#11 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Thanks for the info K-B, and welcome aboard. You are the second to make that statement. Other comments seem to indicate it is an assemblage of unrelated parts, and not very old. Well, the fit and finish show that it was purposely made, by skilled hands. And, 100+ years, is pretty old to me. Just cuz something looks new, doesn't mean that it is. And versa visa.
I would love to see some of your Jaipur guns. Especially the markings. |
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#12 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO area.
Posts: 1,623
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#13 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 385
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Am resurrecting this thread, as new info has come to light. I found these images of a barrel for a matchlock, rampart/wall gun. It clearly has markings identical to the ones on my blunderbuss. This barrel is apparently very old. My theory is, the weapons stored in the Jaipur Arsenal, were inventoried, cataloged, and marked, before disposition. This was done, well into the 20th century. That would explain the modern fonts used.
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#14 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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I attach a post relating to these marks I made in a thread concerning a torador a few years ago. Still seems relevant.
Quote:
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