Blunderbuss - Bellmouth, England, circa 1780

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Summary:: Flintlock blunderbuss, cal. 35mm at muzzle, steel smooth bore round bellmouthed barrel, 44.40cm long. Made in England, circa 1780.
Description:: Steel side lock and swan-necked hammer, appears not to be original lock but rather taken from a Brown Bess musket, brass oval triggerguard with plain extensions, brass sideplate and brass butt plate. Barrel secured by two barrel pins, one brass ramrod tube, brass tipped wooden ramrod. Wooden stock extends almost to muzzle, chip missing behind tang.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mr William Cole, 1943

Tagged with:	blunderbusses, rifles muskets british, rifles muskets military
Themes this item is part of:	Arms Collection, William Cole Arms Collection, William Edwin James Cole, Gun Collector (1864-1952)
Primary Classification:	ARMS & ARMOUR
Secondary Classification:	Firearms
Tertiary Classification:	longarms
Inscriptions:	Lockplate stamped: TOWER Lockplate stamped with royal cypher of crown over 'GR'. Lockplate stamped with ordnance broad arrow and crown. Barrel upper L.H.side stamped with Birmingham proofmarks.
Place & Date Made:	England, Great Britain, circa 1780
Collector:	Mr William Cole, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
References:	Edgar Howard Penrose, C.E., 'Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Firearms in the Museum of Applied Science of Victoria,' Published by the Trustees of the National Museums of Victoria, 19149