Photos from museum of Tabor. Czechia

Matchlock · 30th July 2009, 05:36 PM

Hi Spiridonov,

Now back to your question about ramrods of portable handguns/arquebuses such as the small Hussite barrel of ca. 1430 which originally had a tiller stock: a stick stock usually had no provision for a ramrod and the latter had to be carried separately.

As we see on the Polish gun of ca. 1500 though, this problem was sometimes solved by drilling the tiller/stick stock out and storing the ramrod there (last picture).

Other clever solutions were mounting the ramrod on the left side of the forestock when a hook made a ramrod chanel impossible below the barrel, or make the hook with a loop for the rod to pass thru.

Samples attached.

Best,
Michael

Spiridonov · 3rd August 2009, 09:06 PM

Hollow, Michael

I have some questions about this barrel:

1. What is the calibre of this gun?
2. I saw some brands on this weapon. It would be desirable to consider them more in detail if it is possible
3. How does the barrel connected with stock?
4. Was the barrel painted or not?
5. What is the strange metall tip at the ramrod?
6. was the stock been impregnated by something or not? For example, linen oil
7. How does it dated?

With the best regards, Alexander!

Spiridonov · 11th August 2009, 06:00 PM

can anybody aswear my questions?

Matchlock · 12th August 2009, 01:11 PM

Hi Alexander,

As to your questions about the early Pilsen handgun:

1. I do not know the caliber.

2. The marks on the stocks are no doubt owner's or arsenal markings. I will try and zoom them from the 100 year old photograph.

3. The barrel and stock seem to be connected only by means of the hook.

4. I don't know.

5. The iron finial of the ramrod is a scourer meant for cleaning the barrel walls.

6. I don't know.

7. I date the piece ca. 1430, the barrel may be as early as the late 14th century.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 12th August 2009, 02:42 PM

A zoom of the mark on the left side of the butt; it seems to be a simple arsenal or housemark.

Michael

Matchlock · 12th August 2009, 05:10 PM

Hi Alexander,

I did some research for you and found the data of that early Prague handgun/arquebus in an 1898 copy of the Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde:

The overall length of the gun is 113 cm, the barrel length 29.5 cm, the bore is 27 cm long and the caliber is 33 mm, the weight is 7.5 kg.

Unfortunately no information is provided on the color and finishing of the stock.

As I said I believe that the barrel is the oldest part of the gun, of. ca. 1390-1400 - hark, Fernando! - and the hook and stock are working additions of ca. 1430.

Best,
Michael

Spiridonov · 12th August 2009, 07:28 PM

THank you! What do you think about bossibility of using this weapon at 1470 year? For axample Mosi gever was using about 60 years

30th July 2009, 05:36 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Spiridonov, Now back to your question about ramrods of portable handguns/arquebuses such as the small Hussite barrel of ca. 1430 which originally had a tiller stock: a stick stock usually had no provision for a ramrod and the latter had to be carried separately. As we see on the Polish gun of ca. 1500 though, this problem was sometimes solved by drilling the tiller/stick stock out and storing the ramrod there (last picture). Other clever solutions were mounting the ramrod on the left side of the forestock when a hook made a ramrod chanel impossible below the barrel, or make the hook with a loop for the rod to pass thru. Samples attached. Best, Michael Attached Images

12th August 2009, 02:42 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A zoom of the mark on the left side of the butt; it seems to be a simple arsenal or housemark. Michael Attached Images

3rd August 2009, 09:06 PM	#2
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Hollow, Michael I have some questions about this barrel: 1. What is the calibre of this gun? 2. I saw some brands on this weapon. It would be desirable to consider them more in detail if it is possible 3. How does the barrel connected with stock? 4. Was the barrel painted or not? 5. What is the strange metall tip at the ramrod? 6. was the stock been impregnated by something or not? For example, linen oil 7. How does it dated? With the best regards, Alexander!

11th August 2009, 06:00 PM	#3
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	can anybody aswear my questions?

12th August 2009, 01:11 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Alexander, As to your questions about the early Pilsen handgun: 1. I do not know the caliber. 2. The marks on the stocks are no doubt owner's or arsenal markings. I will try and zoom them from the 100 year old photograph. 3. The barrel and stock seem to be connected only by means of the hook. 4. I don't know. 5. The iron finial of the ramrod is a scourer meant for cleaning the barrel walls. 6. I don't know. 7. I date the piece ca. 1430, the barrel may be as early as the late 14th century. Best, Michael

12th August 2009, 05:10 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Alexander, I did some research for you and found the data of that early Prague handgun/arquebus in an 1898 copy of the Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde: The overall length of the gun is 113 cm, the barrel length 29.5 cm, the bore is 27 cm long and the caliber is 33 mm, the weight is 7.5 kg. Unfortunately no information is provided on the color and finishing of the stock. As I said I believe that the barrel is the oldest part of the gun, of. ca. 1390-1400 - hark, Fernando! - and the hook and stock are working additions of ca. 1430. Best, Michael

12th August 2009, 07:28 PM	#7
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	THank you! What do you think about bossibility of using this weapon at 1470 year? For axample Mosi gever was using about 60 years