A Multiple Barreled Polish Organ Gun, ca. 1700

Matchlock · 3rd October 2010, 07:11 PM

The short and swamped muzzle sections denote the exact dating.

Interestingly enough, Indian organ guns used to look very similar to the one on the right even in the 18th and 19th centuries, only their muzzle sections were longer being based on the German style of ca. 1520.

Best,
Michael

Jim McDougall · 4th October 2010, 01:36 PM

Fascinating illustrations Michael!
The DaVinci works have always been amazing and its hard to imagine how far ahead of his times he was. These multiple barrel weapons remond me a lot of the rocket launching units used in WWII.

Am I correct in assuming these multiple barrels were typically discharged simultaneously? It seems as if that would be a pretty much single op situation, as it must have horrendous to try to get these reloaded.
I would imagine truly psychologically devastating at initial blast though.
Sort of the scatter gun effect.

It seems that in terms of firing, single barrel discharge would have been a real challenge. Case in point, in the early 19th century, as percussion caps were invented, the revolving cylinder 'pepperbox' pistols had the right concept ideally, but there were problems with simultaneous discharge, which had of course less than desirable effect for the user. These were also notorious for misfires.
For these larger heavy ordnance type weapons, the ancestor of the 'machine gun' was the Gatling gun for multiple fire in my understanding.

It seems there are a number of guns I have seen, and I cant place them offhand, which were flintlock personal weapons with a number of barrels, I think four, arranged in this fanned fashion. I cant recall how these functioned in firing.

All the best,
Jim

Matchlock · 4th October 2010, 02:11 PM

Hi Jim,

Sorry, I forgot to mention how these actually fired.

Most of these organ guns simply had a common powder line applied connecting all the touch holes and would then fire simultaneously.

Regarding the interestig parallel you noted on English 18th c. flintlock pistols, I assume you are referring to the duck's foot type with usually four or five diverging barrels; they too were set blazing at the same time by a centrally boxed flintlock mechanism and corresponding touch holes.

Best wishes als always,
Michael

Matchlock · 10th October 2010, 05:30 PM

In the Arsenal of the noble family of Hohenlohe-Sigmaringen, the barrels ca. 1510 and half covered with wood, with just the touchholes spared.
The wheels are not original.
Overall length ca. 1.2 m.

m

3rd October 2010, 07:11 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two Organ Guns by Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1500 The short and swamped muzzle sections denote the exact dating. Interestingly enough, Indian organ guns used to look very similar to the one on the right even in the 18th and 19th centuries, only their muzzle sections were longer being based on the German style of ca. 1520. Best, Michael Attached Images

10th October 2010, 05:30 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Highly Unusual Early 16th C. South German Organ Gun In the Arsenal of the noble family of Hohenlohe-Sigmaringen, the barrels ca. 1510 and half covered with wood, with just the touchholes spared. The wheels are not original. Overall length ca. 1.2 m. m Attached Images

4th October 2010, 01:36 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,354	Fascinating illustrations Michael! The DaVinci works have always been amazing and its hard to imagine how far ahead of his times he was. These multiple barrel weapons remond me a lot of the rocket launching units used in WWII. Am I correct in assuming these multiple barrels were typically discharged simultaneously? It seems as if that would be a pretty much single op situation, as it must have horrendous to try to get these reloaded. I would imagine truly psychologically devastating at initial blast though. Sort of the scatter gun effect. It seems that in terms of firing, single barrel discharge would have been a real challenge. Case in point, in the early 19th century, as percussion caps were invented, the revolving cylinder 'pepperbox' pistols had the right concept ideally, but there were problems with simultaneous discharge, which had of course less than desirable effect for the user. These were also notorious for misfires. For these larger heavy ordnance type weapons, the ancestor of the 'machine gun' was the Gatling gun for multiple fire in my understanding. It seems there are a number of guns I have seen, and I cant place them offhand, which were flintlock personal weapons with a number of barrels, I think four, arranged in this fanned fashion. I cant recall how these functioned in firing. All the best, Jim

4th October 2010, 02:11 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Jim, Sorry, I forgot to mention how these actually fired. Most of these organ guns simply had a common powder line applied connecting all the touch holes and would then fire simultaneously. Regarding the interestig parallel you noted on English 18th c. flintlock pistols, I assume you are referring to the duck's foot type with usually four or five diverging barrels; they too were set blazing at the same time by a centrally boxed flintlock mechanism and corresponding touch holes. Best wishes als always, Michael