Wadding in 14th to 17th Century Loading

Matchlock · 29th July 2010, 07:40 PM

Chipping off wooden plugs or wedges for plugging the stone ball near the muzzle.

From Codex germanicus, cgm 600, Munich, ca. 1390-1400.

m

Matchlock · 29th July 2010, 07:55 PM

Please see my thread

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12151

for many illustrations of original earliest Steinbüchsen and their ammunition!

Best,
Michael

Spiridonov · 29th July 2010, 08:55 PM

thank you for nice pictures.
What is the diameter of bullet from you handgonne of 1481 year? I think that it must be less than calibre (27mm).

Matchlock · 29th July 2010, 10:26 PM

Exactly, Alexander,

As I wrote, the ball, along with probably most of the powder charge, must have gone lost long time ago, they sadly are not with me, apart from what I think is a part of the powder charge.
I'm convinced though that the diameter of the ball was somewhat smaller than the bore of the barrel, so it would have made it a rolling ball (or rather rollerball?! Rolling stone?! .

Maybe there was just a wadding of crumbled hemp or paper above the ball which had shrunken over the centuries and in consequence had given way to the rest to get lost.

Again: you'll see and handle it all - just let me know what day exactly you're going to come and view my collection!!!

Excitedly looking forward to seeing you,
Michail

Matchlock · 30th July 2010, 12:29 AM

Why for heaven's sake did that one appear double?

To the mods: Hown on earth can I delete the second identical posting? Or could somebody do that for me:

Thanks,
Michael

fernando · 30th July 2010, 10:06 AM

Done, Michl

Matchlock · 30th July 2010, 10:16 PM

Thanks a lot, 'Nando!

Here is a cross sectional drawing of a ca. 1360-80 small bronze handgun barrel which proves that the ball reservoir (or should I say ballroom?

) of this special gun is notably longer than the powder chamber.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 2nd August 2010, 10:25 PM

O.k., here are the real things from my collection - ammunition from five centuries:

- extreme left, standing upright: a glass with a ball and powder load extracted from a ca. 1470 Nuremberg bronze haquebut barrel; the powder pillar measures about seven ball lengths!

- next from left: ball moulds from ca. 1500-1580

- foreground left: linen patches, 17th-19th centuries, felt plugs (waddings) of the same period; paper cartridges, 16th/17th centuries, and cast lead balls retaining their sprue (German Gusszapfen) for binding into a paper cartridge

- foreground, right half: two hemp waddings, a length of matchcord, a piece of tinder, French 'blond' gun flints retaining their lead or leather linings, and excavated reddish brown pyrites for wheel-locks retaining their original lead lining (Bleifutter)!

- background right: earthenware grenades and a small iron hand grenade, Thirty Years War, all retaining their original fillings and fuses!

- a fuse cut sectionally, made from a thick dried grass stem and hollowed out to receive the powder line still present!

These are by far the greatest rarities ever to get your hands on, and not even available in the big museums!

Best,
Michael

29th July 2010, 07:40 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Chipping off wooden plugs or wedges for plugging the stone ball near the muzzle. From Codex germanicus, cgm 600, Munich, ca. 1390-1400. m Attached Images

30th July 2010, 10:16 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thanks a lot, 'Nando! Here is a cross sectional drawing of a ca. 1360-80 small bronze handgun barrel which proves that the ball reservoir (or should I say ballroom? ) of this special gun is notably longer than the powder chamber. Best, Michael Attached Images

2nd August 2010, 10:25 PM	#8
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	O.k., here are the real things from my collection - ammunition from five centuries: - extreme left, standing upright: a glass with a ball and powder load extracted from a ca. 1470 Nuremberg bronze haquebut barrel; the powder pillar measures about seven ball lengths! - next from left: ball moulds from ca. 1500-1580 - foreground left: linen patches, 17th-19th centuries, felt plugs (waddings) of the same period; paper cartridges, 16th/17th centuries, and cast lead balls retaining their sprue (German Gusszapfen) for binding into a paper cartridge - foreground, right half: two hemp waddings, a length of matchcord, a piece of tinder, French 'blond' gun flints retaining their lead or leather linings, and excavated reddish brown pyrites for wheel-locks retaining their original lead lining (Bleifutter)! - background right: earthenware grenades and a small iron hand grenade, Thirty Years War, all retaining their original fillings and fuses! - a fuse cut sectionally, made from a thick dried grass stem and hollowed out to receive the powder line still present! These are by far the greatest rarities ever to get your hands on, and not even available in the big museums! Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 2nd August 2010 at 10:36 PM.

29th July 2010, 07:55 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Please see my thread http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12151 for many illustrations of original earliest Steinbüchsen and their ammunition! Best, Michael

29th July 2010, 08:55 PM	#3
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	thank you for nice pictures. What is the diameter of bullet from you handgonne of 1481 year? I think that it must be less than calibre (27mm).

29th July 2010, 10:26 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Exactly, Alexander, As I wrote, the ball, along with probably most of the powder charge, must have gone lost long time ago, they sadly are not with me, apart from what I think is a part of the powder charge. I'm convinced though that the diameter of the ball was somewhat smaller than the bore of the barrel, so it would have made it a rolling ball (or rather rollerball?! Rolling stone?! . Maybe there was just a wadding of crumbled hemp or paper above the ball which had shrunken over the centuries and in consequence had given way to the rest to get lost. Again: you'll see and handle it all - just let me know what day exactly you're going to come and view my collection!!! Excitedly looking forward to seeing you, Michail

30th July 2010, 12:29 AM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Why for heaven's sake did that one appear double? To the mods: Hown on earth can I delete the second identical posting? Or could somebody do that for me: Thanks, Michael

30th July 2010, 10:06 AM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Done, Michl