A unique bronze barrel wall gun (doppelter Doppelhaken), Nuremberg, ca. 1515-20

Matchlock · 24th May 2012, 03:39 PM

Two similar and contemoprary, but notably smaller Nuremberg barrels of wallguns, the first ca. 1520, the second with its shorter muzzle section ca. 1510-15, both struck with a Gothic minuscule p mark, which, when found on bronze barrels, can be safely attriuted to the Nuremberg founder Sebald Behaim whose name was pronounced Pehaim in his Franconian dialect.

The other prolific Nuremberg bronze foundry, that of Endres Pegnitzer, can be safely ruled out for marked barrels as he is known to have signed his barrels EPGM, for Endres Pegnitzer Goss Mich (Endres Pegnitzer founded me), the letters characteristically cast in high relief within a coat-of-arms.

In safe conclusion this means that for barrels unsigned and unmarked, either foundry of Behaim/Pehaim or Pegintzer may be held accountable while when a bronze/brass barrel is struck with a minuscule p mark, it should be attributed to the Behaim/Pehaim workshop.

Attached at bottom is a very fine but unsigned and unmarked Nuremberg wallgun barrel of ca. 1520-25, preserved retaining an unusually charming emerald green patina.

m

Matchlock · 24th May 2012, 03:44 PM

One more close-up of the rear section; as on most early-16th c. bronze barrels, the originally swiveling pan cover is missing while the riveted pin is preserved.

Matchlock · 24th May 2012, 11:03 PM

For early-16th c. Nuremberg barrels of arquebuses (small 'long' guns), please see

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15381

Matchlock · 26th May 2012, 05:43 PM

Another, similiar early-16th c. Nuremberg wallgun bronze/brass barrel is preserved in the George F. Harding collection, in The Art Institute of Chicago.

It seems from the photo that the pan has been removed from the right-hand side of the breech.

m

Marcus den toom · 11th December 2013, 08:47 PM

Incredible Michael, just came across this thread.
Any new information on these wall guns?

I found a very interesting website on hand cannons.
http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Black...Matchlocks.htm

Matchlock · 12th December 2013, 11:46 AM

Hi Marcus,

And thanks for re-enlivening that old thread of mine. Yes, that's a highly important historic piece in virtually 'untouched' condition for 500 years! Imagine!

Apart from the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg and the privately owned Schloss Hohenlohe-Langenburg, where I took some of the images posted in this thread, they do not exist in any German, Austrian or Swiss museum or any private collection (except mine)!

Had I new information on such items I would post it right away.

The old site on early hand cannon has one big flaw: the tiny photos that cannot be enlarged!

How can anybody possibly design a site like that??!!! Grrrrrrr ....

Best,
m

Marcus den toom · 18th December 2013, 08:07 PM

I found a other bronze hackbut like yours. Sold trough Sotheby's but i can't find it anywhere.

24th May 2012, 03:39 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Two similar and contemoprary, but notably smaller Nuremberg barrels of wallguns, the first ca. 1520, the second with its shorter muzzle section ca. 1510-15, both struck with a Gothic minuscule p mark, which, when found on bronze barrels, can be safely attriuted to the Nuremberg founder Sebald Behaim whose name was pronounced Pehaim in his Franconian dialect. The other prolific Nuremberg bronze foundry, that of Endres Pegnitzer, can be safely ruled out for marked barrels as he is known to have signed his barrels EPGM, for Endres Pegnitzer Goss Mich (Endres Pegnitzer founded me), the letters characteristically cast in high relief within a coat-of-arms. In safe conclusion this means that for barrels unsigned and unmarked, either foundry of Behaim/Pehaim or Pegintzer may be held accountable while when a bronze/brass barrel is struck with a minuscule p mark, it should be attributed to the Behaim/Pehaim workshop. Attached at bottom is a very fine but unsigned and unmarked Nuremberg wallgun barrel of ca. 1520-25, preserved retaining an unusually charming emerald green patina. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 24th May 2012 at 05:16 PM.

24th May 2012, 03:44 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	One more close-up of the rear section; as on most early-16th c. bronze barrels, the originally swiveling pan cover is missing while the riveted pin is preserved. Attached Images

26th May 2012, 05:43 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Another, similiar early-16th c. Nuremberg wallgun bronze/brass barrel is preserved in the George F. Harding collection, in The Art Institute of Chicago. It seems from the photo that the pan has been removed from the right-hand side of the breech. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 26th May 2012 at 10:16 PM.

24th May 2012, 11:03 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	For early-16th c. Nuremberg barrels of arquebuses (small 'long' guns), please see http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15381

11th December 2013, 08:47 PM	#5
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	Incredible Michael, just came across this thread. Any new information on these wall guns? I found a very interesting website on hand cannons. http://milpas.cc/rifles/ZFiles/Black...Matchlocks.htm

12th December 2013, 11:46 AM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Marcus, And thanks for re-enlivening that old thread of mine. Yes, that's a highly important historic piece in virtually 'untouched' condition for 500 years! Imagine! Apart from the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg and the privately owned Schloss Hohenlohe-Langenburg, where I took some of the images posted in this thread, they do not exist in any German, Austrian or Swiss museum or any private collection (except mine)! Had I new information on such items I would post it right away. The old site on early hand cannon has one big flaw: the tiny photos that cannot be enlarged! How can anybody possibly design a site like that??!!! Grrrrrrr .... Best, m

18th December 2013, 08:07 PM	#7
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	I found a other bronze hackbut like yours. Sold trough Sotheby's but i can't find it anywhere.