Original British East India Company Iron Barrel Flintlock Blunderbuss by Barnett – dated 1805 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely turn of the 18th Century Iron Barreled Flintlock Blunderbuss, marked on the lock plate with the British East India Company “Heart” Logo, over a date of 1805. It is also marked on the lock plate tail by maker BARNETT. There is also an 1805 date carved into the right side of the butt stock.

Thomas Barnett started work in London in 1750 until 1800 when the firm became Barnett & Son. In 1835 the firm was named “John Barnett & Sons” and from 1875 until 1900 “Edward Barnett & Sons” An English gun making dynasty that enjoyed many government contracts as well as from the East India Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The blunderbuss measures 38 1/2 inches in overall length with a 20 inch swamped iron barrel, and has all iron fittings, which almost certainly indicates it was for use on land. Naval blunderbusses would usually be fitted with brass barrels and other items to better withstand the corrosive ocean environment. These were very popular as self-defense items, though this large example we surmise would have been used in colonial service as a way of taking on a large number of people at the same time.

The lock of the gun is definitely a modern example, with a bridled powder pan frizzen support, and it is quite substantially built, with a British proof mark under the pan. It is fully functional, holding at half-cock and firing at full, though it definitely is a bit stiff, and takes a good amount of force to cock it. We checked the barrel, and there are unfortunately no proof marks that we can see, and it looks somewhat worn, so if it was marked, they were probably removed.

Condition overall is very good, showing a lovely glow on the wood and a nice oxidized patina on the barrel and mountings. The stock has a beautiful color and is solid, with no major damage that we can see, just the usual wear from age and use in service. There is a bit of wood missing on the left side of the muzzle, which is a common place for chunks to crack off. The stock is fitted with a front and rear sling swivel, and there is actually a ramrod, though we question whether it would be of much use on a blunderbuss.

A lovely and hard to find original British EIC flintlock blunderbuss by Barnett. Ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1805
Caliber: Blunderbuss Swamped Barrel
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Overall Length: 38 12 inches
Action: Flintlock Side Action
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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