Thoughts on my blunderbuss

Picked this up a few months ago. What are you thoughts? I assume it is a shooter. Got from a guy that did reenactment stuff. How much powder would you use? Any input is appreciated

Without a photo of the flared muzzle, it's just a good-looking flintlock.

pajeepman said:

Picked this up a few months ago. What are you thoughts? I assume it is a shooter. Got from an auction full of a reenactment stuff. How much powder would you use? Any input is appreciated

Click to expand...

Caliber?

Coot said:

Caliber?

Click to expand...

Not exactly sure. At least .75, a penny(.75") fits down the barrel with room to spare but a nickel(.835") won't.
Was sold a a reproduction which I am sure it is. Also wondering the value(obviously what I paid for it to at least 1 person, me).

It’s a reproduction, the Lott lock has been used quite a bit on repros, my own best using flint gun has a Lott lock, never lets me down.

I just know that I like it. Quite a bit. That is what I call cuddle-worthy.

How would wano 4fa work in it. I used it in my hawken before, seemed ok.
9 years ago I bought 4 pounds for $9.95 per at a firework convention. From what I found, it is firework powder but also used in canons. Blunderbuss is kinda a mini hand held cannon after all right?

a good score.

Great find. I'm pretty sure you have one of the blunderbuss distributed by Navy Arms sometime during the 1970's. I think it only lasted some 3-4 years in production, if that. They are quite rare today. It appears to be in near new condition. It may have been Pedersoli who made this gun, can't recall, but I think so. They may have a record of the caliber they were made (?) I'm guessing it's around .75 caliber. But in any case, you will want to locate some type of long caliper to measure the breech end. There may be other markings on the bottom of the barrel.
Again, congratulations.

Rick

Pajeepman, I was born into a family that owned a Display Fireworks manufacturing co. I made my adult living for 22 yrs at it (until Federal regs made it financailly impossible to keep up.) Although the grades of powder are of the same nomenclature, the make up is different.Fireworks use BLASTING powder,Guns use RIFLE powder. It is just My opinion,though a VERY informed one..DO NOT USE THAT #$%% in a firearm..best of luck.. WALLY

Use 1 1/2f or 2f in that! As for a charge, I'm not familiar with brass barrels. There's videos on YT with brass barrel blunderbuss's you could check out. Very cool find! The India made models usually go for around 700 plus shipping. Yours looks better quality than the India made variety and if it is, value will be higher. I wouldn't hesitate to buy that for one second! Consider yourself lucky!

pajeepman said:

How would wano 4fa work in it. I used it in my hawken before, seemed ok.
9 years ago I bought 4 pounds for $9.95 per at a firework convention. From what I found, it is firework powder but also used in canons. Blunderbuss is kinda a mini hand held cannon after all right?

Click to expand...

IF I were to use FFFFG it would be very light loads, I'm not sure on the strength of brass barrels, myself I would wait till I found some FFG somewhere.

I have one and can assure you that due to the brass BREECH, I for one would not use 4Fg powdah in it ...

Mine is of similar look, stocked in typical Indian teak wood, but with a much more pronounced bell at the muzzle, also in 75-caliber. It is a hoot to shoot using 40-50-grains of FFg powdah and whatever you can throw or stuff down the muzzle. As others have said or have linked to, 'HOW' your load is designed, i.e., wads, paper or fiber cards, and placement, etc., will significantly define how the particular 'shot' groups.

And for kicks I tried roundball loads, but theresults were much less than spectacular. I was hoping it would be fun to bang away with it at the gongs at a local woodswalk course, and yes, whilst I'd be 'banging' away ... sadly no 'gong' sound would evah' be heard, LOL! With shot loads I'd clear the deck ... with RBs ... who knows where they went, they missed the target paper backing entirely.

I have 2fg, 3fg, 4fg, 4fa I can use.
If the weather is good Sunday, I plan to stop in Dixons Muzzloading shop in Kempton after I go to the Willy's Jeep Picnic just down the road. You can never have to much ammo or powder right? I need some balls for my new to me Pedersoli. 44 Kentucky pistol.
Barrel has a little green oxidation in the bore, I assume it will just burn, blast out with first firing which will be a light charge and just a heavy wad.

A little surprised it came from a re-enactor hoard. As in recent years they have been banned for being too loud. Am not able to find how to site them around the bell. Is easy to be taken in by them, I have the swivel mounted version, brass hardware looks like larger Brown Bess.

Would be best to stay with regular black powder 1F, in the main charge. 2F is pushing it and anything finer should be avoided in the main charge (too much pressure). A brass barrel will take a little less pressure than a good steel barrel.

I traded for one just like it at a shop in Dallas about a year ago. Haven't shot it yet, so I'll be interested in hearing your results. But it looks great hanging over my fireplace! BTW, the trigger is a lot better than the Indian built doglock I got from Loyalist...

I have wanted one of those bronze barrel blunderbuss since I first seen one.


Have fun making smoke.

That’s beautiful! Post more photos! I have been on the search for one just like it!

I agree with Flint62Smoothie and his post was, IMHO, very cleah. With a brass (actually likely bronze) breech plug and barrel I'd use no powder grade finer than 2F as a main charge.

I will use 2f. Forgot shot at home but found some Daisy copper coated bb's at work that should work fine.