Blunderbuss

{{For multi|the Jack White album|Blunderbuss (album){{!}}Blunderbuss (album)|other uses}}

File:Flintlock Blunderbuss Tipoo Sahib Seringapatam 1793 1794.jpg blunderbuss, built for Tipu SultanExhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, your New York.]]

The blunderbuss is a 17th- to mid-19th-century firearm with a short, large caliber barrel. It is commonly flared at the muzzle to help aid in the loading of shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity or caliber.{{Clarify|reason=What specifically qualifies?|date=October 2024}} The blunderbuss is commonly considered to be an early predecessor of the modern shotgun, with similar military usage.{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Blunderbuss}} It was effective only at short range, lacking accuracy at long distances. A blunderbuss in handgun form was called a dragon, and it is from this that the term dragoon evolved.{{cite book|title=The British Army: Its Origin, Progress, and Equipment|author=Sibbald Mike Lier|year=1868|publisher=Cassell, Petter, Galpin|pages=33, 302–304}}{{cite book|title=A Military Dictionary |url=https://archive.org/details/militarydictiona00voyliala |author=George Elliot Voyle, G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson|year=1876|publisher=W. Clowes & Sons|pages=[https://archive.org/details/militarydictiona00voyliala/page/43 43], 114}}

Etymology

File:English flintlock blunderbuss.jpeg

The term "blunderbuss" is of Dutch origin, from the Dutch word donderbus, which is a combination of donder, meaning "thunder", and bus, meaning "container, tin" (Middle Dutch: busse, box, jar, from Latin buxus, box tree).

The transition from donder to blunder is thought by some to be deliberate; the term blunder was originally used in a transitive sense, synonymous with to confuse, and this is thought to describe the stunningly loud report of the large-bore, short-barreled blunderbuss.{{verification failed|date=January 2017}} The term dragon is taken from the fact that early versions were decorated with a carving in the form of a mythic dragon's head around the muzzle; the muzzle blast would then give the impression of a fire-breathing dragon.

Design and use

File:Espingole 1760 France.jpg

File:Fusils poudre noire.JPG, blunderbuss and coach gun from the American Civil War era]]

The flared muzzle is the defining feature of the blunderbuss, differentiating it from large caliber carbines; the distinction between the blunderbuss and the musketoon is less distinct, as musketoons were also used to fire shot, and some had flared barrels.{{cite web|url=http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.cfm?ID=AAA2517|title=Musketoon (AAA2517)|publisher=National Maritime Museum|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201113306/http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/object.cfm?ID=AAA2517|archive-date=2009-02-01}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2360 |title=Thunder Gun |last=Carrick |first=Michael |year=2005 |website=Discovering Lewis & Clark |publication-date=May 2005 |access-date=2017-04-28 |archive-date=2010-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613092820/http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2360 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book|title=Proceedings|author=Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne|author-link=Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne|year=1905|publisher=Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne|page=251}} The muzzle (and often the bore) was flared with the intent not only to increase the spread of the shot, but also to funnel powder and shot into the weapon, making it easier to reload on horseback or on a moving carriage; modern experiments corroborated the dramatic improvement in shot spread, going from a {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=mid|-spread|order=flip|abbr=off}} diameter from a straight barrel to an average of {{convert|38|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} spread at {{convert|10|yd|m|order=flip|abbr=off|0}}.{{cite web|url=https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2007-B96-Myths-of-the-Blunderbuss.pdf|title=Myths of the Blunderbuss|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720163146/https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2007-B96-Myths-of-the-Blunderbuss.pdf|archive-date=July 20, 2023}}

Blunderbusses were typically short, with barrels under {{convert|2|ft|cm|-1|order=flip}} in length, at a time when a typical musket barrel was over {{convert|3|ft|cm|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}} long.See Brown Bess.{{cite book|title=Pennsylvania Archives|author=Charles Francis Hoban|year=1853}}, page 324, from a letter dated March 7, 1778 One source, describing arms from the early to middle 17th century, lists the barrel length of a wheel lock dragon at around {{convert|11|in|cm|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}, compared to a {{convert|16|in|cm|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} length for a blunderbuss.

The blunderbuss could be considered an early type of shotgun and served in many similar roles. Though some old accounts may list the blunderbuss as being loaded with various scrap iron, rocks, or wood, which might well result in damage to the bore of the gun, it was typically loaded with a number of lead balls smaller than the bore diameter. Barrels were made of steel or brass.

