Ever play with a blunderbuss?

[Joe Yanta]

I have developed another bug. The last bug I got was a Northwest Trade Gun bug and now I have a fine one hanging on the wall.

This bug is a blunderbuss bug. I have handled a couple and seen a few. I have a facination about them. My only problem is, it would just be for fun. You can really hunt much with them. It would just be for popping off on the 4th of July and carrying around during the rondy.

Anyone have one? What do you think of them. Who makes a good kit?

Your comments will be appreciated.

Joe

 

[Wes/Tex]

Mine was one of steel barreled jobs for Intercontinental Arms, or one of those outfits, back in the 70's. They came as kits or finished. I only tied hunting bunnies with mine but it did well at ranges out to 25 yards. In spite of the big funnel lookin ends, they are about the same as what's now called Canoe Guns. The blunderbusses are basically short carbines, pure and simple. In spite of some comments, the big muzzle doesn't disperse shot any more than it they had standard straight barrels.

Having said that, they are a hoot to shoot. Did learn that if you police up a handful of .22 brass cases from the range, you can really shread empty pop cans! They are real attention getters. Not sure who's selling them now but did see a source for barrels in Muzzleloader Magazine a while back. I'm sure someone with more current info will jump in. Good luck with your new baby!!

 

[Rebel]

Here is a link to a place that sells them.
http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket9.htm

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Mine was one of steel barreled jobs for Intercontinental Arms, or one of those outfits, back in the 70's. They came as kits or finished. I only tied hunting bunnies with mine but it did well at ranges out to 25 yards. In spite of the big funnel lookin ends, they are about the same as what's now called Canoe Guns. The blunderbusses are basically short carbines, pure and simple. In spite of some comments, the big muzzle doesn't disperse shot any more than it they had standard straight barrels.

Having said that, they are a hoot to shoot. Did learn that if you police up a handful of .22 brass cases from the range, you can really shread empty pop cans! They are real attention getters. Not sure who's selling them now but did see a source for barrels in Muzzleloader Magazine a while back. I'm sure someone with more current info will jump in. Good luck with your new baby!!

The large belled muzzle on the blunderbuss was actually for ease of loading on a blood slickened ship's deck during close quarter combat or from atop a pitching horse drawn coach at break neck speed in the dead of night fending off highwaymen in merry old England.

 

[Story]

"Not sure who's selling them now but did see a source for barrels in Muzzleloader Magazine a while back."

Anyone have the issue that tells who is offering these barrels? Caliber?

 

[AaronT]

TVM has a list of suggested parts for making one. TVM

 

[Story]

Not on TVM's website, anyone know what bore diameter they offer?
http://www.avsia.com/tvm/

 

[AaronT]

It's the other TVM, Tennessee Valley Manufacturing. The link I posted will take you right to the blunderbuss. It's listed at .75 cal.

 

[Rebel]

The link i posted above will take you right to the Military Heritage Blunderbuss.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I think that was/is Vernon Davis.

 

[Story]

Does anyone make a .90 caliber barrel, either in brass or steel?

 

[Wes/Tex]

Stumpkiller has it! Vernon Davis is the man...just took a jiggle of the grey cells!!

 

[big bore 75]

tennessee vally manufactureing has them also in a kit form under 400.00 his stuff is great quality wood is 90% finished you do the inletting of parts . bb75

 

[Rat]

Seems like for trekking, it would make a reasonable grouse gun during the day, and a good defense gun at night loaded with ball or buck...or both. Or indeed a fun defense gun for canoe trips.

In Washington State, it's legal to shoot grouse with either a shotgun or pistol...I'm not sure where a short barreled Thunder Gun would fall into place there, possibly qualify as a shotgun. I'm not sure right off hand if there is a barrel length requirement, for hunting, for BP shotguns.

Rat

 

[Mad Irish Jack]

My friend, Brad has one, but I don't remember from where it came to him. We'd use it in a 'Lucky BB Shoot' at our clubs' rendezvous. We'd load it, so there'd be no variations in loads, so that it was fair to all. :applause: At a buck a shot, and after deductiong the cost of the pistol kit prize, we profited $149. :front: But watching folks facial expressions when they'd shoulder and fire it was, as the TV ad says, priceless. :: They're a fun piece of history to use. But, one tip here: Stay behind the muzzle! :crackup:

 

[Wes/Tex]

"They're a fun piece of history to use."

Boy, ain't that the truth! My favorite bit of "history" and blunderbeasts concerns one Thomas Thynn, his adulterous wife, a Swedish count as her lover and three hired assissins. Seems one Sunday evening in February 1681, the good Mister Thynn was enjoying a ride in his coach. As they turned into Pall Mall from St. James Street the coach was stopped by the "guys". While two held the coachmen at pistol point, the third blanketed the coach's insides with a blunderbuss full of pistol balls! The coroner's report still exists. "...found in Thynn's body four bullets which torn into his Guts, wounded his Liver, and Stomach, and Gall, broke one Rib, and wounded the great Bone below." He ended his remarks with, "Of which Wounds he dyed.". You think!!???

Good thing the Mrs. stayed home. Wouldn't be much hiding room in that rolling crime-scene!!

 

[WRussell]

There's another good blunderbuss story in John Nigel George's "English Guns & Rifles", concerning one Robert Lyde, mate of a coasting vessel who had spent time in a French prison before, and finding himself alone but for the cabin boy on a ship just captured by the French, retook the vessel virtually single handedly, sailing back to England aided by the boy and the ship's blunderbuss.

 

[laffingman67]

I owned one made by CVA. It was a blast! No pun intended. great noise maker for flag raisings and battle re-enactments. 150g of BP and a paper wad. Made a hell of a bang! made a good pattern with bird shot too out to about 20 yards. It was a lot of fun. I miss it. Thought I wanted a black watch pistol and a few other items more :cry:

 

[Story]

In 1808, amidst the ballooning craze which had by now swept all of France, a dispute arose between M. de Grandpre and M. le Pique over a certain Mademoiselle Tirevit, a lady engaged at the Imperial Opera. A duel was agreed upon for May 3rd, three months from the day of their argument, so that the heat of their impassioned anger could cool, and they would be able to face each other like gentlemen.

It was decided the duel should take place in the air. Two balloons were constructed exactly alike. Each man chose his second, as witness to the event, who would ride in the car with him. Blunderbuss guns were issued, as the intention was not to aim at the other person, but rather to bring down the other

 

[brubincam]

in the third paragraph it states that the two baloons were the same distance from each other???? :crackup: :crackup: :crackup:what does that mean???? :thanks: