American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms

AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED BLUNDERBUSS ARMS

AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED BLUNDERBUSS ARMS The known examples of blunderbuss arms attributed to Revolutionary War use were assembled using existing barrels. Their use is obscure, but some may have seen service aboard the several hundred American privateers during that war. Most American-assembled blunderbuss arms observed appear to have been made after the Revolution, possibly for the defense of American commercial shipping against the British and then the French in the 1790s and by American privateers attacking British commercial shipping during the War of 1812. Like the other American-assembled arms of this period, each of these blunderbusses is unique. The blunderbusses are only described here as examples of these arms and cannot be considered typical of other arms. BRITISH-STYLE BLUNDERBUSS WITH FRENCH LOCK 049.2 Plate 049.2-A This small blunderbuss was assembled using a French Model 1766 lock and what appears to be a British barrel and American-made furniture in the British style. (Springfield Armory NHP Museum Collection.) This brass-mounted blunderbuss is 403 /s" overall. It is assembled largely with British-style metal components and a French Model 1766 musket lock. Because of its unusually small diameter flared muzzle and its swivel bar and ring, it may have been used by mounted troops. The 243 /4" barrel has a double baluster ring at the breech and two sets of double baluster rings 6" forward of the breech. The muzzle diameter is only W. The 11 A" by 11 A" lock is of French regulation pattern. The brass furniture isBritish military style but appears to be American made. The bow of the 93 A" trigger guard has a split rear branch. The guard is secured by two lateral pins through integral lugs at the rear and another at the front. The 43 /s" butt plate is also British style, and the profile of the 3l /i" tang steps inward to apointed end. The 6n /i6"broad sideplate isflat-surfaced. A swivelbar extends 65 /s" forward from beneath the head of the rear sidescrew along the left side. It is secured at the front by a machine screw that passes laterally through the stock 049. AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED BLUNDERBUSS ARMS 191 Plate 049.2-B The FrenchModel 1766 lock is stamped with the Charleville control mark of a crown over "D." (Springfield Armory NHP Museum Collection.) Plate 049.2-C Although the "US" surcharge is clearly visible on the barrel, the original markings are partially illegible. (Springfield Armory NHP Museum Collection.) and threads into a horizontal figure "8"-shaped escutcheon inlet into the right side of the forearm. The three cast brass thimbles are barrel-type. The upper thimble has a flared mouth, and the lower thimble has a pointed finial. The cast brass forend cap is 1" wide and issecured by a lateral pin. The 245 /s" steel ramrod has a button head. The walnut stock extends to l /i6" of the muzzle. The nose of the 9" comb is only W high, and flutes extend rearwards for 6" on both sides. There are flats on both sides of the breech and a raised plateau around the breech tang. The engraving along the top of the barrel isonly partially legible: "T I PLD" and "No 1." It is also stamped "US" on the breech. There are other, partially illegible, letters in the breech tang. The lockplate isstamped with the Charleville acceptance mark of a small crown over "D." 192 AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. 1 AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED FRENCH-STYLE BLUNDERBUSS 049.5 Plate 049.5-A This iron-barreled blunderbuss was assembledusing some French-style components of unknown origin. (Jay Forman Collection.) This 43"iron- and copper-mounted blunderbusshas a 28H" iron barrel. This barrel isoctagonal for lOVz" and then tapers to round. The diameter of the flared muzzle is 25 /s". The 61 A" by l1 /^" lock only generally resembles the French Model 1777 configuration. The plate's rearprofile ends in aprojecting point. The goose-neck cock has a convex-surfaced body. The pan and frizzen's configurations are different from the French pattern, and the frizzen spring also differs in that it has some sculpting not usuallyfound on French military arms. It ispossible that this lock is of private French, or other (Liege?), manufacture. The 93 /s" iron trigger guard assembly is similar to that used in French Model 1777 muskets. The exterior portion of the lower sling swivel lug, which projects downwards...