Photos from museum of artillery

[Spiridonov]

I have made many photos in an artillery museum in St.-Petersburg. I will gradually apload them at forum. To begin with one of my my favourite gun made in 7050 year:

[Spiridonov]

bronze
calibre 122 mm
length 950 mm
mass 110.5 kg
Inscription on a barrel "ИОАНЬ БОЖИЕЮ МИЛОСТИЮ ГОСУДАРЬ ВСЕЯ РОУСИ ВЛЕТО 7050 ДЕЛАЛ ИГНАТЕЙ" (Ivan the divine favour the tsar of all Russia. At summer 7050 maked by Ignati)

7050 year is 1542 at new style

[Spiridonov]

late 14 or early 15

[Spiridonov]

else

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

Thank you for uploading and sharing these!

I like especially the short handgonne barrel (Steinbüchse, firing stone balls); the date is, as you wrote, ca. 1400.

Did you happen to photograph at the Hermitage as well?

Greetings,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Did you happen to photograph at the Hermitage as well?

yes i do.

russian manual wall guns (затинные пищали - zatinni pishals)
earli-mid 16 century

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

These are the first good quality images that I have seen of these early Russian guns.

The barrels are even older, late 15th century, and were restocked with 'modern' snap tinder lock mechanisms.

Thank you so much!

Michael

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

Do you happen to have good photos of these guns at the Hermitage Museum?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7637

Regards,
Michael

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much for posting these Spiridonov! These photos of these weapons are fantastic and I cannot say how much it means to have the holdings of these museums shared here.
Michael has for some time presided over fantastic contributions with many photos of his amazing collection and many important items of pertinant artwork, and to have you adding these key Russian museums, the scope of the forum has reached yet another dimension.

These wonderful posts, along with the many fantastic contributions of the many other members here sharing their collections and acquisitions present the great opportunities for us all to learn, as always, together.

All the very best,
Jim

[Matchlock]

Hi Spriridonov,

I think Jim put it best for all of us!

For my reply to your query about earliest snap tinder locks please see here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10278

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Spiridonov,

Do you happen to have good photos of these guns at the Hermitage Museum?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7637

Regards,
Michael

Sorry, i have no photo of this barrel. This arquebuse in a museum store room

[Spiridonov]

very-very small russian barrels from museum of artyllery:
2: end of 14-begin of 15. calibre 12.5 mm. total length 190 mm. weight 0.6 kg
3: from 1475 to 1500. calibre 12.5 mm. total length 215 mm. weight 0.5 kg

[Spiridonov]

Russian button-locks (snapping matchlocks)

[Matchlock]

I appreciate those images very much, Spiridonov, thank you!

I should date all these items to ca. 1530.

Actually all these snap mechanisms were meant for a small piece of tinder (a sort of fungus growing on trees), not match. You can tell by the tiny jaws of their serpentines that they could never have received a piece of match which used to be as thick as a finger. The thick matchcord - often shown wound around the arm - was then only used to light the pieces of tinder each of which was used for only one single shot.

Do you have more of these? We are eager to see them!

Regards,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Do you have more of these? We are eager to see them!

I will make photo else What is your main interes? there are breech-loading artillery of 15 centure in museum. breech-loading arquebuse. Museum of artillery have a very big collection

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,


I have dedicated most of my life, some 30 years, to the intense study of earliest European hand firearms and related accouterments. As you too are deeply interested in this topic you might like to read some of my previous posts:


http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/search.php?searchid=12058


I am certain that you will find many interesting items and historical sources if you take your time.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

It is a tragegy for me!!! I can't read this post. I see only :"Sorry - no matches. Please try some different terms." I can not read arcive

[Spiridonov]

Europian guns

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

No tragedy at all, perhaps the fault was on my side.

Please try this:


http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/search.php?searchid=12168



Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Slice of barrel

[Spiridonov]

Inscription on the barrel:
"On command of good and religous of Grand duke Ivan Vasilevicha of a sovereign Russia maked there was this pishal in 7000 year on September, 30th. Maked by Yakov"
Length 1370 mm
weight 76 kg
7000 russian year is the 1491 of european year

[Matchlock]

Very beautiful cast copper alloy cannon barrel, Spiridonov - thank you so much for sharing!

And, might I add, a very topic form of its period as well!

Best,
Michael

[fernando]

Hi Spiridonov,
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.
which is the same as saying:
большие картины. Спасибо за разделение

Fernando

[fernando]

Let me please hijack your thread, Spiridonov?
The quality and prime interest of these pictures taken at the artillery museum in St. Petersburg is just the opposite of the ones we can see here:
http://www.xenophon-mil.org/rusarmy/...eum/arttbl.htm
The only couple amazing pieces i found, were an experimental square barrel cannon and a nice early stone throwing crossbow.
Did you know this crossbow, Michael?
Fernando

.

[Matchlock]

No, Fernando,

This crossbow is new to me.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

I know all obout this crossbow. I will answear later. Its a newmaked thing

[Matchlock]

That's very interesting indeed, Alexander!

Best,
Michael

[M ELEY]

I likewise don't want to hijack this great thread, but I was just wondering if anyone has any pics of any swivel guns/deck guns? Spiridonov's pics have one in the case that caught my eye (any chance for a closer pic of that one?). Just asking-
Mark

[fernando]

Hi Mark,
I wish i had myself a swivel/deck gun to picture and post it here .
Attached are perspective pictures of the replica mounted on a 1500's discoveries nau (ship), that was built in a ship yard close from my place.
By the time of Portuguese King Dom Manuel I, a great impeller of naval weaponry, these guns were called berços (cradles), also it appears that this term originated elsewhere.
Also attached is a real one, possibly from the XII century, kept at the Oporto military museum.

Fernando

.

[fernando]

The real thing

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