Blunderbuss for comments

[Marcus den toom]

Couldn't withhold myself from commenting now instead of tomorrow, but this is a very attractive blunderbuss.
The brass muzzle section is, as far as i can see, only sheeted around an iron barrel mouth. When looking at the inside of the barrel mouth you can see the iron oxidation and also some small iron overlap on the brass muzzle section. Wouldn't make sence to create a all brass end for a gun, it would only cause a serious weakspot at one of the largest stress point of a barrel

The design is great looking and certainly fit for your staggering collection Nando my friend.
My position on the calibre is based on information i recieved after my own blunderbuss purchase. These guns where mainly shot with buckshot balls, so probably 10-11 mm lead balls, 10 pieces orso.
The swamped barrel mouth supports this, it wouldn't make sence with a solid lead/iron ball... blunderbussess where intended to scatter and hit as many targets at short distance. The iron looks to good for naval use i think, but who knows

What i absolutely like about this gun is the "belt" (?) hook that has survived till this day!! you don't see that to often. Take good care of this one, the market for blunderbussess has somewhat shrunk in the last few years, but such an quality item will be priceless (even more so than now) in a few years.

edit: my own blunderbuss with heavy pitted iron as comparison
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=ketland

[M ELEY]

Just a repeat of my PM to you, Fernando! Wow! A spectacular piece for your collection! I have no problem saying it could very well be (as others have already pointed out) be a naval piece. The lack of markings could point to 'private purchase' for privateers and/or merchant class ships. As I said, surprised there's no channel for a mounted swivel on this monster. Although blunderbuss were used for stage coaches, by armed guards, etc, I find it hard to imagine this beast for that purpose. As a 'rail gun' packed with partridge shot, it would have been a formidable weapon!

[fernando]

Thank you all for your comments, Gentlemen.
Fernando, the brass section on the barrel mouth is only a sheet applied to the steel and, surprisingly, not fully around, but only covering the visual part of it; definitely a decoration purpose.
I see your point that the hook would be for a sling (talabarte) due to this gun's weight, although its shape is precisely that of a waist belt hook (gancho de cinturon).
You are right in that the ramrod (baqueta) is not the correct one; it is going to be a problem to get a wooden one with a brass or bone tip, but i will give it a try.

Marcus, i agree with buck shot being basicaly the ammunition for these things; even some times all kinds of junk pieces, as per circumstances. When i mentioned 'caliber' was only to give an idea of the bore diameter.

Thank you Mark for the naval approach . It is possible, yes; but we can't discard the stage coach or armed guard possibilities, this one based on the waist/shoulder hook presence.

.

[Shakethetrees]

Great piece! It would fit well into my collection!

If you look more closely at the last photo of the muzzle, you'll see that the iron barrel shows itself at the muzzle by a rough ring maybe one or two mm thick. The reason it appears that the brass bell only covers the exposed part of the barrel is that the entire flat of the muzzle has darkened and corroded with age. Only the exposed edge has had handling wear or polishing that exposes what appears to be a partial wrap.

This is a fairly unique bit of embellishment that I might have seen only once or twice before, although in not very familiar with Portuguese guns.

But, to restate it, the rusted bore and muzzle shows by reason of its different texture than the darkened brass bell.

Great piece!

[fernando]

How dumb i was; you are right .
I first thought that the 2 m/m 'porous layer' of the muzzle was another quality of steel, or 'burnt' by fire use; did not realize that it was the only part not covered by the all round brass wrapping, indeed a subtle job.
Looking now at it, one may discern that thin pelicule of metal, even in the more oxided lower area of the muzzle.

.

[fernando]

So far so good.
After half hour trying to unscrew the lock, applying extreme force with a cross handle screw driver, a local fellow collector managed to pull it out. Another hour to treat the interior with penetrating oil and fortunately all parts functioning again. It was all about never been touched for long, long time; rust and dirt. Actualy all parts are in a fair good condition.
What apparently has no solution is the spring that has no tension against the frizzen's toe; we stuck in its interior some wood spacer to spread it a bit, in order to gain back some tension ... only to prevent the frizzen from tumbling loose.
Now the local (competent) stock maker is going to reconstruct the 'splinter' that is missing in the forend.
Will show pictures of both details when i pick ut up from the stock maker.
And, last but not least, i have strong hopes to get a propper ramrod from someone who cared to answer my appeal.

[Kmaddock]

Hi Fernando
If you have any metal working friends you could re anneal the spring
First heat red hot and let cool slowly in very warm sand over period of few hours, I warm the sand in the oven and then put spring into the tray of sand back into oven and let it all cool down slowly, strictly a job when wives are out of the house.
It will now be soft and you will be able to bend it to desired stretch
Then heat it red hot and quench it in cold water to harden it, it now will be v hard and brittle
Next you heat to a blue colour and quench in oil, whale oil is recommended but I use engine oil
You will find this works perfectly and there is a great satisfaction in getting these old guns back operational
Lovely gun by the way congratulations on a fine acquisition
Regards
Ken