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Originally Posted by Philip
... But you can still learn a lot from collecting these things, for instance if you notice elements that are analogous to pieces in collections that do have more or less reliable documentation...
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Yes; that happens once in a while. But no so often with these things; most times what you see are commercial sites, and what they announce is so obviously unreliable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip
...Are their other collectors in Portugal who specialize in these, with whom you are sharing info and insight?...
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No, i am alone in this corner of the world.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip
...That multi-barrel "trap" gun is intriguing, and rare to have survived in such condition. Too bad there aren't more images like a side view showing the length and profile of the barrels! And to show us how they were ignited....
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All i recall is that this was a small square French style announcement in an illustrated sales catalogue published in the web ... ages ago.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip
... To me, a trap device is something that is triggered by the thing you want to catch/shoot, so it must stand ready to go off after who-knows-how-long a waiting time...
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In the classic modern sense, yes; i had them being activated with me around while in the army. But you often see ancient multi barrel devices in museums and surely they had a way (or ways) to ignite them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip
...However, I can see this thing as being of use as a "volley gun" fired by a defender standing behind the gate as the enemy approaches.
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Rainer also mentioned tricks like them blasting under hard stuff, making it fly like projectiles under the enemy.