Whaler's Shoulder or Darting Gun
date: label: date made
content: 1880s
label: guns replaced hand tools
content: late 19th century
label: displayed at the International Fisheries Exhibition
content: 1883
name: label: maker
content: Pierce, Eben
notes: label: Description
content: By the later 19th century, guns had replaced most hand harpoons and lances, since they were far more efficient and deadly to the prey. They also could be shot from a safer distance from the prey than the hand tools could be wielded. The darting gun was one of the more popular types. Loaded with different darts, this versatile weapon could be used both for harpooning and killing whales.
label: Description
content: This particular gun was displayed at the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London, England. After the display ended, it was donated to the Smithsonian by its inventor, Capt. Eben Pierce of New Bedford, Mass.
place: label: Place Made
content: United States: Massachusetts, New Bedford
label: location of International Fisheries Exhibition
content: United Kingdom: England, London
topic: label: related event
content: The Development of the Industrial United States
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: Natural Resources
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content: Transportation
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content: On the Water exhibit
label: Exhibition
content: On the Water
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: National Museum of American History. On the Water exhibition website
label: Related Web Publication
content: http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthewater
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: F. Gilbert Hinsdale
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TR.316550
label: catalog number
content: 316550
label: accession number
content: 66767
objectType: label: Object Name
content: gun, harpoon
label: Other Terms
content: gun, harpoon; Maritime
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: copper alloy (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: ferrous metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 7 in x 37 1/2 in x 2 1/4 in; 17.78 cm x 95.25 cm x 5.715 cm