New .54 Blunderbuss Percussion Kit!

[arcticap]

I've seen this .54 blunderbuss percussion model before but only factory finished.
It's been made by Ardesa for a long time but rarely imported until now, and especially not in kit form.
Ardesa has been making it in .54 and 20 gauge percussion and usually it costs over $500 in factory completed form.
These are the only factory percussion blunderbuss models that I've ever seen.
And it's a real pleasure to see one now being offered as an affordable kit.
But it's probably only a limited time offering through this Sportsman's Guide exclusive and once they're gone, they're gone.

Be sure to pan over the 2 photos with your mouse pointer to see the details really close up.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/18th-century-54-cal-blunderbuss-kit.aspx?a=918441

 

[junkman_01]

Looks like crap to me. It is NOT historically correct. Here is what they say in the ad...
Legendary 18th Century .54 cal. Blunderbuss Kit is a true replica, authentic down to its last detail.


18th century? The percussion cap came into universal use on private arms about 1826 (that's the 19th century). The stock design is modern and the barrel is a two piece affair with the flared muzzle soldered on!

 

[BHP FAN]

I'd love to have one, but for some reason, Sportsman's Guide won't sell perfectly legal black powder guns to Californians...the belled muzzle never really comes in contact with the shot charge anyway, think of it as more of a built on loading funnel...

 

[Foto Joe]

think of it as more of a built on loading funnel...

Yeah, that's the ticket!!! I'm amazed that nobody has patented that "Loading Funnel" idea before.

Okay, it's not historically correct but junkman ya gotta admit, it would be fun to shoot!!

 

[junkman_01]

You're right Joe, it would be fun to shoot (but anything that shoots is fun!).

 

[AlexanderA]

It's an overpriced, pathetic anachronism. A "fantasy object" at best.

How are you going to load it with no ramrod?

 

[arcticap]

The stock design is modern and the barrel is a two piece affair with the flared muzzle soldered on!

I'm not sure that the flared muzzle is soldered on.
Do you know that it is soldered on for sure?
Have you seen Ardesa's other factory finshed blunderbuss models to know?
There does appear to be two thin lines on the barrel, one further back from the other by several inches.
Could those thin rings result from the external barrel having been machined?

 

[Honest John]

$330? Never happen. I might let them give it to me if I were in a good mood.

 

[Pete D.]

Well....sorry to say, if the historically correct part is important to you, it ain't.
A good reference about the history of the Blunderbuss is James Forman's "The Blunderbuss: 1500-1900."
In that profusely illustrated work, there is a single picture of a percussion fired BB...and it does not look anything like the Ardesa version. In fact the .54 cal (28 gauge) barrel is more appropriate to a BB style pistol than a shoulder fired weapon. The vast majority of BBs were 20 gauge or larger and flintlocks/doglocks.
As far as soldering is concerned, I don't see how one could make that judgement based on the picture from SG.
SG has been known to get the hype wrong before.
Here's a picture of two BBs which are historically correct.
http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MSBB.shtml


They are, in fact, great fun to shoot. The barrel on mine is only 14 inches long. When it is fired, all the excitement is right there in front of your nose.
Easy enough to make a ramrod, btw.

Pete

 

[alsask]

If it was 12 gauge or 10 gauge, with a flintlock, I would order one.

 

[col.lemat]

oh my !!

you guys made my day. I looked at the picture in the first post. I needede a goood chuckle. Thanks

 

[AJumbo]

OK, it's awful (the join line between the barrel and the bell is clearly visible in the pic), but it's an awful BLUNDERBUSS, fer Pete's sake. I don't think it would be all that tough to convert it to flint if you just can't choke down the percussion aspect of it. I won't be buying one, but it's hard to say I wouldn't if I had that kind of money laying around.

 

[alsask]

Sitting Fox muzzleloaders has some nice blunder buss kits on his web site but they are a lot more money. Actual antique blunder buss guns are very expensive.

 

[YumaKid]

Good Lord, the prices! I don't know which Italian shop actually produces the "Traditions" line; but I'd buy a Pietta, Uberti or Pedersoli from Cabela's (at 3/4 or less of the price) before "The Liquidator". Used to think tht SpG had pretty good prices... thank the Good Lord for the Internet to bring 'truth in advertising' to our living rooms.

 

[BHP FAN]

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/PBB.shtml

 

[ThorinNNY]

OOPS.