16-century firearms in stone

Matchlock · 12th December 2011, 11:28 PM

Hi Alexander,

These stone sculptures doubtlessly range among the most important Late Gothic period artwork on early firearms known so far - thank you so much!

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 14th December 2011, 10:26 PM

Two interesting surviving examples of almost exactly the Reutlingen type of Landsknecht snap matchlock arquebuses, their lock mechanisms either missing or replaced, and all parts originally and individually nailed to the stocks without lockplates, each ca. 1470's-1500, and preserved in the Royal Armouires Leeds. Please note that the - characteristically expected! - reinforced muzzle sections are missing, both in the stone sculpture and in the existing originals, a feature limited, though rare, to the period around 1500.

The arquebusier is illustrated in the act of fixing a length of thick matchcord to the clamp (head) of the serpentine!

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 14th December 2011, 11:05 PM

The buttstock of the Reutlingen arquebus sculptured into stone clearly resembles that of a completely preserved original item now in the Hermitage St. Petersburg, made in Nuremberg, ca. 1512-115, the butt painted with the arms of the Nuremberg family of Behaim, the three-stage brass barrel clearly more evolved than the ones illustrated above.

Best,
m

Matchlock · 18th December 2011, 06:36 PM

In the Bavarian Army Museum Ingolstadt are three crude but nevertheless interesting arquebuses (from Schrobenhausen, a town nearby) preserved that much resemble the one illustrated in Auch cathedral (see images above).

The can be dated closely to ca. 1490-1500.

Best,
Michael

Spiridonov · 19th December 2011, 02:31 PM

Thank You for share this! It seems Croatian type of arquebuses

Matchlock · 19th December 2011, 07:55 PM

Do you have images of similar Croatian arquebuses, Alexander?

I think these barrels are Nuremberg made and the straight or crooked buttstocks were common to Central Europe 500 years ago.

Attached find illustrations from the painting Die Schlacht im Walde (The Forest Battle), Nuremberg, 1502, and from the Lucerne Chronicle by Diebold Schilling, 1513, depicting the same short and either straight or crooked buttstocks on arquebuses.

Best,
Michael

Spiridonov · 20th December 2011, 09:38 AM

Michael, I mean this type (second and third from top to bottom)

the book "Medieval handgonners" mentions that this type is croatian. We can see cross as the mark on the barrel. I have seen similar in book. But this book is muddle-headed

12th December 2011, 11:28 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Alexander, These stone sculptures doubtlessly range among the most important Late Gothic period artwork on early firearms known so far - thank you so much! Best, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 13th December 2011 at 06:22 PM.

14th December 2011, 10:26 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two interesting surviving examples of almost exactly the Reutlingen type of Landsknecht snap matchlock arquebuses, their lock mechanisms either missing or replaced, and all parts originally and individually nailed to the stocks without lockplates, each ca. 1470's-1500, and preserved in the Royal Armouires Leeds. Please note that the - characteristically expected! - reinforced muzzle sections are missing, both in the stone sculpture and in the existing originals, a feature limited, though rare, to the period around 1500. The arquebusier is illustrated in the act of fixing a length of thick matchcord to the clamp (head) of the serpentine! Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 14th December 2011 at 11:11 PM.

14th December 2011, 11:05 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The buttstock of the Reutlingen arquebus sculptured into stone clearly resembles that of a completely preserved original item now in the Hermitage St. Petersburg, made in Nuremberg, ca. 1512-115, the butt painted with the arms of the Nuremberg family of Behaim, the three-stage brass barrel clearly more evolved than the ones illustrated above. Best, m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 15th December 2011 at 12:11 AM.

18th December 2011, 06:36 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	In the Bavarian Army Museum Ingolstadt are three crude but nevertheless interesting arquebuses (from Schrobenhausen, a town nearby) preserved that much resemble the one illustrated in Auch cathedral (see images above). The can be dated closely to ca. 1490-1500. Best, Michael Attached Images

19th December 2011, 07:55 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Do you have images of similar Croatian arquebuses, Alexander? I think these barrels are Nuremberg made and the straight or crooked buttstocks were common to Central Europe 500 years ago. Attached find illustrations from the painting Die Schlacht im Walde (The Forest Battle), Nuremberg, 1502, and from the Lucerne Chronicle by Diebold Schilling, 1513, depicting the same short and either straight or crooked buttstocks on arquebuses. Best, Michael Attached Images

19th December 2011, 02:31 PM	#5
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Thank You for share this! It seems Croatian type of arquebuses

20th December 2011, 09:38 AM	#7
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Michael, I mean this type (second and third from top to bottom) the book "Medieval handgonners" mentions that this type is croatian. We can see cross as the mark on the barrel. I have seen similar in book. But this book is muddle-headed