Brilliant Minds Neded: a Multi Barrel Illustration of 1511

[fernando]

I wish i were a brilliant mind, to coment on this one with authority. I am only brilliant enough to recognize that this is too much sand for my truck.
Fantasy, fiction ... where is the border between them and reality ? Probably the drawings of da Vinci were initially considered fantasy, namely the helicopter and the wheel lock mechanism ?!
Isn't this drawing coherent with the others from the same work (and not only)that you showed here?
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7927
Maybe all these are fantasized drawings of weapons to come? Ones looking more 'implausible' than others?
You said it, multi barrel devices (cannons/mortsars/böllers) were part of the scene.
Was Flavius Vegetius Renatus a writer or an arms specialist?
Let me stop here, to avoid talking more BS.
By the way, did you people know that it was da Vinci who 'invented' the pointed projectile?
Fernando

[Matchlock]

Hi Fearn,

Brilliant thoughts and observations indeed - thanks a lot!

I agree absolutely with you.

Best,
Michael

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Michael,
Thank you for your kindness in including me in this category, which though I am not actually one, I am always honored to be in the company of the many here who are.

My first instinct in looking at this thing is....what the heck were they smokin' in those days!

It is interesting that this interesting...actually bizarre....illustration is contemporary with DaVinci, and many of the inventions he put to paper were probably considered equally bizarre in those times. Surprisingly, a number of them truly did come to fruition....thankfully this guys idea did not!

I cannot imagine how such a firearms nightmare could ever have been actually conceived as a viable invention. I cannot help but think that this illustration may have had some allegorical intent, much as Fearn has suggested. I think his points on the improbability of the dynamics of this 'invention' are well placed also, as perceived by my own very lay understanding of technical things.

It is known that many famed classical artists in these times, with DaVinci at the fore, often had unusually wry and profound symbolism and mysterious satire imbued in thier works . Naturally the pretense of "The DaVinci Code" strongly suggests this somewhat plausible potential, regardless of obvious conflicting perspectives.

As we have discussed before with multibarreled firearms in developing times, there was a distinct problem with simultaneous ignition. In many cases, from what I understand, guns such as the 'pepperbox' pistol, with six or more shots in a revolving chamber, could easily discharge all at once...probably not good for the firer of the weapon !

Fernando, interesting note about Leonardo's invention of the pointed projectile, as I always say, amazing what you have in that archives of esoterica!

All the best,
Jim

[Rick]

I don't know if any of you watch the discovery channel; but this year there is a show on which they build functional weapons from Leonardo's War Machine designs .

Good stuff !!

[fearn]

Originally Posted by Rick

I don't know if any of you watch the discovery channel; but this year there is a show on which they build functional weapons from Leonardo's War Machine designs .

Good stuff !!

Hi Rick,

Yeah, I saw one of the episodes. Maybe we can get them to build this?

It would make slightly more sense as a fireworks device than a weapon, somehow, and there are details that don't make much sense.

Still, I can't help thinking of this one as "The Cannons of Enlightenment." Once you get it, grasshopper, you will be enlightened, or something.

Best,

F

[kahnjar1]

I have just come across this post and have this thought....If the thing was mounted horizontally on a central pivot, on for arguements sake a castle parapit, then it would be possible to load/reload the barrels pointing in your direction while at the same time firing those away from you, at a supposedly either scared or by now laughing enemy! A reasonably rapid rate of fire could probably be achieved, provided of course you did not forget which barrels were loaded and which were not!
This drawing appears in several books dealing with ancient weapons.
Regards Stuart

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

I have just come across this post and have this thought....If the thing was mounted horizontally on a central pivot, on for arguements sake a castle parapit, then it would be possible to load/reload the barrels pointing in your direction while at the same time firing those away from you, at a supposedly either scared or by now laughing enemy! A reasonably rapid rate of fire could probably be achieved, provided of course you did not forget which barrels were loaded and which were not!
This drawing appears in several books dealing with ancient weapons.
Regards Stuart

While i was promenading this morning (here), i had a similar thaught.
You could have this device mounted in a strategic place, and position yourself away from it ... behind a wall, a pavise, or in a hole, depending in the context. The small barrels can be either all linked to each other by match cord, or each one withs its own connection; with a single or multiple extension reaching the 'gunner' spot, depenging on the system used, by its time depending where this 'battery' was placed.. When the enemy aproaches, you can either have a simultaneous or a one by one deflagration; either a bang bang with only psichologic efects (XIII-XIV century) or a serious shooting.
I guess instant reloading was not much of an issue, in those days; reloading would take ages. The thing would function like a one act battle openning ... like nowadays landmines are ambush starters.
Bla bla bla.
Fernando