Rare Blunderbuss with folding bayonet

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

...This one and only this one, as far as my research shows, has the bayonet on the right side of the barrel...

Just for your info ...
There are more, although not necessarily with the same brilliant type of mechanism.
In catalogue #7 of Andrew Bottomley there was a pistol by James Forest (1830) with a spring bayonet, activated by a catch on the right side of the frame.

[Matchlock]

Hi Marcus,


Though this is not really old enough to be of greater interest to me , I can tell that the slightly convex shape of the buttstock denotes a time of production around the 1770's.
The pitting seems due to salty sea climate, which did not as much harm to the case-hardened surface of the lock as it did to the 'soft'-iron barrel.


Best,
Michael

[Marcus den toom]

Hi Michael,

I am indeed suprised in a good way to find you in this topic
When the blunderbuss will arrive at my home, i will investigate the name Ketland on it. It might be William or Thomas Ketland instead of Ketland & co (it would make more sense if the butstock is of 1770's design).
I wondered, the pancover has a roller... i always believed they only came into fashion from around 1800's ?

Fernando, do you have a picture of this other specimen? I couldn't find it

[Marcus den toom]

Also, does anyone know a good restorer? The dog needs to be repaired

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

Hi Michael,

I am indeed suprised in a good way to find you in this topic
When the blunderbuss will arrive at my home, i will investigate the name Ketland on it. It might be William or Thomas Ketland instead of Ketland & co (it would make more sense if the butstock is of 1770's design).
I wondered, the pancover has a roller... i always believed they only came into fashion from around 1800's ?

That frizzen roller first appeared in the 1780's, so let's say '1780's' for your blunderbuss. By the early 1800's, the dog has taken on the inverted C-shape.

m

[fernando]

Here you are. Not so good but ... will have to do

.

[Fernando K]

Hello:

The P and V crowned, is the brand Testbed Birmingham before 1813.

Affectionately. Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Hello:

On page 57 of D. R. Baxter "Blunderbusses" is photographed a blunderbuss with bayonet aside, and the same restraints. Posted by PERRY, punches and English test.

Fernando K

[M ELEY]

The spring-loaded bayonet was actually patented by Waters in the 1780's. Many of the brass barreled blunderbus pistols used by naval officers have this mechanism, as do the larger ones, like your example. I have the former type, with a mechanism whereby the bayonet springs and locks in place when you pull back on the trigger guard. Many other Birmingham makers used similar mechanisms, but Mr. Waters was the first. My flintlock naval pistol dates to 1790's based on marks. Yours is a nice piece and could have been a coach gun (used to disuade highwaymen!). The brass barrel types were used as coachguns and at sea (brass resisting rust from salt corrosion).

If you happen to be watching the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series and see the scene where Jack Sparrow is surrounded by men with guns and the little short fellow draws a pistol and let's fly with the spring bayonet, that's the naval pistol I speak of (It was a real antique piece used in the movie, a Waters example).

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Marcus,
The pitting seems due to salty sea climate, which did not as much harm to the case-hardened surface of the lock as it did to the 'soft'-iron barrel.

That's why blunderbusses for sea service mostly featured brass barrels ...

m

[Fernando K]

Hello:

Here I upload the photos (bad) Trip of a blunderbuss, with brass barrel, Birmingham hallmarks, after 1813. In the plate (plate) of the key (lock) TWIGG name is registered (I think it's fake) with folding bayonet, but the top of the barrel.

Afectuosmente. Fernando K

[Fernando K]

Hello:

Moore pics:

Fernando K

[Marcus den toom]

Hi Fernando K,

Thank you very much for the blunderbuss pictures. They are good enough to see the mechanism.

You are absolutly right Michael, if it wheren't for the high cost they would have made there cannons of brass more often as well (some swiffel guns where made of brass).

edit: the blunderbuss from Twigg looks real enough to me. There are 4 twigg's and one Twigg & Bass in Der Neue Stockel on page 1307 (book2). The blunderbuss in the pictures are most likely of John Twigg (1732-1790) i think in Piccadili,London Great brittain where he worked from 1776-1788.

[Fernando K]

Marcus:

The barrel (barrel) has the hallmarks of Birmingham, 1813 onwards. If they stopped working TWIGG (or died) in 1788, spent 25 years (or more) to use a key (lock) .... Precisely, this is a very common procedure, falsifying the origin to give more category. For example, here in Argentina are military weapons, produced in Belgium, with fake punches and English word TOWER, and even crowned GR (But with the punch ELG)

Affectionately. Fernando K

[Marcus den toom]

Hi Fernando K,

There is also an Edward Twigg from 1838-45 working in Birmingham at 34 Whittall street.