Bombards ... they call them

Matchlock · 6th May 2009, 06:28 PM

Hi Fernando,

The photo from Dudley Pope's Guns depicts a heavy wrought iron gun barrel from the former Robert Forrer collection which is now at the Historic Museum Berne, Switzerland. All the wooden parts are late 19th century reconstructions but in correct historic shape.

I should say that the barrel with is pronouncedly reinforced muzzle and almost no staging present is really a very early piece, late 14th century. The sectional drawing shows the bore of very early form, and the measurements are taken from the Berne 1948 inventory. Forrer noted that the barrel was still loaded with powder and a lead ball, so he called the piece Bleibüchse (lead gun), in differentiation from contemporary stone firing barrels.

I am afraid that I could not find anything else about the weapons used at Aljubarrota but Rainer Daehnhardt might have some additional information.

Muito agradecida,
Miguel

Matchlock · 6th May 2009, 06:32 PM

I forgot to add that the central reinforment of the Forrer/Berne barrel bears a fragment of an iron ring which is now missing. The original use of that ring is left to speculation.

Michael

fernando · 6th May 2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

...Muito agradecido,
Miguel

De nada, Miguel.
It's me who is agradecido for the (usual) opening of your fountain of knowledge.
Danksche.
Fernando

Matchlock · 6th May 2009, 08:28 PM

De nada, Fernando,

I also forgot to mention that - highly curiously - this Berne barrel actually consists of two wrought iron tubes, the thinner one placed inside of and copper soldered to an outer one about one which is centimeter thick (0.40 in.).

Isn't that cute?

Michael

fernando · 6th May 2009, 08:50 PM

So cute it is.
This reminds me that my hand cannon is also made in two parts; only in such case the inner part is a thin sleeve.
I will take it with me to Lisbon this weekend, to try and find out whether this was a regular procedure or, in the best probability, define its provenance by that particular detail.
Fernando

Matchlock · 6th May 2009, 09:15 PM

It's pity that my humble, inferior Aljubarrota barrel consists of only one single layer ...

Sad regards from a dreary Lower Bavarian night,
Miguel

6th May 2009, 06:28 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Fernando, The photo from Dudley Pope's Guns depicts a heavy wrought iron gun barrel from the former Robert Forrer collection which is now at the Historic Museum Berne, Switzerland. All the wooden parts are late 19th century reconstructions but in correct historic shape. I should say that the barrel with is pronouncedly reinforced muzzle and almost no staging present is really a very early piece, late 14th century. The sectional drawing shows the bore of very early form, and the measurements are taken from the Berne 1948 inventory. Forrer noted that the barrel was still loaded with powder and a lead ball, so he called the piece Bleibüchse (lead gun), in differentiation from contemporary stone firing barrels. I am afraid that I could not find anything else about the weapons used at Aljubarrota but Rainer Daehnhardt might have some additional information. Muito agradecida, Miguel Attached Images

6th May 2009, 08:50 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So cute it is. This reminds me that my hand cannon is also made in two parts; only in such case the inner part is a thin sleeve. I will take it with me to Lisbon this weekend, to try and find out whether this was a regular procedure or, in the best probability, define its provenance by that particular detail. Fernando Attached Images

6th May 2009, 06:32 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	I forgot to add that the central reinforment of the Forrer/Berne barrel bears a fragment of an iron ring which is now missing. The original use of that ring is left to speculation. Michael

6th May 2009, 08:28 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	De nada, Fernando, I also forgot to mention that - highly curiously - this Berne barrel actually consists of two wrought iron tubes, the thinner one placed inside of and copper soldered to an outer one about one which is centimeter thick (0.40 in.). Isn't that cute? Michael

6th May 2009, 09:15 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	It's pity that my humble, inferior Aljubarrota barrel consists of only one single layer ... Sad regards from a dreary Lower Bavarian night, Miguel