Early 19th Century Steel Barrelled Flintlock Knee Blunderbuss With A British Lock Signed Barnett

It is very difficult (well, I believe so) to tell for sure the region of origin for this knee Blunderbuss, so I have played it safe by covering both possibilities. I am leaning towards Indian, as although it is missing, there are pipes fitted to hold a ramrod which is a style not favoured by much of the Ottoman Empire.

It has a beautifully patinated octagonal to round bell mouth steel barrel with a gold (yellow metal) inlaid pattern.

The sideplate, trigger guard, buttcap and ramrod pipes are all brass and there is a steel saddle ring pierced through the sideplate.

The lock is large and unusual, in that it is British and signed Barnett London and I believe this to be a trade lock and not a copy.

The mainspring is good and the action is fine at half position, but sometimes fails to hold at full position.  There is also some lateral play in the cock so its likely that something is not as it should be with the mechanism internally.

The stock is overall in good condition with only a couple of chips, cracks or splits.   The ones I can see are just behind the sideplate, by the buttplate on the right hand side and a repaired crack on the same side just above the frizen spring.

It looks as though there was a barrel band at one point at the muzzle which is missing, as is the ramrod.

With its cross hatched pattern to the stock, graceful shape and good patina, this is a fine looking piece.

Barrel length 25cm, Overall length 47.5cm.

This antique pistol is considered obsolete and non functioning, and is sold as a collectable ornamental item. This product is available for purchase in the UK without a license