Barrel from Grandson battlefield

[Spiridonov]

From book "Medieval Handgonnes"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1...ef=oss_product

[Matchlock]

Thank your, Alexender,


for sharing this hitherto seemingly unknown barrel.

Of course the image is vertically inverted, and I add the correct view.

This item is highly unusual in that it shows almost no clear dating criteria apart from the hexagonal form and the heavily swamped muzzle which allows dating it to the 1470's.

On the other hand, the rear section is by no means swamped the way one would expect. I have never seen an early barrel almost tapering to the rear like that. The shape of the big barrel loops is quite unusual as well. In any case, it seems to be one of the typically crude Swiss productions. The small rudimentary back sight at the rear sure is one of the earliest of its kind.


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Some impressions, some of them photographed by the author.

Image no. 8 of course shows a very important two hand sword of Sempach type, ca. 1470.


m

[Matchlock]

A tiller stocked haquebut, wrought iron, Nuremberg, made for Switzerland, ca. 1450, with sinkhole shaped touchhole on the top flat (almost identical items preserved in the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum Zürich).

A good Late Gothic crossbow with composite horn bow, ca. 1460-70.

A finely painted crossbow man's or handgunner's pavise. ca. 1480.

Below a group of newly hafted pikes and earspoon spears, a good Nuremberg bronze haquebut of ca. 1460-70, retaining an old stock, possiby the original.
A detached chamber for a breech loading cannon, ca. 1450-60, and two late 15th c. handgun barrels (sorry, no details available).

Following various firearms, on top a good and early Suhl/Thuringia/Germany made military matchlock musket, the lockplate shaped like that of a wheellock and pretending a higher technical quality than a simple matchlock, the beechwood stock slightly carved in the characteristic Suhl manner, ca. 1610-15.

m

[Matchlock]

BTW, the barrel on the right looks a lot like the Grandson barrel posted by Alexender, most interestingly showing the same burst in the middle!

Actually it does not seem to be the very same piece because the left barrel loop seems to be missing.

Any comments much welcome as always,
and best as ever,

m

[Spiridonov]

Michael, It is a brilliant finding! This is exactly the same barrel It is very important for me. 'Cause it probably belongs to Burgundian wars period.