Flintlock Blunderbuss

Flintlock Blunderbuss, composed from a shortened Brown Bess, 16.75inch barrel with small flared muzzle, bevelled lock signed MORTIMER, full stocked with regulation brass mounts, steel ramrod. Proof marks and inspection stamps to the barrel, signed on the top LONDON.

It is likely that once it left service and entered private control, the modifications were made. These guns were popular with stage coach drivers and publicans.

The gun making empire of the Mortimer’s was founded by the sons of Samuel Mortimer of London. All three sons became gunmakers in their own right. Harvey Walkate Mortimer was born in 1753, and the second son, Thomas in 1755. They went into partnership and traded as H. W. Mortimer and T. Mortimer from 1800 to 1807 and then as Thomas Mortimer & Son from 1807 to 1824. The third son, Jackson Mortimer, born in 1762, was apprenticed to Thomas Allport, Gunmaker, in Birmingham. He was in partnership with his son-in-law, John Blanch, as Mortimer and Blanch from 1811 to 1812 and then as Jackson, Mortimer and Son. He was appointed Gunmaker Extraordinary to the Prince of Wales in 1871.

Between 1797 and 1799 Mortimer was contracted to make a series of Brown Bess muskets for the East India Company, this is possibly one of them.