Description

A good British Military brass barrel flintlock Sea Service Blunderbuss by; "BLYTH" (Henry), circa. 1750-1760. 16.25" round brass blunderbuss barrel with a cannon muzzle and marked with London proofs and the barrel makers mark which looks like a heart over "H B" (Henry Blyth). The lock is marked "BLYTH". On the top of the barrel it is faintly marked T - Y 6657.
Henry Blyth was apprenticed to Robert Buckmaster in 1727, free of the London Gunmakers' Company in 1741, and elected Master in 1766. Active at various addresses near the Tower, he was Gunmaker to the Hon. East India Company between 1773 and 1776
Stock is solid with the usual age related marks (very few) acquired over years of service at sea. Brass regulation furniture including what looks to be a flat Brown Bess style side plate. A wonderful example in good working order.
shown in GUNMAKERS OF LONDON 1350-1850. by, Howard L. Blackmore. c. 1986, p.56. A very similar blunderbuss by Edge, was sold by Bonhams, 25 July 2007, lot 342 for £5,100 (private)