Wadding in 14th to 17th Century Loading

[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,

Not to my knowledge. It's extremely rare to find such old things still loaded but the fact alone that these breeches are notably narrowed denotes that the ball must have been loaded separately.

In the late 15th to 17th centuries when small iron cartridges were used with breech loading long arms and hand firearms, they might have also contained the ball. All this is mere speculation though; I do not know of one single small iron cartridge that would still hold its load.

That should prove to all of us how little we actually know of these weapons.


Best,
Miguel

[Spiridonov]

History of Alexander about. 1459

[fernando]

This is what partly influenced my doubts.
I see that probably D. Pope was giving wings to his imagination

.

[Spiridonov]

written sources of the 15 th century (artillery manuscript) says that chamber was charged without the ball. I can find original text if you want

[fernando]

No need Alexander; it is enough if you say so.
Also Michael has the same conviction.
This drawing was only to justify my query.

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Spiridonov

written sources of the 15 th century (artillery manuscript) says that chamber was charged without the ball. I can find original text if you want

Hi Alexander,

I would be very grateful if you could find and publish the original text and give the bibliographical source (codex ...).

Thank you so much in advance!

Best,
Mikhail

[Matchlock]

We may assume that the small pleated leather pouch which is found nailed to some types of 16th c. military powder flasks, ranging from ca. 1530/40 to ca. 1570, was also meant to keep wadding and little cleaning tools like scourers etc. that could be screwed to the threaded finial of the ramrod.

The general and ready-at-hand term 'ball pouch' proves fallacious and hasty on close examination; most of these pouches are actually so delicate that they were not even apt to hold several heavy leaden balls even then when they were fresh and new.

The same is true for some pouches on arquebusier's and musketeer's side bags (generalizingly but hastily called 'purses') and bandeliers that are divided into various sections.

I attached photos of three 16th c. powder flasks with additional leather pouches from my collection, plus two early to mid-16th c. Swiss arquebusier's bandeliers, their powder flasks decorated with the city arms of Basel, the episcopal staff; please note their spacious leather pouches that could hold various kinds of accouterment.
Attached at the bottom: two scourers for cleaning the barrel, ca. 1560-1600; length ca. 7 cm each.


Please see my threads
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18294
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16149
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15724


Best,
Michael