Gun Arrows
 

Klaus Leibnitz was kind enough to give me permission to post this paper on gun arrows.

Try this one

A precis: Arrows have been associated with early cannon. In fact the earliest pictorial representation of a cannon (fro the Milimet Manuscript) shows one loaded in/being projected from such a weapon.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lemete1326.jpg

There has been some discussion in print, in the Journal of the Ordnance Society, as to the original function of some large arrows found in an excavation in Germany. This paper discusses the question of whether such projectiles can be considered unequivically to be associated with cannon.

A good read by a notable scholar.

Is it a (momentary) problem with my PC, or the link doesn't open?
Fernando

I could not open it ether

My bad. Fixed now.

Dear Ed,
 

Looking at the Leibnitz article and the erratic nature of the arrow in flight, I would like to know if you are aware of studies that interpret the milimete cannon in context. The full illustration given in Elgoods FIREARMS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD shows the arrow being fired into a confined space and not out in the open. This would mean the missile could be far more effective at the least in causing confusion etc., and setting fire to any combustible material.

You might find interesting some of the arrow guns--of all sizes--from Korea.

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/bhwangja.mpg

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/heonja.mpg

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/jija.mpg

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/seungja.mpg

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/tongjeon.mpg

http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/singijeon.mpg