Rare Blunderbuss with folding bayonet

M ELEY · 3rd January 2014, 12:54 AM

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).

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3rd January 2014, 12:54 AM	#13
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,159	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).