| Brief Description |
Blunderbus, 11 bore, 0.700 caliber, single barrel, muzzle loading, flintock action. Brass barrel with folding bayonet. London and Birmingham proof marks, black powder G.M. inventor. Known as a "Coaching Blunderbus" and used to protect stagecoaches, no military significance.
The blunderbuss was a flintlock weapon used by travellers and farmers in defence of property. Its usual ammunition was lead balls, if the balls were in short supply, stones or nails could be used. The short, flared barrel made it very inaccurate and unwieldy, giving the weapon a shotgun-type effect which could hit many targets at once or none at all. They were used from the 17th to the 19th century. The name blunderbuss comes from the Dutch donder bus which can be translated as ‘thunder-pipe’.
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