Handgonne Barrels and Böllers

fernando · 15th August 2016, 11:36 AM

A new member, Silver Shield, not yet familiar with the forum thread/posting mechanisms, has required help to start this thread.
Here is his text ... and images:

There seems to be a link in a traditional instrument of celebratory sound making and a instrument of WAR . After a rather short period of stylistic study that came about rather by accident , I believe I have reviewed a large enough sample to be able to make some remarks and share the insight I have hoped to gain. I put forth these few words and hope they bring some little knowledge about this continuity of style and interesting relationship between two rather different objects.

In areas of mountainous Germany and Austria there persisted until quite recently a folk custom of celebratory sound making used to mark such events such as church holidays, cultural evens and occasions , and even for family and personal events ! These are called "Bollers " generally. Made of foraged Iron usually ,almost always 8 sided ,very slightly tapered , flaring usually to the base , and a common bore size being about 2.5 cm and common height 14cm to about 25cm. Some Bollers getting to 43cm or more . What struck me about these objects was their similarity in style to and dimensions to some "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s. I had to go through a hundred of these to find just one medieval "Barrel" for my collection and it caught my interest ,why ? After the kindness of a friend in Austria who happen to have bought a collection of " Bollers" , I suddenly by chance had the opportunity to study a fairly large collection of Bollers that where made over a large time frame and from a area that was somewhat isolated in terms of cultural exchange .Finally also I was able to compare not only a historical sample but also stylistic lineage What I saw shocked me , some of the Bollers where almost identical to early 1400s "Handgonne Barrels " in size and caliber . And after a study of over 100 objects in this sample alone , a very clear picture was seen that shows something of the human condition and continuity .
My theory and belief , supported by evidence and some little study is that not only was the tradition of " Boller " use in these areas started by the acquisition of surplus Handgonne Barrels by these populations, but until somewhat recently "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s where still being used and copied !This being a testament to the design of such, that a 600 year plus run of this basic design speaks some volumes of its merits and history . My belief is that sometime after the Hussite Wars of 1419 to 1434 , these surplus Handgonne barrels where obtained by populations of these areas and a practical use was found for these relics of War.The barrels in my collection from this sample all date by style to within this time frame most certainly . In both early "Bollers" and "Handgonne Barrels" a common size is about 14cm in height a bore size of about 1.8cm to 2.5cm , some Barrels possibly being rebored . The small sample of Handgonne Barrels I obtained and had seen good quality photographs of show on some a very hurried production without details such as facets of the Barrels being evenly hammered or Bores being centered , certainly made by skilled metal smiths has to imply war time emergency production . The "touch hole " of many Barrels had sometime after there initial period of use as a "Gonne", a "cup" struck down from the" touch hole ", to keep gunpowder from falling out when the barrels where stood straight up , that is to make a "Flash Pan " .This feature of a "Flash Pan" being a standard design element on " Bollers" made later for customary use . Many later " Bollers" even had struck into the " Barrels " designs to imply use as firework instruments . These also where not made as "Powder Testers" or "Cannon " as implied in many sales attempts , but where in effect " Firework Tubes".

.

fernando · 15th August 2016, 11:46 AM

Fernando, i bow to yours and the late Michael T.s knowledge of subject . I was so sad when i saw he had passed, i would have loved to learn so much from the man and he seemed so giving of knowledge. I read with joy every post and learned so much, they validated my own assumptions on a piece, my first bought from this hoard to be a "Gonne Barrel " not a Boller. But i of course made my mistakes, but i studied and read and researched, even days, hours. But i do disagree with a assumption That Michael T. made as my studies in Art History and forging techniques lead me, that is the transition from round barrels to Hexagonal / Octagonal being from the period of Gothic cultural influence. I believe and think it is evident that it was a change in forging technique not style, from use of winding iron around a mandrel and heat welding together, beating a rounded form together, and the later technique of heat welding plates together. It's simply easier to hammer flat then rounded surfaces, requires less time in hammering and finishing, seats in its stock more firmly and bands more firmly. It really i think its evident and obvious. As they say in design" form follows function".

Yours with all humility ,
Michael Pechacek Sr.
Phoenix AZ
USA

Pukka Bundook · 15th August 2016, 02:45 PM

Fernando and Michael,

Thank you for this very interesting topic!
Welcome Michael, and I do hope in time you show us some photographs of these interesting little pieces.

