Alexander,

As you asked: this seems to be water-driven drill although the text does not actually seem to refer to it.

m

For the tiller arquebus in the last ms illustration, please see the following Vienna illustrations of 1410 and 1411 respectively, and the original arquebus of ca. 1400 preserved in my collection, the mechanism and hook added ca. 1430-1440 (attachments). This is the oldest known completely preserved handgun, even retaining its original tiller stock.

Please note that guns of the early 1400's did not yet have hooks, they did not seem to appear before the 1430's.

m

I can read the text,but the meaning is indistinct.

Der püx (die Büchse)ist nicht verloren/ wo du vil Düchel(alemannisch für hölzerne Wasserleitung) solt parzn(südtirolerisch für aufstämmen)

Briilliant, Swordfish,

I have some difficulties with Alammisch and Swiss dialects.

I canot give a meaningful translation of what you deciphered either.

Best,
Michael

I would be happy to put captions on any that have no captions shown. Or any that do, for that matter, but it will be an interpretive caption and not a translation.

I couldn't seem to find it again but one of the drawings showed two people and a fortification. Both people (perhaps women?) had what appeared to be flaming fingers on one hand, held so fingers were pointed up. What's the story behind that one?

John,

May I ask you to identify the exact link to that illustration?

I will be happy then to you give you my interpretation.

m

Michael, thanks. Here are the burning finger extensions:


http://www.e-codices.unifr.ch/en/zbz...33b/50v/medium

Sorry, John,
I must quit on that.
I'm sure though that Swordfish can decipher that.
Best,
Michael

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...id=80500&stc=1
It looks like tool for extracting bullet and wad... I don't think that it is a drill. Somebody can translate the title?

Hi Alexander.

The title, as I said before, reads

Die Gesellen mit den Puchsen behent schießen wellen, meaning The guys wish to quickly fire their guns.

Thus it gives no clue to the various illustrated actions in the picture but you are doubtlessly correct: this guy is shown extracting a wad or a bullet with some kind of a threaded extractor.

You noticed a few 16th/17th extractors for using in the treaded iron finial of the ramrod im my collection when you were here! ;) See attatched image, on the right hand side.

Best,
Michael