Registration Act 1843. Blunderbusses.

Blunderbuss

Survey

The Irish Registration Act of 1843

  Schedule B.,6&7 Vic.,Cap.74,Sec 3.

                                   Licence to Keep Arms.

The following entries have been collected over a number years by myself, fellow collectors and dealers. In total over 1100 registrations from the 40 areas have been collated which is a very small sample of the 300.000 weapons the authorities had calculated were in circulation in private hands

at this time.

The information below are all those blunderbusses found registered under the above act
between 1843-1846.

NB: The following conclusions have been based on the information kindly forwarded.

In certain cases it has not been possible to clarify all data. However, we believe the data gives a very  good overview of the balance between Irish & English made pieces and also the dominance of flintlock and brass over the other variants.

 Irish  Blunderbusses.

 Flintlock Brass Barrelled                 87                  

 Percussion Brass Barrelled                2*

 Brass Barrelled Conversion.              9               * These items could be conversions?

 Flintlock Steel Barrelled                  13

 Percussion Steel Barrelled                 1*

 Steel Barrelled Conversion.               1

                           
                              Sub Total           113

English Blunderbusses.

 Flintlock Brass Barrelled                   34

 Percussion Brass Barrelled                 1*

 Brass Barrelled Conversion.               0

 Flintlock Steel Barrelled                     0             

 Percussion Steel Barrelled                  0 *

 Steel Barrelled Conversion.                1
                                                 
                              Sub Total              36

Unknown Details/Blunderbuss           26

Totals                                                175.


From this data we can see the prevalence of Irish manufactured pieces.
Of the total 1100 weapons found registered, blunderbusses make up just under
 16% of the total. (15.7%).

Of these known items approx 76% are of Irish make. 24% being English.
If we average the unknown items the weighted figures represent 64.5% (Irish) and 20.5%
(English) and 15% (Unknown).

This survey should be read in conjunction with our blog of 8/1/2016 covering the number of duelling pistols and the above Act.

Most Prolific Gunmakers: Blunderbusses.

Irish Gunmakers.                                                        English Gunmakers.

William Edwards.    6                                                       Ketland/ K & Co.    13
Thomas Fowler.       7                                                       Archer                      2
Trulock. (All)         10                                                       P. Bond                    2
Rigby                        5                                                       Waters.                    2

Additional reading related to the act:
Blogs.
7/2/2016
1/2/2016
26/1/2016
20/1/2016
14/1/2016
8/1/2016
2/1/2016 27/12/2015
21/12/2015
15/12/2015
28/11/2015
18/11/2015
21/10/2015
 10/9/2015

                     We are always pleased to receive details related to registered blunderbusses.

                                                  Dave Stroud.ramrodantiques.co.uk