Late 18th/Early 19th Century English Flintlock Blunderbuss Signed Hadley With A Brass Barrel And Sprung Bayonet
A very clean example of this iconic firearm of the Georgian period.
Very popular during the 18th and early 19th Century and considered at the time to be the ultimate weapon for self protection (especially when fitted with a sprung mounted bayonet).
The brasswork is in good condition and has a polished finish with the round canon barrel having London Proof Marks.
The lock is clean with a salt and pepper patina. It is signed Hadley and is relatively undecorated except for a nice toothed border and a floral motif at the tail (something that is carried through on the trigger guard and sideplate).
The mainspring is good and the action is nice and crisp in both half and full position.
The bayonet has a darker patina that the rest of the steelwork and the light peppering visible on the lock is a little more evident on this blade.
The spring is good and the spring locking lug is all intact and works as it should.
The horn tipped wooden ramrod is fitted with a steel worm unloading tool and this fits snugly in place through the two brass ramrod pipes.
The stock is in excellent condition with no splits or cracks and very few bruises.
Of Hadley, I can tell you little, it appears to have been a common surname amongst Gunmakers and although there are many that sit outside of the time period for this piece, there are still many to whom this firearm could have been attributed to, such as;
Henry Hadley of Church Street, St. Martins in 1771,
Thomas Hadley of Birmingham 1753-1766 or his son who continued until 1814.
Moses Hadley of 25 Ship Yard, Temple Bar in 1818.
Thomas Hadley of Liverpool 1765-1783.
Henry or Moses (being London makers) seems to be the most likely candidates to me as the barrel carries London Proof Marks......although that is far from definitive proof.
Overall a lovely clean example of this very recognisable type of gun.
Barrel length 33.5cm, Overall length 7.5cm.
This antique pistol is considered obsolete and non functioning, and is sold as a collectable and ornamental item. This product is available for purchase in the UK without a license
