A medieval hand cannon ... sturdy as can be

Marcus den toom · 18th February 2015, 07:03 PM

Hi Nando,

With these kinds of bores i always try to get a lightsource (sun/lamp) to shine directly into the bore and take a picture from some distance by zooming in.. the quality would however not be great but still well enough to see if the bore is smooth or irregular

I also want to add to my previous dating that i have no clue if the lenght would affect the age period.
In my recent findings from manuscripts i find that even 14th century barrels can be quit long, but this is a rather difficult thesis because of the lack of drawing things to actual scale in those times

fernando · 18th February 2015, 07:07 PM

The pictures above were taken (two) with a flash and (one) with a bore inspection lamp.
Concerning the welding cord, it is easy to judge that it was made in the 20th century ... easier than understanding why still in 20th century such 'modifications' needed to take place.

.

Ken Maddock · 18th February 2015, 07:31 PM

Hi all
I was researching welding for another project and was surprised by the following which I saved from a history of welding site,
The below patent is from 1886 so electric welding is older than you may think
Puts a few more years on to the repair, at least you are back to 19 th century
Regards
Ken

N. Benardos obtained Russian Patent (No. 11982) electric arc welding with carbon electrode called ""Elecktrogefest" or "Electrohephaestus". The methods of cutting and welding metals by the arc was termed "Electrohefest" in memory(sic) of Hephaestus, the ancient Greek god of Fire and Blacksmith work. (The Romans renamed Hephaestus to Vulcan and which is shown on the title page, giving instruction to the craftsmen forging metal.)
Benardos receives permission from the Russian Government to organize production in 1885 for "The production of this plant is based on welding and brazing by electricity and also producing devices for electrical illumination"

fernando · 19th February 2015, 01:08 PM

Thank you for your input, Ken.
I have also made a brief research on electric welding; in fact the more recent development took place in 1907, that one using coated electrodes, a system so much ( the most ?) popularized.
However, if you allow me, the (my) point is not the intervention in this cannon having being made in either end 19th or beginning 20th century, but some five centuries after this example was born, realizing that still someone had all that work to shoot this relic with such required efficiency... just the 'other day'.

fernando · 28th February 2015, 04:53 PM

Looks like this is usually included in the hand cannon typology.
But with its 15 Kilos (over 33 pounds) it would need a Goliath to hold it bare hands for the shot.
So i thought i would better classify it as a portable cannon ... newly made accessories accordingly .

M ELEY · 28th February 2015, 10:59 PM

Wow! Fernando, you did an exceptional job in creating an accurate housing for your portable cannon! Did you do all the work yourself, or did you have help-

Marcus den toom · 1st March 2015, 11:05 AM

I especially like the door knocker as a handle, are you going to make the wood darker Nando?

18th February 2015, 07:07 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The pictures above were taken (two) with a flash and (one) with a bore inspection lamp. Concerning the welding cord, it is easy to judge that it was made in the 20th century ... easier than understanding why still in 20th century such 'modifications' needed to take place. . Last edited by fernando; 3rd July 2022 at 02:26 PM. Reason: phrase correction

28th February 2015, 04:53 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Looks like this is usually included in the hand cannon typology. But with its 15 Kilos (over 33 pounds) it would need a Goliath to hold it bare hands for the shot. So i thought i would better classify it as a portable cannon ... newly made accessories accordingly . Attached Images

18th February 2015, 07:03 PM	#1
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	Hi Nando, With these kinds of bores i always try to get a lightsource (sun/lamp) to shine directly into the bore and take a picture from some distance by zooming in.. the quality would however not be great but still well enough to see if the bore is smooth or irregular I also want to add to my previous dating that i have no clue if the lenght would affect the age period. In my recent findings from manuscripts i find that even 14th century barrels can be quit long, but this is a rather difficult thesis because of the lack of drawing things to actual scale in those times

18th February 2015, 07:31 PM	#3
Ken Maddock Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 104	Hi all I was researching welding for another project and was surprised by the following which I saved from a history of welding site, The below patent is from 1886 so electric welding is older than you may think Puts a few more years on to the repair, at least you are back to 19 th century Regards Ken N. Benardos obtained Russian Patent (No. 11982) electric arc welding with carbon electrode called ""Elecktrogefest" or "Electrohephaestus". The methods of cutting and welding metals by the arc was termed "Electrohefest" in memory(sic) of Hephaestus, the ancient Greek god of Fire and Blacksmith work. (The Romans renamed Hephaestus to Vulcan and which is shown on the title page, giving instruction to the craftsmen forging metal.) Benardos receives permission from the Russian Government to organize production in 1885 for "The production of this plant is based on welding and brazing by electricity and also producing devices for electrical illumination"

19th February 2015, 01:08 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for your input, Ken. I have also made a brief research on electric welding; in fact the more recent development took place in 1907, that one using coated electrodes, a system so much ( the most ?) popularized. However, if you allow me, the (my) point is not the intervention in this cannon having being made in either end 19th or beginning 20th century, but some five centuries after this example was born, realizing that still someone had all that work to shoot this relic with such required efficiency... just the 'other day'.

28th February 2015, 10:59 PM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Wow! Fernando, you did an exceptional job in creating an accurate housing for your portable cannon! Did you do all the work yourself, or did you have help-

1st March 2015, 11:05 AM	#7
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 534	I especially like the door knocker as a handle, are you going to make the wood darker Nando?