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I had a thought (it happens sometimes) that made me curious.
What kind of long arms would an 18thC private ship keep on board? I believe the modern India made Ships Carbines aren't representative of a known weapon, the original ships Bess's being longer I think. However, a merchant ship setting sail in the mid 18C would had weapons of some kind? Presumably short smoothbores as well as pistols. Probably made by a local gunmaker. It also follows that the ships Captain/Owner may have had a nicer example made for himself. Perhaps a young Marine Officer would have an appropriate gun made for himself.
The same question can also be asked of a privateer. For their intended work they certainly would have been well armed. I've read that it wasn't unheard of for an early 18C "pirate" vessel to have only small arms and maybe a couple of swivel guns. Apparently Blackbeard got his start in just such a vessel.
Do we know of any surviving guns with a Naval history? Perhaps this is a historical justification for shortish, better than military quality, smoothbore guns.
Just food for thought and discussion.
What kind of long arms would an 18thC private ship keep on board? I believe the modern India made Ships Carbines aren't representative of a known weapon, the original ships Bess's being longer I think. However, a merchant ship setting sail in the mid 18C would had weapons of some kind? Presumably short smoothbores as well as pistols. Probably made by a local gunmaker. It also follows that the ships Captain/Owner may have had a nicer example made for himself. Perhaps a young Marine Officer would have an appropriate gun made for himself.
The same question can also be asked of a privateer. For their intended work they certainly would have been well armed. I've read that it wasn't unheard of for an early 18C "pirate" vessel to have only small arms and maybe a couple of swivel guns. Apparently Blackbeard got his start in just such a vessel.
Do we know of any surviving guns with a Naval history? Perhaps this is a historical justification for shortish, better than military quality, smoothbore guns.
Just food for thought and discussion.