A Very Rare And Heavy Barrel, ca. 1470-80, From a Mulitbarrel Cannon

[Matchlock]

Almost certainly of Nuremberg make, wrought iron, octagonal, of tapering form with slightly swamped muzzle, deep and large touch hole with rudimentary pan moulding, gunsmith's marks: three circles in line and a series of illegible symbols (a date?), surmounted by a cross.

Originally most certainly not individually stocked but part of a mutlibarrel cannon arrangement.

Overall length: 36.8 cm, cal. 29.5 cm, width at the rear 9.4 cm, width at muzzle 6.3 cm, weight ca. 7 kg.

Rumor has it that my friend Fernando will quite soon be able to present a very similar item ... ;)

Michael

[Matchlock]

Please also cf. my thread '15th century short wrought iron barrels - why there are so many around':

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7927

M.

[fernando]

Hi Michael

... Rumor has it that my friend Fernando will quite soon be able to present a very similar item ... ;) ...
I wish it were similar ... i mean, gunsmith's marks and all; most certainly not :shrug: .
Anyway, there is still a tough way for the rumor to become reality; so, let me not throw the fire crackers before the party time; in other words, let me not count with the egg still inside the hen's 'rear part'; in yet other words, only after the tide we should count the octopuses ;) :D :eek: .

Best
Fernando

[Matchlock]

More sources of illustration depicting mulitbarrel devices.

Michael

[fernando]

Hi Michael,
There should be some kind of dope, to administer to early barrels; to put them spitting out whether they acted as single or multi weapons :eek: .
Fernando

[Matchlock]

Brilliant idea, Fernando,

These items are kinda addictive anyway ... :rolleyes:

Michael

[fernando]

...These items are kinda addictive anyway ... :rolleyes: ...

Who you are telling that to :shrug: :mad: :( :eek: .

Fernando

[Matchlock]

Exactly, my dear co-addict. :D :cool:

Michael

[Matchlock]

A closely related specimen at the Musée de l'Armée, Paris, dated to around 1380 by the museum people which is almost 100 years too early in my opinion.

The general shape, the swamping of both the rear end and the muzzle, as well as the proportions and the moulded touch hole are very similar.

Michael