Original British Brass Barrel Flintlock Coaching Blunderbuss by W. Ketland & Co. Marked to George Inn of Stamford with Spring Loaded Bayonet - circa 1820
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic Brass Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss Coaching Gun, made circa 1820 and at some point fitted with a fantastic spring loaded triangular bayonet. The lock on this example is marked W. / KETLAND / & Co., for one of the most famous British gunmaking companies of the time.
This family business was started in 1740 by William Ketland, who is recorded as working from 1740-1804, eventually expanding to have operations in both Birmingham and London as W. Ketland & Co.. Following his death in 1804 the name was later shortened to Ketland & Co., and it operated for decades under this name before finally folding in 1831. However it lasted over almost 100 years transacted a tremendous amount of business both domestically and abroad.
This lovely matured blunderbuss measures 29 ¾ inches in overall length with a 14 inch long three stage swamped brass barrel, which is octagonal around the breech. This itself is fitted with a 11 inch long spring bayonet located on the top of the barrel. This is held closed by an iron safety catch on the barrel tang, and when released it locks into place. There is a release button on the left side of the bayonet base, and it still functions correctly. Looking at the bayonet, it is very possible that it was fitted post production, when the blunderbuss was put into coaching service, as the bayonet definitely increases the self-defense potential. The blunderbuss is all brass fitted, and the fittings now display a lovely aged patina
Under the bayonet the barrel is stamped LONDON at the rear, while the front is engraved GEORGE INN ✱ STAMFORD. Coaching blunderbusses were usually marked with the route or the Inn that owned them, and in this case it is marked to the George Inn in Stamford, along the "Great North Road", the the main highway between England and Scotland from medieval times until the 20th century. The modern A1 route follows the same path, however usually displaced to avoid town areas, so today there are virtually no Coaching Inns still present on it. However there are still a good amount on the old road, and the George is still in existence. The history of the area goes back well over a thousand years, and it is not exactly clear when the building first housed an Inn called the George. Definitely a great opportunity for further research!
The barrel is also marked on the left side of the breech with the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the English city of Birmingham. These are the correct markings for 1813 and later manufacture, indicating this was made sometime during 1813-1831. There is an additional marking between the proofs, which we cannot read.
The blunder buss features all brass fittings, which have some lovely decorations, including a fantastic well-engraved "acorn" finial on the front of the trigger guard. They have a lovely golden patina that matches the barrel well. The lock plate shows some light past oxidation, but is still in very good shape. It is an advanced design, featuring a "waterproof" flash pan that seals well and has "gutters" on either side, and also features a roller on the frizzen spring and frizzen reinforcement bridle going to the flash pan as well. We tested the lock, and it is functional, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full, however the main spring is definitely a bit weak. There is a half cock safety to the rear of the hammer, but it is no longer functional.
The stock is very nice, featuring a lovely checkered wrist, and has two ramrod pipes under the muzzle, with a brass tipped ramrod still in place. The stock has a lovely color, and does not show any past repairs or major damage. There is a small crack running from the breech to the rear lock screw, a very common place for this to occur. There is also some cracking inside the ramrod channel near the muzzle.
A lovely and very hard to find original brass flintlock coaching blunderbuss by a known British Gun Maker, with a fantastic spring loaded bayonet on top. Ready to research and display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1820
Caliber: Blunderbuss Swamped Barrel - 1.3" at Muzzle
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 14 inches
Overall Length: 29 ¾ inches
Action: Flintlock Top Action with Safety
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
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