This is a very good example of a blunderbuss that was manufactured by Henry Nock who operated in Birmingham and London from 1760-1810. Nock was a famous gunsmith who manufactured an array of specialized guns including blunderbusses, volley guns, pepperbox pistols, and rotating barrelled weapons. Many of his weapons including this blunderbuss were designed for naval use. The combination of powerful short range shot and spring bayonet would have been ideal for defending against or participating in naval boarding and the brass components would have held up against the corrosive salt water better than iron or steel. This excellent example likely dates to the 1770s or 1780s and features a folding, spring released bayonet with 9 inch blade that locks onto the front of the barrel for use and is held in place when folded by a breech mounted catch. The hinge for the bayonet is marked "96". It has a flared brass barrel marked "H NOCK/LONDON" on the left barrel flat with some engraving about 4 1/2 inches from the breech. The bright iron lockplate is unmarked. The frizzen is marked "96". The brass buttplate, sideplate, triggerguard, shield wrist inlay, and ramrod tubes have some simple engraving. Fitted with a straight wrist stock.

Very good. The blunderbuss has an attractive smooth aged patina on the brass barrel and other components with a brown patina forming on the bright finished lockplate and cock. The bayonet has an aged silver finish with a functional spring and latch. The re-varnished stock is very good and retains an attractive golden brown finish with some minor scuffs, dings, scratches, and marks and some minor chips or edge wear around the lockplate. The action fuctions fine.