Treasures from Our West: Blunderbuss

Originally featured in Points West magazine in Winter 2012

Flintlock blunderbuss, ca. 1690

“Blunderbuss” comes from the Germanic words “donner” (thunder) and “bücshe” (gun) and is recognized by its flared muzzle.

There are two myths about the blunderbuss. First, thanks to popular media at the turn of the twentieth century, this gun was supposedly the firearm of choice for the Pilgrims. The truth is: The blunderbuss was seldom used in America in the seventeenth century.

Secondly, many thought the flared muzzle was an innovation to more widely disperse ammunition. However, the funnel-like barrel was simply easier to load—especially from a bouncing horse, a rocking mail coach, or a ship’s rolling deck.

This particular gun has a feature not usually seen on other European blunderbusses: a folding stock.

Flintlock blunderbuss, Lazarino Cominazzo, Italy, ca. 1675. Gift of Olin Corporation, Winchester Arms Collection. 1988.8.225

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