An Unusual Haquebut (Ganzer Haken), ca. 1440-1500

[Matchlock]

More.

[Matchlock]

The last few images.

[Spiridonov]

Hello, Michael! Thank You for sharing this. This weapon has really strange shape especially the shape of the stock. It seems that stock is product of recycling of broken lance I think that the shape of the rear end of the stock may be a hint for a more correct dating. Of course, only if it's really part of the lance. Else I want to say some word about bulge behind the touch hole. It's not unique. I know at least one more barrel with the bulge of absolutely similar shape (look at attachment(Length: 14,8 cm; Caliber: 19 mm; Weight: 2,5 Kg))

[Matchlock]

Hello Alexander,

I know the barrel you posted; unfortunately it is mounted on a new stock but the bulge behind the touch hole is the same. I would date it to the first half of the 16th c., which is almost 100 years later than the one I posted.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hello Alexander,
I would date it to the first half of the 16th c.

Hmmmm... I was sure that this barrel much earlier

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Spiridonov

Hmmmm... I was sure that this barrel much earlier

I don't think so; it formerly was in my collection and I still own similar ones; this kind of punched decoration does not usually occur on all kinds of ironwork, e.g. axe heads and halberds, before the early 16th century.

m

[Matchlock]

I once photographed a small Late Gothic hand cannon with a similar notable bulge behind the touch hole. I would not date this before ca. 1460-70, the short tang was pierced for a stock or grips.

m

[Spiridonov]

The most common form of hook was trapezoid but barrel which You have uploaded has hook of rectangle form. But It's not unique to
p/s unfortunately I can't give the link because the website is dead now

[Matchlock]

Exactly!

Btw, the fine piece you posted is well-known to me as well; actually it is huge, a doppelter Doppelhaken, retaining its original oaken full stock painted in the Austrian (Habsburg) colors white and red (the white now faded to yellow), weighing 51 kg! This of course was not a long arm (Handfeuerwaffe) but, like all Doppelhaken, a stocked piece of cannon (geschäftetes Geschütz).

The maker's mark may be that of Peter Pögl, Thörl near Innsbruck, who supplied the Maximilian army. If my thesis is correct, it is not of Styrian manufacture as the present owner assumed but was made in the Tyrol. The very same Gothic majuscule P mark is on a heavy wrought-iron barrel which you saw in my collection when you were here:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7102

I attach two details of that enormous piece, and another close-up of the P mark on my barrel.


Best,
Michael