BLUNDERBUSS
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Blunderbuss refers to a type of firearm, not a specific maker or model. It is a short-barrel shoulder arm, usually flintlock, with a large-diameter bore and distinctive flared muzzle. Most barrels were 14 to 24 inches, with a bore diameter of usually 16 to 10 gauge, flaring to around 2 to 3 inches at the muzzle. Barrel may be brass or steel; muzzle flare may be "duckbill" oval rather than round. They were loaded with shot or round balls and used for close-range defense, potentially against multiple assailants, with main applications being naval anti-boarding weapons and coach guns. The flared muzzle was not necessarily to spread the shot pattern, but rather to serve as a loading funnel, especially on a moving platform such as a ship's deck or a rolling coach. They were more common in Europe, especially England, than America. They are often lack a maker's name on the barrel, although the lock may have a lockmaker's name. Most are flintlock, although earlier types such as snaphaunce or miquelet were also made in blunderbuss configuration and some made later for percussion ignition. Blunderbuss pistols and wall-mounted swivel guns were also produced. Flared muzzle guns were also made in the Mideast and Asia, and they usually bring substanially less than European and American examples, and may be low-value non-functional recent production examples made for the tourist trade. Values shown are generalizations for flintlock European or American shoulder-fired blunderbusses. Premium for naval-issue arms or spring-opening bayonets or prominent known maker. Swivel guns may bring similar values, pistols a bit less, boxlock pistols substantially less. Percussion specimens or Turkish/Ottoman antique flintlocks may bring about half.
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