File:Dragon pistol.jpg, Veracruz, Mexico]]

File:Harpers ferry blunderbuss 1808.jpg]]

File:Muzeum Diecezjalne - 06.JPG]]

File:Blunderbuss, flintlock (AM 775465-6).jpg

File:Pintle mounted gun on the "White" pirogue.JPG

The blunderbuss, and especially the dragon, was typically issued to troops such as cavalry, who needed a lightweight, easily handled firearm. The dragon became so associated with cavalry and mounted infantry that the term dragoon became synonymous with mounted infantry. In addition to the cavalry, the blunderbuss found a use for other duties in which the shotgun-like qualities were desirable, such as for guarding prisoners or defending a mail coach, and its use for urban combat was also recognized.{{cite book|title=The American Revolution|url=https://archive.org/details/americanrevolut13trevgoog|author=George Otto Trevelyan| year=1905|publisher=Longmans, Green and co.}} Blunderbusses were also commonly carried by officers on naval warships, by privateers and by pirates for use in close-quarters boarding actions.{{cite web|url=http://www.gunclassics.com/pirateblunder.html|title=Pirate Blunderbuss; A Blunt and Intimidating Weapon|website=www.gunclassics.com|access-date=6 April 2018}} The Portuguese Marines used it widely in the 17th century. Many types of ammunition, including gravel and sand, could be shot in a pinch, but most of the time they were shot using traditional lead balls.

The blunderbuss used by the British Royal Mail during the period of 1788–1816 was a flintlock with a {{convert|14|in|cm|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} long flared brass barrel, brass trigger guard, and an iron trigger and lock. A typical British mail coach would have a single postal employee on board, armed with a blunderbuss and a pair of pistols to guard the mail from highwaymen.{{cite web|url=http://postalheritage.org.uk/collections/museum/weapons/|title=Weapons|author=The British Postal Museum and Archive|access-date=2008-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807181139/http://postalheritage.org.uk/collections/museum/weapons/|archive-date=2008-08-07|url-status=dead}}, see items OB1995.338 and OB1995.344 One 18th century coaching blunderbuss in another British collection had a brass barrel {{convert|17|in|cm|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} long, flaring to {{convert|2|in|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} at the muzzle; it was also provided with a spring-loaded bayonet, which was held along the barrel by a catch and would spring forward into place when released. Spring-loaded bayonet blunderbusses were also used by the Nottingham City Police after its formation around 1840.{{cite web|url=http://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.org.uk/content/history/police_history/firearms|title=Arming the police|author=Mike Waldren}}, see section "1836 – Protection of Royal Palaces"

While the blunderbuss is often associated with the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims of 1620,{{cite book|title=Shooting: For Boys|url=https://archive.org/details/shootingforboys00collgoog|author=Archie Frederick Collins|pages=[https://archive.org/details/shootingforboys00collgoog/page/n62 33]–34|year=1917|publisher=Moffat, Yard and company}} evidence suggests that the blunderbuss was relatively scarce in the American colonies. After the Battle of Lexington in 1775, British General Thomas Gage occupied Boston, Massachusetts, and upon negotiating with the town committee, Gage agreed to let the inhabitants of Boston leave town with their families and effects if they surrendered all arms. While most of the residents of Boston stayed, those who left under the agreement surrendered 1,778 long arms, 634 pistols, 273 bayonets, and only 38 blunderbusses.{{cite book|title=The Annals of America, Volume II|author=Abiel Holmes|year=1829|publisher=Hillard and Brown|page=242}} The blunderbuss did still have its civilian applications, however; the Lewis and Clark Expedition carried a number of blunderbusses, some of which were mounted and used as small swivel guns on the pirogues.

Crude tripwire activated blunderbusses, known as alarm guns, spring guns and cemetery guns,[https://marketlavingtonmuseum.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/preventing-poaching/ Market Lavington museum] were set up in graveyards and country estates to scare away poachers and resurrection men, and to alert the gamekeeper or sexton to their presence.[https://royalarmouries.org/stories/our-collection/cemetery-guns/ Royal armories][https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/19347648.booby-traps-will-grisly-attractions-new-look-craven-museum/ Craven museum]

By the middle of the 19th century, the blunderbuss was replaced for military use by the carbine, but still found use by civilians as a defensive firearm.{{cite book|title=Knight's American Mechanical Dictionary|url=https://archive.org/details/knightsamerican01kniggoog|author=Edward Henry Knight|publisher=Hurd and Houghton|year=1876}}{{cite magazine|title=Away with the Blunderbuss|magazine=Punch|author=Henry Mayhew|volume=XXVIII|year=1855|issue=704|page=[https://archive.org/details/punch28a29lemouoft/page/n23/mode/2up 2]}}

History

Early 17th century: The blunderbuss emerges in Europe, likely originating from the Netherlands. Its name derives from the Dutch "donderbus", meaning "thunder gun".

Mid 17th century: The blunderbuss becomes more widely used in Europe, particularly in England. It is adopted by both military forces and civilians for its effectiveness in close-quarters combat and self-defense.

Late 17th century: The blunderbuss is increasingly used by naval forces, including the British Royal Navy, for boarding actions and ship defense.

Early 18th century: The blunderbuss reaches peak popularity. Its intimidating appearance and powerful shot make it a preferred weapon for stagecoach drivers, travelers, and home defense.

Early 19th century: The decline of the blunderbuss begins. Advances in firearm technology, such as the development of rifled barrels and more accurate long guns, reduce its prevalence.