i'd heard there is one in the bleak meadow. Can anyone verify? or tell me where else i might find one early on, so i can blow the heads off my foes before they even know i'm there. I need that, you know.

When you get access to your stronghold you can purchase the Craft Hall upgrade and buy it from there for 4500 gold.

anything sooner?

sorry to bump this, (won't do it again) but is there a blunderbuss before Defiance Bay?

I don't know is it before or after. But there are 2 near Dyrford Village where you do quest with that Cult.

I think its possible to find one as a random loot. But i can't remember encountering any before the stronghold.

I guess its possible that one of the backer npc's have one also, but i have not been searching for one.