Add a Blunderbuss musket to your collection of antique weapons : We've all seen this funny trombone-mouthed barrel musket, often associated with dangerous pirates and privateers, in one of the many epic films or TV series.
Blunderbuss comes from Dutch and means "thunder pipe". Blunderbuss with brass barrels began to be manufactured as early as the 1670's. Blunderbuss proved very popular aboard ship, as brass was lighter than a steel barrel and resisted the corrosive seawater aboard ship. Blunderbusses were also popular as defensive weapons at home and on voyages.
The special feature of this formidable weapon, used in particular by Jacobite Highlanders against the British army, was its ability to be loaded with all the small projectiles the soldiers could find: round stones, lead bullets, small pieces of iron, etc. This explains the funnel shape of the blunderbuss. This explains the funnel-like shape of the barrel, which allows small improvised projectiles to be loaded and engulfed, and prevents the barrel from bursting under pressure when fired.
This weapon was in service until the 19th century. It's even said that some Blunderbuss were used during the First World War by peasants in France against the invading Germans.
If you have to have just one collector's item, you've got to have a Blunderbuss - it's an unusual and fascinating object!
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