A wooden breech for an iron chamber

fernando · 27th July 2010, 10:14 PM

This XV century rought iron falconet chamber has already been shown here.
It is presently laying on the lower shelf of my TV set stand, so i watch it a good couple hours per day.
As time went on, i wouldn't cease thinking abut its 'naked' situation, standing by its own on a little two forked base.
So i thought i would replicate the breech section of a falconet, in a stylized manner ... made of mahogany wood.
You may find this an awkward solution, but it brings some cosiness to the lonely chamber, anyway

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Having failed the calculations to allow for reasonable space in the back of the breech, to lodge the chamber flat wedge, i decided to minimize the problem by using a cilindrical device instread ... the front section of an old muzzle loading firearm ramrod

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Atlantia · 27th July 2010, 10:45 PM

What a clever and creative solution to displaying this rare relic.
Great DIY there, it really provides 'context'.
You are becomming somewhat a specialist in the early firearms field Nando!

Matchlock · 28th July 2010, 08:09 PM

Hi 'Nando,

Like Gene I like your presentation a lot. It comes very near the original function and is much better than using modern iron parts. Everybody will grasp the idea that the wood sybolizes the missing iron.

I would only suggest adding one little thing for completeness: a wooden wegde or shim to open or close the rear emptiness - just as would have been the case when the chamber was placed in the original recess of the breech of the barrel for firing.

Best,
Michl

fernando · 30th July 2010, 02:04 PM

Thank you Gene and Michl, for your kind words.
As i said, i should have provided more room in the rear, for the proportional use of a wedge.
But i will give it a second thought and ask the carpenter to help me on a wedge solution, within the available space ... Master Michl

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'Nando

fernando · 7th September 2010, 02:06 PM

The carpenter is back from holidays.
Here is the new wooden wedge, to go more accordingly with the rest of the setup.
Your suggestion worked perfectly, Michl ?

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Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 12:06 PM

Hi 'Nando,

In studying your images of 'my' long-time breech chamber I cannot but repeat putting the stress on how unbelievably early this tiny piece is: its slender High-Gothic general shape, reflecting the even earlier Romanic style still rounded throughout, are clear indices of a date of origin of ca. 1440!

They should in no way be confounded with the much shorter, stouter but also round Early-Renaissance objects of ca. 1540, like the ones salvaged from the Mary Rose, or the 'Portuguese' sample in Marcus' collection.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17547

Best,
Michl

27th July 2010, 10:14 PM	#1
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,638	A wooden breech for an iron chamber This XV century rought iron falconet chamber has already been shown here. It is presently laying on the lower shelf of my TV set stand, so i watch it a good couple hours per day. As time went on, i wouldn't cease thinking abut its 'naked' situation, standing by its own on a little two forked base. So i thought i would replicate the breech section of a falconet, in a stylized manner ... made of mahogany wood. You may find this an awkward solution, but it brings some cosiness to the lonely chamber, anyway . Having failed the calculations to allow for reasonable space in the back of the breech, to lodge the chamber flat wedge, i decided to minimize the problem by using a cilindrical device instread ... the front section of an old muzzle loading firearm ramrod . . Attached Images

7th September 2010, 02:06 PM	#5
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,638	The carpenter is back from holidays. Here is the new wooden wedge, to go more accordingly with the rest of the setup. Your suggestion worked perfectly, Michl ? . Attached Images

27th July 2010, 10:45 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	What a clever and creative solution to displaying this rare relic. Great DIY there, it really provides 'context'. You are becomming somewhat a specialist in the early firearms field Nando!

28th July 2010, 08:09 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi 'Nando, Like Gene I like your presentation a lot. It comes very near the original function and is much better than using modern iron parts. Everybody will grasp the idea that the wood sybolizes the missing iron. I would only suggest adding one little thing for completeness: a wooden wegde or shim to open or close the rear emptiness - just as would have been the case when the chamber was placed in the original recess of the breech of the barrel for firing. Best, Michl

30th July 2010, 02:04 PM	#4
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,638	Thank you Gene and Michl, for your kind words. As i said, i should have provided more room in the rear, for the proportional use of a wedge. But i will give it a second thought and ask the carpenter to help me on a wedge solution, within the available space ... Master Michl . 'Nando

5th December 2013, 12:06 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi 'Nando, In studying your images of 'my' long-time breech chamber I cannot but repeat putting the stress on how unbelievably early this tiny piece is: its slender High-Gothic general shape, reflecting the even earlier Romanic style still rounded throughout, are clear indices of a date of origin of ca. 1440! They should in no way be confounded with the much shorter, stouter but also round Early-Renaissance objects of ca. 1540, like the ones salvaged from the Mary Rose, or the 'Portuguese' sample in Marcus' collection. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17547 Best, Michl