Blunderbuss

The blunderbuss was the original coach gun, being a short, handy and devastating weapon at close range. It was used in many capacities, not the least of which were for naval boarding or defending by pirates and navies alike!

The flintlock blunderbuss was the original coach gun, being a short, handy and devastating weapon at close range. It was capable of firing up to 20 buckshot in front of 120 grains of black powder, according to Spencer Tucker in Almanac of American Military History, Volume 1. It was used in many capacities, not the least of which were for Naval boarding or defending vessels, stagecoach and messenger companies, home defense and more.