A Very Rare Early 16th Century Small Alcove Cannon (Nischengeschütz)

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

It can be dated to ca. 1500 quite exactly as I wrote.

Michael

why did you dated so? Do you have photos of another wallguns of 1470-80?

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

Please do understand that I cannot repeat all the dating criteria and images that I posted here before; that's why I sent you the link to all my former posts.

It took me about 30 years to learn by close study of the respective objects and their formal criteria, tiny and almost meaningless though they may seem to others. All I can try to do here is give sort of a bottom line, quintessence or take home message citing the most visible and important criteria.

For the Nuremberg haquebut in question these are length, handle, shape of the barrrel, shape and place of the touch hole, and the short and heavily swamped muzzle section.

I know it's not that easy to be a believer sometimes and you are working really hard trying to grasp my points, especially given the fact that English is neither my nor your native language. So I do hope that you can accept what I have been trying to convey.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Thanks. I have understood all. It is a pity that this wallgun is later than I thought. So do you have photos of wallguns of the period wich interesting me? Especially with calibres about 21-25 mm and barrel length about 600-800 mm.
Wthat is the date and parametras of this (look at photo)?
Sorry that i have too many questions.

[Matchlock]

Hi Spiridonov,

Don't worry, there cannot be too many questions, just an old man too slow on the trigger of reply.

I will be glad to tell you everything I can about those three haquebuts but can you get more images and in much higher resolution? In what museum are they? The Army Museum of St. Petersburg?

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

This fotos from museum of Tabor.Czechia. Sorry, I have no another photos of this

[Matchlock]

O.k. then, Spiridonov,

Here is what I can tell from looking at your photo.

The one on top: as I wrote in today's prviate message to you the barrel is wrought iron and was almost certainly made in Bohemia. Its multi staging, the small hook immediately below the muzzle, and its general form make a date of ca. 1440-60 highly probable. I do not think that the tiller stock is original.

The central one: barrel octagonal throughout, of wrought iron, sadly without any clear criteria such as staging, a swamped muzzle section and/or sighting, touch hole not visible in image. Most probably made between ca. 1470 and 1500.

The one at the bottom: Barrel possibly of cast copper alloy ('brass' or 'bronze'), and if so, almost certainly cast in a Nuremberg workshop, the long sighted staged muzzle section denoting a manufacturing date of ca. 1520-30. Two things are highly unusual about this form of barrel: the hook has been added by means of a loop, and there is no visibly staged rear section as one would expect. Maybe the barrel was altered during its early working life and restocked. The unusually short butt stock resembles the butts of the well known group of the short Basle harquebuses.

I include photos of similar Bohemian barrels from the Pilsen museum (all b/w copies from an unprinted manusrcript), of two barrels from my collection, ca. 1460-70 and dated 1481, and a huge Nuremberg haquebut of ca. 1515-20 in my collection. This is also done complying with your desire to see barrrels of the second half of the 15th century.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The rest.