APG
45 Cal.
Oops I replied to this thread but didn't look at the date. It's from 2019.
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Traditions Blunderbuss Kit?
- Thread starter Smokey Plainsman
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Andy Wilson
Pilgrim
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I also would like to build one of these. I see in several comments that this is not a real blunderbuss. Why not? Smoothbore, funnel barrel. What is the true definition of a blunderbuss?
Actually they are "coach guns" and the funnel is to facilitate loading. The reason many don't like this particular kit is there is no ramrod channel, and it's 28 gauge, when it should be at least 20 and more like 11-10 gauge.
LD
Anyone ever pattern their blunderbus with shot?
I have though it was for the owner, wasn't mine. 10 gauge and the pattern was very similar to my Bess. The "bell" doesn't influence the pattern, just the reloading under unstable conditions, i.e. a ship's deck or on a coach.
LD
Sam squanch
69 Cal.
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I’d probably get an India made one, and work it over. At least they look halfway authentic.
Well I may have commented on this already but I am not about to review years of posts so here is my opinion today.
I often see stuff like this and have to have it. Exactly like the Philly Derriger. It was fun for a few trips out now long gone. This blunderbuss looks to me like a blackpowder bar room brawl type gun where even yer friends my take home a suvienere from you. To me no practical use. If I wantd it though cuz its cool I would have it. Price excellent. (still).
So years later did you get one? Post some pics if so.
I often see stuff like this and have to have it. Exactly like the Philly Derriger. It was fun for a few trips out now long gone. This blunderbuss looks to me like a blackpowder bar room brawl type gun where even yer friends my take home a suvienere from you. To me no practical use. If I wantd it though cuz its cool I would have it. Price excellent. (still).
So years later did you get one? Post some pics if so.
To be fair, don't most blundebuses look a bit cartoonish? I'm sure that once the stock is waxed and the barrel blued (or browned...?) it will look just fine. Blunderbuses were made individually as far as I'm aware and not to a specific pattern, especially the ones made by blacksmiths throughout Europe so I wouldn't worry to much about it being a 'fantasy' gun. The main thing is, would it have been a useable weapon for its intended purpose in the 18th or 19th century? Answer is probably 'yes'.
Just picked one up cheap
My wife and I got the kit in flintlock version. It was fun to build and more fun to shoot. We go to a range and the range officer always stops by to watch. We use a 17 yard target, point the "blunderbuss" with the top of the funnel at the top of the paper target and fire. Usually always hits somewhere on the target. We blued the barrel with birchwood and stained the wood: walnut. Lots of fun.
Additional note: we sometimes use a .54 RB with .015 patch and 50 gr of 3F or a piece of cork on top of 50 gr of 3F and some .30 RB (usually 4 or 5). And 4F in the pan.
Additional note: we sometimes use a .54 RB with .015 patch and 50 gr of 3F or a piece of cork on top of 50 gr of 3F and some .30 RB (usually 4 or 5). And 4F in the pan.
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stephenprops1
45 Cal.
I believe the effectiveness of the Blunderbuss was primarily intimidation. Even though the wide mouth did nothing for scattering the shot, it probably looked very intimidating to anyone that had the gun pointed at them. From my own personal experience, in a case of mistaken identity, I had a 38 Snub-Nosed Revolver pointed at me. The little .38 bore looked like a cannon to me.
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Engraved on the (rather thick) muzzle of an English blunderbuss is "SEE ME AND FLEE"
I have always wanted one of these ever since I saw Treasure Island when a kid. Wholly and totally completely impractical and got to be so much fun to shoot.Im thinking about getting a Tradtions’s Blunderbuss kit as just a cheap thing to have fun building.
Traditions™ Blunderbuss Kit - .54 Cal Percussion - KR500
Cheap enough and while it looks kind of cartoonish compared to a real Blunderbuss, I find it interesting and cool looking. Thoughts?
Had a similar experience and it looked like one of the New Jersey's 16"ers pointed at my head.
here's two pictures of what my wife and I did (our first build that we wanted to have fun and not too much on picture perfect).
I finally saw one of these Traditions blunderbuss kits in person. It was at a pirate festival on the gun line. I was volunteering there. Barrel was in the white. Owner said he had issues with Browning the barrel. No way to mount ramrod thimbles. It kept misfiring sadly, we were all shooting blanks. Was at a National Park and Park Services supplied all powder. I don't know what grain they used. I do like the Traditions blunderbuss. However I would spend the extra $300 for a L&R RPL.
