Description (Labels & Markings)
Label adhered to barrel mount: 'Blunderbuss formerly carried on carriage journeys from Totnes to London by Archdeacon Froude in early 19th cent.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Annual Report: 'A flint-lock blunderbuss: the heavy barrel of bell-metal with slightly expanding muzzle, shows the maker's mark.'
Event Date 1908
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Other owners)
The Accession Register identifies the Baroness Anatole von Hügel as née Froude, but his wife was Elizabeth Farquharson. It seems likely that 'neé' was used in this instance to indicate the previous owner
Event Date 31/8/2018
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Production / use)
Accession Register note: 'Carried on carriage journeys from Totnes to London in the early years of the 19th century by a former Archdeacon of Totnes, the Rev. Robert Hurrell Froude of Darlington Parsonage. The existing stock was added by him during the disturbed period of [left blank] so as to make it more serviceable for the use of the household.'
Event Date 31/8/2018
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (Physical description)
Flintlock rail gun for ships with belled mouth and brass furniture. Maker's marks stamped on the brass barrel, reading 'Crown GP', which is London Co. Gunmmaker 's proof. A marking 'V'-"View". Flared and canon-moulded muzzle with circular cross-section and proof marks at breach; iron or steel lock plate with swan-necked cock and oval frizzen; brass panel opposite the lock is decorated with bird and floral motif; brass trigger and trigger guard with a moulded acorn and engraved motifs; brass ramrod mount below barrel. Ramrod and flint not present; trigger mechanism disabled.
Event Date 15/1/2024
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Analysis)
Proof marks include 'CG' below a fleur de lis symbol and a 'V' below a crown.
Event Date 15/1/2024
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Other owners)
Robert Hurrell Froude (1771–1859) was Archdeacon of Totnes in Devon from 1820 to 1859
Event Date 15/1/2024
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Analysis)
Flintlock rail gun for ships with belled mouth and brass furniture. Maker's marks stamped on the brass barrel, reading 'Crown GP', which is London Co. Gunmmaker 's proof. A marking 'V'-"View". Manufactured during the 1730s, as the cock is a thin-swan neck and the gap between the pan and steel has no re-enforcing bar, which came in 1830). Finials on the trigger guard is characteristic of the period. The firearm was repurposed.

This is a rail gun as the type is big and chunky. Rather than a blunderbuss, which is narrower and shorter. The brass side rail is solid as expected in early 18th C (unlike another MAA collection, 1927.1677, which has a swirl side rail).

Maker's marks idendified (MMF): Fleur-de-lis over the marking 'CG'.

Overall L: 43 in (1094mm).
Barrel L: 27 ¼ in (692mm).
Calibre: Muzzle Diameter 1 ¾ in (44mm) (no bore measurement as too big).
Event Date 20/2/2024
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu