Skip to main content

Flint-lock blunderbuss: HEN.M.436-1933

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Flintlock blunderbuss, with spring bayonet and silver mounts. Inscription in Arabic script on barrel.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Length: 99.5 cm
Weight: 2295 g

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

18th Century, Late
1775 - 1799

Note

A blunderbuss is a short longarm with a barrel which flares out towards the muzzle. It was loaded with lots of small shot which spread out as it left the barrel making it very good as a short-range anti-personnel weapon – a bit like a shotgun today. This very unusual flintlock blunderbuss has an attached bayonet which is held in place by a catch along the top of the barrel and which could be released, springing out to make a formidable short-range weapon. This type of weapon was often carried for self defence when travelling.

Components of the work

Mounts composed of silver gilt

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.436-1933
Primary reference Number: 19536
Old object number: PB 158
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 18 December 2023 Last processed: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Flint-lock blunderbuss" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19536 Accessed: 2024-12-20 16:39:58

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19536 |title=Flint-lock blunderbuss |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-20 16:39:58|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-19536

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...