Two Multibarrel Organ Guns by Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1500

[Matchlock]

The short and swamped muzzle sections account for the exact dating.

Interestingly enough, Indian organ guns used to look very similar to the one on the right even in the 18th and 19th centuries, only their muzzle sections were longer being based on the German style of ca. 1520.

Best,
Michael

[fernando]

Hi Michl,
Old Leo sure knew what he was doing :cool: .
Herewith a replica in exhibition at the Lisbon Military Museum.

.

[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,

Perfect response! ;)

The barrels on this replica are either made in the style of India, 18th century, or even are old Indian barrels.

Best,
Michl

[Matchlock]

Here are different types of stocked multibarrel organ guns, drawn by Bartholomäus Freysleben, Inventarium Büchsen und Zeug (Guns and Accouterments), 1495-1500, Cod. icon. 222.

Illustrated below is a remarkable triple barrel haquebut without a lock mechanism; its barrels had to be ignited separately.
m

[Matchlock]

This one is built re-using older bronze haquebut barrels, ca. 1470.
Drawn by Philip Mönch in his Kriegsbuch (Book of War) in 1496, cod.pal.germ. 126.

Also note the iron reinforced limestone ball and the incendiary arrow.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

These are built from recycled 1540's short Landsknecht arquebuses barrels, assembled and mounted in the 2nd half of the 17th c. (Baroque period).

The top barrel with its heavily swamped and widely flared muzzle is even as early as ca. 1480!

For a perfectly preserved Landsknecht matchlock arquebus of ca. 1540, the barrel with identically incised vertical lines at the long muzzle section, in my collection,

please go

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7518&highlight=straubing

Best, Michael