English Blunderbuss Musket with Brass Barrel

The blunderbuss musket is a muzzleloading firearm with a short, flared and trumpetlike brass barrel. It is an early form of shotgun or muzzleloader. Most of these guns are mediumsized, being smaller than most shoulderfired arms, but also larger than a pistol. Although the blunderbuss muskets are fitted with a butt, the dimensions suggest that most were actually not intended to be fired from the shoulder and were instead fired from the hip. The blunderbuss, and especially the shorter dragon, was typically issued to troops such as cavalry, or seamen and pirates, who needed a lightweight, easily handled firearm. More information...