{"product_id":"a-handsome-brass-barrelled-flintlock-blunderbuss-with-a-top-mounted-sprung-bayonet","title":"A Handsome Brass Barrelled Flintlock Blunderbuss With A Top Mounted Sprung Bayonet","description":"\u003ch3\u003eLate 18th\/Early 19th Century English Flintlock Blunderbuss Signed Hadley With A Brass Barrel And Sprung Bayonet\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very clean example of this iconic firearm of the Georgian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe brasswork is in good condition and has a polished finish with the round canon barrel having London Proof Marks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mainspring is good and the action is nice and crisp in both half and full position.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe spring is good and the spring locking lug is all intact and works as it should.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe horn tipped wooden ramrod is fitted with a steel worm unloading tool and this fits snugly in place through the two brass ramrod pipes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock is in excellent condition with no splits or cracks and very few bruises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf 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;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHenry Hadley of Church Street, St. Martins in 1771,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas Hadley of Birmingham 1753-1766 or his son who continued until 1814.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoses Hadley of 25 Ship Yard, Temple Bar in 1818.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThomas Hadley of Liverpool 1765-1783.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHenry 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a lovely clean example of this very recognisable type of gun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBarrel length 33.5cm, Overall length 7.5cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis 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\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Flintlock \u0026 Black Powder","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53177288163656,"sku":"424","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0808\/6962\/2088\/files\/424.12.jpg?v=1779788945","url":"https:\/\/flintlockblackpowder.co.uk\/products\/a-handsome-brass-barrelled-flintlock-blunderbuss-with-a-top-mounted-sprung-bayonet","provider":"Flintlock \u0026 Black Powder","version":"1.0","type":"link"}