Throughout history, royalty often gifted firearms to nobles as symbols of peace. A notable example is a blunderbuss given to King Louis XV by Catherine the Great, displayed at the Cody Firearms Museum. Known as the "grandfather of shotguns," the blunderbuss features a flared barrel for easier loading. While the exact occasion for this gift is unclear, it is thought to be related to a treaty between France and Russia. The firearm is beautifully engraved with a French seal and a portrait of Louis

Loading Blunderbuss in the Field.