I had seen a form of Blunderbuss used in the Germanic lands for such a 'noise -making' purpose, but was totally ignorant of the little Bollers.

Thank you both for starting this thread!

Re. Michael T. His loss seems with time, to be more acute than ever.

Kind regards,
Richard.

Marcus den toom · 15th August 2016, 04:52 PM

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your post, i hope you will be showing us your collection very soon.

Quit a good thesis, Michael Trömner would have approved of most of it i am sure.

My personal view on Böller and hand cannons is that the latter does not have a wide base (relative to the normal width of the barrel) and there is also no real powder pan.
After the 1400s the hand cannons where more and more mass produced, all of the "feuerwerk und Kriegsbuche" (firework and war books) from the 1390-1500 depict that multiple barrels on one stock was more common than just one single barrel. Quit alot of those have indeed been turned into Böller or even doorstoppers

Silver Shield · 15th August 2016, 05:38 PM

My Pictures will be posted and additional text soon , showing basic relationship , especially design continuity .Also I have in my collection a piece I have that seems certainly to be a mimic of a handgonne barrel , made much later . Pictures will show comparison between a almost identical handgonne barrel of the early 1400s and the mimic , which I am sure will shock some collectors and interested parties . But what else would you expect , if indeed the traditional use and model for boller where handgonne barrels ?

fernando · 15th August 2016, 06:20 PM

A. Handgonne barrel and Mimic
Barrel weight 1.282kg
length 14cm
width at bore aprox. 4.2 cm at base 5cm
bore aprox 2.3cm
octagonal -8 sided

Mimic Boller
weight 1.454kg
length aprox. 14.3
width at bore 4.3cm at base 4.8
bore 2cm
hexagonal - 6 sided
Notice uneven faces of gonne barrel , with rounded facets , but very sharp well defined facets on boller !

B. Handgoone barrel and mimic
Bore face showing rounded shoulders and uneven bore hole of gonne barrel , while boller has very well rounded bore , and well centered

.

15th August 2016, 11:36 AM	#1
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Handgonne Barrels and Böllers A new member, Silver Shield, not yet familiar with the forum thread/posting mechanisms, has required help to start this thread. Here is his text ... and images: There seems to be a link in a traditional instrument of celebratory sound making and a instrument of WAR . After a rather short period of stylistic study that came about rather by accident , I believe I have reviewed a large enough sample to be able to make some remarks and share the insight I have hoped to gain. I put forth these few words and hope they bring some little knowledge about this continuity of style and interesting relationship between two rather different objects. In areas of mountainous Germany and Austria there persisted until quite recently a folk custom of celebratory sound making used to mark such events such as church holidays, cultural evens and occasions , and even for family and personal events ! These are called "Bollers " generally. Made of foraged Iron usually ,almost always 8 sided ,very slightly tapered , flaring usually to the base , and a common bore size being about 2.5 cm and common height 14cm to about 25cm. Some Bollers getting to 43cm or more . What struck me about these objects was their similarity in style to and dimensions to some "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s. I had to go through a hundred of these to find just one medieval "Barrel" for my collection and it caught my interest ,why ? After the kindness of a friend in Austria who happen to have bought a collection of " Bollers" , I suddenly by chance had the opportunity to study a fairly large collection of Bollers that where made over a large time frame and from a area that was somewhat isolated in terms of cultural exchange .Finally also I was able to compare not only a historical sample but also stylistic lineage What I saw shocked me , some of the Bollers where almost identical to early 1400s "Handgonne Barrels " in size and caliber . And after a study of over 100 objects in this sample alone , a very clear picture was seen that shows something of the human condition and continuity . My theory and belief , supported by evidence and some little study is that not only was the tradition of " Boller " use in these areas started by the acquisition of surplus Handgonne Barrels by these populations, but until somewhat recently "Handgonne Barrels" of the early 1400s where still being used and copied !This being a testament to the design of such, that a 600 year plus run of this basic design speaks some volumes of its merits and history . My belief is that sometime after the Hussite Wars of 1419 to 1434 , these surplus Handgonne barrels where obtained by populations of these areas and a practical use was found for these relics of War.The barrels in my collection from this sample all date by style to within this time frame most certainly . In both early "Bollers" and "Handgonne Barrels" a common size is about 14cm in height a bore size of about 1.8cm to 2.5cm , some Barrels possibly being rebored . The small sample of Handgonne Barrels I obtained and had seen good quality photographs of show on some a very hurried production without details such as facets of the Barrels being evenly hammered or Bores being centered , certainly made by skilled metal smiths has to imply war time emergency production . The "touch hole " of many Barrels had sometime after there initial period of use as a "Gonne", a "cup" struck down from the" touch hole ", to keep gunpowder from falling out when the barrels where stood straight up , that is to make a "Flash Pan " .This feature of a "Flash Pan" being a standard design element on " Bollers" made later for customary use . Many later " Bollers" even had struck into the " Barrels " designs to imply use as firework instruments . These also where not made as "Powder Testers" or "Cannon " as implied in many sales attempts , but where in effect " Firework Tubes". . Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 15th August 2016 at 03:38 PM.

