Blunderbuss

This flintlock blunderbuss was made by the famous London gunmaker Henry Nock. He became a Freeman of the Gunmakers' Company by redemption, in other words by purchase, in 1784. He later became Gunsmith-in-Ordinary to George III in 1789 and Master of the Gunmakers' Company in 1802.

Nock also supplied guns to the Board of Ordnance and the East India Company. Like many military contractors he supplied the Ordnance system at the Tower of London from his factories in Whitechapel. This blunderbuss features a spring-bayonet which is fired by releasing a catch. Bayonets were useful in combat in the advent of a misfire. The black powder that ignited the charge in the barrel could become damp in bad weather. The blunderbuss is also fitted with a brass barrel to prevent it rusting in the rain.