Friday 23 July 2021

Blind Hugh : he’s part of the punt gun crew.

 Here are the punt gun crew, members of the Albion rural militia. Blind Hugh helps his friend , Albert, to carry the punt gun into position, whereupon Albert fires it. They have worked together for years.

 
A spare figure obviously meant to push a wheel barrow gave me the idea for the punt gun carriers. The punt  gun is a musket extended by means of part of a biro. Here is a photo below of a real punt gun- 



16 comments:

  1. James Shepherd23 July 2021 at 08:22

    Looks bigger than a Russian WW2 anti tank rifle!

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  2. A lovely piece of work. Well done.
    Ronnie

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  3. According to Eunan O'Halpin's book Defending Ireland, a Local Defence Force unit of the Irish Army in Co. Louth was equipped in 1941 with a number of flintlock weapons that had been gifted to them. Among these guns was a weapon described as being a "nine-foot [long] blunderbuss", which could be more commonly understood to be a punt gun. Wikipedia entry on Punt Guns

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    1. That is such an interesting piece of info Mark.

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  4. Impressive conversion and a lesson in history all at once. Never heard of a punt gun.

    Cheers, Ross

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    1. https://youtu.be/_cO2D4rjQ1o For an interesting video.

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  5. Amazing info and conversion Alan! That's a new one for sure, great job!

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  6. A neat little conversion. My grandfather used punt guns on the Norfolk Broads in the 30s.

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    1. Did he talk much about using them or still have them when you knew him?

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  7. You'll find punt guns among the Irish during the 1798 Rising. As I understand it, their normal peacetime use was largely against waterfowl, and might just conceivably--though surely not in Ireland!--shade into poaching or exceeding game limits.

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  8. Just to add to other comments, my grandfather used a punt gun in the 30s for ducks etc, on the Cromarty Firth, they walked for a good few miles to get the best spot for hunting, don't envy them carting that piece of artillery for any distance!

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    1. A heavy carry indeed l imagine but possibly lighter than say a Bren Gun?

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