Incendiary quarrels/arrows/crossbow bolts

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Andi

Hello Marcus
Is the textile braid on this image visible by an damage of the quoits surface or was it brought outside by intention - probably as a ligting fuse/match?
As far as I understood the publications of Dr. Alfred Geibig no quoits were known so far where a lighting match was visible on the outside.

That's right, Andi,

The outer layer always seems to have been either black tar mingled with black powder, or sulphur that turned from yellowish to a grayish white in the course of the centuries.
On a couple of quoits in the Museum Nordico (City Museum) of Linz/Austria though, the wound matchcord can still be seen beneath the crumbly mixture of tar and black powder (attachments, author's photos of 1989).
In the background, a bundle of matchcord for muskets is displayed, and on the right hand side there are lots of crossbow bolts, the hafts grown musty.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Here are two of the quoits (German: Pechkränze) that came from the inventory of the old Veste (fortress) of Coburg, Northern Bavaria.
They consist of matchcord soaked in tar and wound around a wooden ring core; their diameter differs between 40 and 45 cm, the average weight is 2.5 kg.
The second, smaller type of quoits attached features intertwined matchcord; at a diameter of ca 30 cm, their weight is only 500 grams.
Source: Alfred Geibig: Gefährlich und schön. Coburg, 1996, p. 122f.

m

[Andi]

Two photos of two hemp rope quoits I made at Veste Coburg two weekends ago - unfortunately I hat not mutch time to see the exhibition so I just quickly shot the photos without any preparations against the refelctions on the show case glass screens. --- I have to visit the museum again having more time for the exhibition

[Matchlock]

Thanks so much, Andi,

For those good photos!!!

Best,
Michael