Handgonne or not ?
 

Hi !

on top of being a collector i do quite a lot of metal detecting in the south of France.

A few days ago i found what i think to be a "handgonne". I found it not far from a ruined tower and a small spanish church in the vicinity of Perpignan in the south of France. The spot is a strategic hilltop in a region where the kingdom of France and the Kingdom of spain fought over centuries.

When i cleaned it, it was packed with remains of black powder. But i can not find a "touch hole".

I read somewhere that some kind of early handgonne had no touch hole and were ignited by the front end of the barrel .

thanks for sharing your knowledge

Welcome to the forum, Via Dixiane :).
I have re-uploaded your images using the forum attachment features and moved your thread to the European section, where members should come around to comment on your curious item.

Certainly too small for a handgonne, but not too small to be a signal mortar.

Does the bottom have any kind of socket, or what remains of such?

Can’t edit my prior post... it takes a while to show up.

Be patient Guy. This is why you are not yet a regular member. Due to forum safety (spam) protocol, beginners posts wait in moderating status, before being validated.

Via, i confess it is new to me that early gonnes might not have a touch hole.
Still this is a mysterious piece. Can you take a picture of it, but not inclined, you know, featuring its actual front look? and give us its measurements (height, width and bore) ?

To me, it looks like a breech from an early breech-loader, but why no touchhole I cannot say, unless it is filled with rust and hidden....

Best regards,
Richard.

A rather reasonable guess, Richard.
But then, a couple things to figure out ...
- Lack of a handle; could it have fallen with time ?
- Its conical format; aren't loading chambers more cylindrical, only tapering in their very end to couple (seal) with the barrel ?
Judging by its outer condition, it sure looks rather early. The bore opening looks perfect, though.
Let us see if a straight front picture and its dimensions enlighten us a bit further.

Hi everyone and thanks a lot for your interest.

No socket
240 gr
50 mm length
33 mm diameter
15 mm caliber

Should mention that the spot is also a 1793 battle field

Amazing; i have seen quite a number of these things, also have a few in my little collection but, this one seems to be atypical, so to say. So small in size and with so small bore for a signal or celebration 'banger'.
Honestly, i wouldn't know what to make of it ... but hopefully other members will.
By the way Via, isn't that a touch hole ? It certainly looks like one :o.

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