William Brander was made free of the Gunmakers Company in 1748 with his proof piece and maker's mark being presented in 1752. He went on to serve as Master of the Gunmakers Company in 1767, 1772 and 1779. He operated from differing addresses in The Minories in the City of London throughout his career and was made a contractor to the East India Company in 1773. Dating to circa 1770, this blunderbuss has a long slender four stage brass barrel with turned slightly belled muzzle and short octagonal breech section engraved with a spray of flowering foliage, signed “BRANDER - MINORIES - LONDON” and struck with the maker’s mark “*WB” and London view and proof marks. Foliate engraved iron barrel tang and flat bevelled lock signed “BRANDER” and with stepped tail. The walnut three quarter length stock with swelled forearm and raised apron around the barrel tang is fitted with brass mounts including solid side plate and butt plate each engraved with foliage, trigger guard with acorn finial, and large oval thumb escutcheon with an urn beneath and a rococo shell above. A later horn tipped wooden ramrod is housed beneath the forearm. The bore is estimated above and flares to about 7/8 inch at the muzzle.

Fine. The attractively aged brass barrel has well defined turned girdles between each stage and the signature and breech engraving remains clear. The iron barrel tang and lock have a dark discolored patina with some wear to the engraved decoration, especially noticeable on the barrel tang. The otherwise fine stock has two small hairline cracks visible on the tip of the forearm and some minor storage and handling blemishes throughout. Mechanically excellent.