The blunderbuss, which takes its name from the German termDonderbuschse (thunder gun) is a short-barreled firearm with aflared muzzle that made its appearance in the late 16th century.Often associated with the Pilgrims, the blunderbuss was stillrelatively unknown in the early 17th century. Originally intendedfor military purposes, these arms can be traced to 1598, whenGermany's Henrich Thielman applied for a patent for a shoulder armdesigned for shipboard use to repel enemy boarders.
The blunderbuss quickly became popular with the Dutch andEnglish navies. England's growing maritime power seems to havefueled production of these short bell-barrel arms, which wereuseful during close-in engagements between warships by enablingmarines clinging to ship's rigging to use them against the guncrews of opposing vessels. The barrels and furniture of theblunderbuss were typically made from brass, and stocks were mostcommonly made from walnut.
Other, less robust woods were sometimes used, but their tendencyto shatter ensured that walnut would remain in widespread use as astocking material. Early examples were of utilitarian design andwere lacking in adornment. These later gave way to examples thatincluded simple engravings and scroll work. Even later specimensfeatured more artistic ornamentation in the form of classical andneo-classical figures, stands of weaponry, and acorn- orpineapple-shaped finials. Along practical lines, blunderbuss makersbegan to incorporate certain technical and safety innovations intheir products.
Among these were the introduction of a sliding safety catchbehind the cock, checkered wrists which improved the shooter'sgrip, frizzen springs equipped with roller bearings, and theaddition of a folding bayonet. This last improvement, however neverachieved a great degree of popularity. Barrels gradually becameless massive, and cannon-type muzzles took their place alongsidethe longstanding trumpet-shaped variety. Late-production exampleseven featured percussion ignition systems. Blunderbuss pistols madean appearance during the latter part of the 17th century, but thesemassive arms frequently proved to be dangerous to those on bothsides of the muzzle.
One hundred years later, the blunderbuss pistol enjoyed arenaissance as skilled gunsmiths included ornate high-qualityexamples among their wares offered to wealthy clientele. Althoughno more lethal than the flintlock pistols of the period, highlyadorned blunderbuss pistols, which were smaller than theirpredecessors of the previous century, were popularized among thewell-heeled as a result of the craftsmanship of artisans such asLondon gunsmith Joseph Heylin. The blunderbuss played a role duringthe English Civil War of 1642-48, and these arms were widely usedas a personal defense arm in England during the CommonwealthPeriod.
The lack of an organized system of law enforcement at that time,coupled with the growing threat posed by highwaymen, placed theburden of protecting life and property in the hands of honestcitizens. Although some blunderbusses bore the royal cipher of theSovereign, they typically did not feature the Broad Arrowidentifying government ownership or the markings of the Board ofOrdnance. This would indicate that blunderbusses were not formallyadopted for use by British land forces, but they were quite likelyto have seen use in the hands of military guards and for crowdcontrol. Several brass- and iron-barreled blunderbusses werecaptured from the forces of Lord Cornwallis upon the latter'ssurrender to the Continental Army at Yorktown, Virginia in thefinal land campaign of the American Revolution.
As the 18th century dawned, the establishment and operation ofcommercial businesses became more closely associated with urbanareas. This in turn gave rise to improvements in the transportationsystem throughout England, as turnpikes and toll booths replacedthe isolated and often rough byways that had previously linked thetowns of the realm. Highway robbery continued to be a problem, andboth travelers and toll collectors were well-advised to armthemselves against thieves and other bandits.
Equally effective from horseback or coach seat, the blunderbusswas especially well-suited to the times, and many Englishmenadopted them for their personal protection. Royal Mail coachestypically carried both a driver and a guard who was armed with ablunderbuss and a brace of pistols. By 1750, England establishedher first effective police force. Equipped with an arsenal thatmost likely included the blunderbuss, these officers of the lawwere largely successful in putting an end to the reign of thehighwaymen.
Although these predators had become a thing of the past,encounters with wildlife poachers in rural areas required gamewardens to be suitably armed. Urban crime remained a problem, andthe blunderbuss continued to serve as a defense against thecriminal element and as a tool to put down rebellion fueled by theincrease in industrialization and its accompanying growth in urbanslums. Political unrest in Ireland also was on the increase. Thesefactors ensured the continued use of the blunderbuss into the 19thcentury.
After reaching its peak usage in the early 1800s, theblunderbuss rapidly went into decline, becoming extinct bymid-century. Domestic unrest decreased and law enforcement agenciesbecame increasingly efficient during the Victorian Age. Armedrebellion and highwayman had become things of the past, and theblunderbuss had seemingly outlived its usefulness. Nonetheless,these arms manages to hold on for a time until they were finallydoomed not by the decline in lawlessness, but by the introductionof modern technologies that produced the revolving pistol and otherrepeating arms that were far superior to the blunderbuss for use indefensive situations.
