A very unusual italian handgonne (schiopetto)

Matchlock · 15th June 2011, 07:41 PM

Hi Alexander,

You really are Alexander the Great!

This is the find of the century!

As posting pictures is basically preferred to just posting links, I am trying to give the full information.
the
This unique North Italian tiller gun seems to be the world's earliest known dated firearm by far, and a true sensation! The zoomorphic form of the barrel, with an elongated head and stylized ears and eyes, and a muzzle swamped to resemble a mouth wide open, clearly reflects the Italian style. The lateral zigzag decorative pattern symbolizing two rows of monster's teeth seems to show up here for the very first time but is similarly known from Italian barrels as late as the mid 16th c.!

The fact that the date 1417 is struck in Roman and not Arabic numerals:

mccccxvii

pleads for the genuineness of the piece. Also the shape of the cross is clearly medieval, and known from many sword blades, e.g.

It is preserved and seems to be on permanent exhibition in the Museo Storico delle Caccia e del Territorio (Museum of Hunting and Territory) in Florence (Firenze).

Thanks again,
and best,
Michael

15th June 2011, 07:41 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Alexander, You really are Alexander the Great! This is the find of the century! As posting pictures is basically preferred to just posting links, I am trying to give the full information. the This unique North Italian tiller gun seems to be the world's earliest known dated firearm by far, and a true sensation! The zoomorphic form of the barrel, with an elongated head and stylized ears and eyes, and a muzzle swamped to resemble a mouth wide open, clearly reflects the Italian style. The lateral zigzag decorative pattern symbolizing two rows of monster's teeth seems to show up here for the very first time but is similarly known from Italian barrels as late as the mid 16th c.! The fact that the date 1417 is struck in Roman and not Arabic numerals: *mccccxvii* pleads for the genuineness of the piece. Also the shape of the cross is clearly medieval, and known from many sword blades, e.g. It is preserved and seems to be on permanent exhibition in the Museo Storico delle Caccia e del Territorio (Museum of Hunting and Territory) in Florence (Firenze). Thanks again, and best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 16th June 2011 at 06:29 PM.