Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - help for medieval handgonne hand gun identification

fernando · 22nd October 2012, 06:46 PM

Hi Alain,
A pity Matchlock will be absent for a while.
Your piece is very interesting; its dimendions are similar to my example posted HERE
While mine was considered a hand cannon and not a signal mortar, having to do with particular details for which Matchlock (for one) is a better judge,
i wouldn't advance on what yours is. The caliber and barrel thickness would suggest a cannon but the basis and touch hole with that slight lip (a repair?) suggest a (standing up) mortar.
I would agree is an old and very nice piece in any case. Naturaly cannons (handgonnes) are more rare, being much earlier than mortars; also the value depends on that.
I hope this helps and that i am not talking nonsense.

22nd October 2012, 06:46 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Alain, A pity Matchlock will be absent for a while. Your piece is very interesting; its dimendions are similar to my example posted HERE While mine was considered a hand cannon and not a signal mortar, having to do with particular details for which Matchlock (for one) is a better judge, i wouldn't advance on what yours is. The caliber and barrel thickness would suggest a cannon but the basis and touch hole with that slight lip (a repair?) suggest a (standing up) mortar. I would agree is an old and very nice piece in any case. Naturaly cannons (handgonnes) are more rare, being much earlier than mortars; also the value depends on that. I hope this helps and that i am not talking nonsense.