New .54 Blunderbuss Percussion Kit!

[arcticap]

I've seen this .54 blunderbuss percussion model before but only factory finished.
It's been made by Ardesa for a long time but rarely imported until now, and especially not in kit form.
Ardesa has been making it in .54 and 20 gauge percussion and usually it costs over $500 in factory completed form.
These are the only factory percussion blunderbuss models that I've ever seen.
And it's a real pleasure to see one now being offered as an affordable kit.
But it's probably only a limited time offering through this Sportsman's Guide exclusive and once they're gone, they're gone.

Be sure to check it out at the Sportman's Guide dot com and to pan over the 2 photos with your mouse pointer to see the details really close up.

 

[Mike Brooks]

What would it be usefull for in that small bore?

 

[Zoar]

arc---Wow, I think my Uncle used one of those in WWII. It was called "a trumpet"! :grin: :wink:

Seriously, that thing looks like a distorted and exaggerated idea of a Blunderbuss and not at all something I would take seriously. And yes the 54 caliber is a concern: Why 54 Caliber?

A 54 caliber canoe gun or cut down long rifle would make sense.

The thing I saw at Sportsman Guide just makes no sense to me. :idunno:

 

[arcticap]

In retrospect, the caliber isn't much different than the popular TC .56 smooth rifle. Folks use those for hunting turkey and deer along with other game. Factory smooth bore percussion side locks seem to rarely be imported now days.
So what amounts to nearly a 28 gauge shouldn't be viewed with any disdain.
It certainly has some hunting and self defense applications, and should be a fun recreational shooter loaded with shot, buck shot or patched round ball.
The short barrel makes it similar to a blanket, canoe or entry gun which usually costs much more.
Maybe if this item is popular enough to sell the importers will bring in some of the Ardesa 20 gauge model.
I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't a special order through Traditions. They may be very interested in seeing how well how this models sells.
I would prefer the 20 gauge myself, but I'm not going to knock that such a nice gun has been imported. To say the least, it's definitely a rare bird for the price that it being offered at and will have appeal to some folks who like nostolgic working guns, and in percussion no less.
There's some old advertising lingo that went, "Why ask why?"
It seems to be more useful than a hand held mortar that fires tennis balls, but then that would be an awful lot of fun to shoot too! :hatsoff:

 

[DickS]

Looking at the photo of the kit, there appears to be a seam where the funnel was added to the barrel.

 

[arcticap]

That could simply be a turn line from where it was initially lathed or machined before being polished.
A welded seam might not look so precise, clean and perfect.
I can actually see another line about an inch or two back from that one that looks the same.
IMO I think that it's all one piece but just not finished & polished perfectly smooth because it's a kit gun barrel.
However anything is possible.
But Ardesa is a trustworthy manufacturer, and if there were any issues with it then the Guide has a pretty good return policy too.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Legendary 18th Century .54 cal. Blunderbuss Kit is a true replica, authentic down to its last detail.

Right..... :shake: If you don't notice the cap lock and screw on flare on the barrel. :rotf: Looks just like the gun Elmer Fudd hunted Bugs Bunny with. :rotf:

 

[rabjr]

Talk about a cartoon gun...

 

[Stumpkiller]

I guess it makes a good noisemaker. What do they call those little German "toy" firearms? Schutzenpoppers or some such.

Interesting cheekpiece on the lock side. :haha:

For that price I'd find a used T/C .56 smoothbore that you can actually see down the barrel to use on game.

 

[arcticap]

Maybe some folks would rather fire tennis balls 200-300 yards out of a hand mortar (grenade launcher) at the price of $975 for a parts set that includes an assembled lock from the Rifle Shoppe?
But I'll bet that firing one of those would be fun too! :wink:

 

[Mike Brooks]

But I'll bet that firing one of those would be fun too!

I think I'd pass if I had to pay more than 50 cents.... :haha:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Kit Ravenshear used to make a cup mortar attachment for Besses. It attached like a bayonet and was some "experimental archeology" of a grenadier grenade launcher. (They had such things - but purpose built and the cup stayed put).

He stopped listing them after an incident at a reenectment when it was found tennis balls burn as does tent canvas.

 

[Mike Brooks]

Kit Ravenshear used to make a cup mortar attachment for Besses. It attached like a bayonet and was some "experimental archeology" of a grenadier grenade launcher. (They had such things - but purpose built and the cup stayed put).

He stopped listing them after an incident at a reenectment when it was found tennis balls burn as does tent canvas.

Kit was a real Hoot! :rotf:

 

What a piece of manure. The copywriter must be moonlighting from the Obama campaign. What bull manure. About as authentic 19th century, as an AR15, aside from the fact that by the 19 century they weren't colonist, but Americans.

Bill

 

[arcticap]

Paul and Babe the Blue Ox, his companion, dug the Grand Canyon when he dragged his axe behind him. He created Mount Hood by piling rocks on top of his campfire to put it out....
...Among other subjects, a myth about the formation of Great Lakes was centered around Babe: Paul Bunyan needed to create a watering hole large enough for Babe to drink from.[9] There are also stories telling that the 10,000 Lakes of Minnesota were formed from the footprints of Paul and Babe while they wandered blindly in a deep blizzard. Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett were said to give Babe to Paul Bunyan, because they were all "woodsey" pioneer types.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bunyan[/quote]

I think that the type of ads that Gary Olen is famous for relates to the traditional legend of Paul Bunyan and Babe The Blue Ox. Everyone who lives in the North Woods knows about the truth to the legend and what a tall tale is all about.

Perhaps telling tall tales is what all of the North Woods lumberjack people do to survive the long winters and to not get cabin fever.

I think that Gary Olen grew up to be comical in that way. He's the founder of the Sportsman's Guide located in Minnesota who began to write hilarious ads to get people's attention while selling his goods. He may even still be writing some of the current ads. If he's not then he has certainly taught the others well. He's such a legend that if you enter the name Gary Olen into the Google search box, the 1st entry is for the Sportsman's Guide.

The Sportsman’s Guide was born in the basement of outdoorsman Gary Olen, in the winter of 1970 and has grown to become a Nasdaq listed public company (SGDE) serving over 8,000,000 customers.
http://search.alcdata.com/market;j...BCC02A3?page=research/category&id=7403[/quote]