15th August 2016, 11:46 AM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	A second post by the same author ... Fernando, i bow to yours and the late Michael T.s knowledge of subject . I was so sad when i saw he had passed, i would have loved to learn so much from the man and he seemed so giving of knowledge. I read with joy every post and learned so much, they validated my own assumptions on a piece, my first bought from this hoard to be a "Gonne Barrel " not a Boller. But i of course made my mistakes, but i studied and read and researched, even days, hours. But i do disagree with a assumption That Michael T. made as my studies in Art History and forging techniques lead me, that is the transition from round barrels to Hexagonal / Octagonal being from the period of Gothic cultural influence. I believe and think it is evident that it was a change in forging technique not style, from use of winding iron around a mandrel and heat welding together, beating a rounded form together, and the later technique of heat welding plates together. It's simply easier to hammer flat then rounded surfaces, requires less time in hammering and finishing, seats in its stock more firmly and bands more firmly. It really i think its evident and obvious. As they say in design" form follows function". Yours with all humility , Michael Pechacek Sr. Phoenix AZ USA

15th August 2016, 05:38 PM	#5
Silver Shield Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Phoenix Arizona USA Posts: 32	Hand Gonnes and Pictures My Pictures will be posted and additional text soon , showing basic relationship , especially design continuity .Also I have in my collection a piece I have that seems certainly to be a mimic of a handgonne barrel , made much later . Pictures will show comparison between a almost identical handgonne barrel of the early 1400s and the mimic , which I am sure will shock some collectors and interested parties . But what else would you expect , if indeed the traditional use and model for boller where handgonne barrels ?

15th August 2016, 06:20 PM	#6
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	A. Handgonne barrel and Mimic Barrel weight 1.282kg length 14cm width at bore aprox. 4.2 cm at base 5cm bore aprox 2.3cm octagonal -8 sided Mimic Boller weight 1.454kg length aprox. 14.3 width at bore 4.3cm at base 4.8 bore 2cm hexagonal - 6 sided Notice uneven faces of gonne barrel , with rounded facets , but very sharp well defined facets on boller ! B. Handgoone barrel and mimic Bore face showing rounded shoulders and uneven bore hole of gonne barrel , while boller has very well rounded bore , and well centered . Attached Images

15th August 2016, 02:45 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Fernando and Michael, Thank you for this very interesting topic! Welcome Michael, and I do hope in time you show us some photographs of these interesting little pieces. I had seen a form of Blunderbuss used in the Germanic lands for such a 'noise -making' purpose, but was totally ignorant of the little Bollers. Thank you both for starting this thread! Re. Michael T. His loss seems with time, to be more acute than ever. Kind regards, Richard.

15th August 2016, 04:52 PM	#4
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 494	Hi Michael, Thank you for your post, i hope you will be showing us your collection very soon. Quit a good thesis, Michael Trömner would have approved of most of it i am sure. My personal view on Böller and hand cannons is that the latter does not have a wide base (relative to the normal width of the barrel) and there is also no real powder pan. After the 1400s the hand cannons where more and more mass produced, all of the "feuerwerk und Kriegsbuche" (firework and war books) from the 1390-1500 depict that multiple barrels on one stock was more common than just one single barrel. Quit alot of those have indeed been turned into Böller or even doorstoppers