Blunderbuss
Category
Arms and armour
Date
circa 1760
Materials
Iron, brass, and wood
Measurements
80.5 cm (length)
Order this imageCollection
Clandon Park, Surrey
NT 1442031
Summary
[Destroyed in the fire of 2015] Flintlock blunderbuss signed Blyth, c1760
Full description
Flintlock blunderbuss signed Blyth, c1760. Probably Henry Blyth, London, c1730 – 1787. Brass cannon form barrel, the flared muzzle with a pronounced moulded ring. The engraved breech is stamped with proof marks of the London Gunmakers Company, together with a makers mark, HB under a Star. The breech is also engraved LONDON. The barrel is retained to the stock by 2 transverse barrel pins. Wooden ramrod with iron worm and brass tip. Barrel length: 40.3cm. Muzzle diameter 29.5mm. Walnut three-quarter length stock, the butt of hand-rail form, with a carved plain apron around the barrel tang. Engraved brass furniture comprising; buttplate, sideplate with screw fixing, trigger guard with acorn finial, vacant escutcheon with acorn finial, and 2 balluster turned ramrod pipes. Scroll form trigger. Flintlock side-lock, the plate of rounded section, border line engraved and signed BLYTH. The frizzen spring with decorative finial. The lock is retained to the stock by 2 sidenails. Overall length: 80.5cm
Provenance
Marked in Lady Iveagh’s 1966 Inventory, p 45. Accepted by the Treasury in lieu of Estate Duty on the death of the 5th and the 6th Earl in 1984.
Marks and inscriptions
Barrel - breech: London London Gunmakers Company proof marks GP and V Flintlock mechanism - right sidee: 'Blyth' marking