Auction Review: San Giorgio Aste, Genova: A Haquebut Barrel, ca. 1530

[Matchlock]

The auction was held on Oct 4, 2009.

The wrought iron haquebut barrel was made in ca. 1530 and, as was the case with many older military firearms and edged weapons alike, was re-used during the Thirty Years War about a century later, when it was fitted with a new priming pan which obviously had no provision for a swiveling cover. The fore sight is missing.

This good and rare piece went incredibly cheap at 1,000 euro hammer price.

******

Next there was an interesting modern fake of a late medieval handgonne, composed of what looks like the rear part of a Thirty Years War matchlock musket barrel the tang of which had been turned by ca. 90° resulting in the stunning fact that the pan and cover now blocked the sight when aiming, and another totally inapt large bore fragment which had obviously been put into 'aged' condition by crude hammering of the outer surface. Of couse, the bore is much too big for a genuine late medieval handgonne while on the other hand the barrel walls are ridiculously thin and could by no means revoke the correct impression aspired.

The farcical price it fetched - 2,000 euro - seems to be symptomatic of the low state of knowlegde of many collectors. Very sad.

Michael

[Matchlock]

[QUOTE=Matchlock]

The wrought iron haquebut barrel was made in ca. 1530 and, as was the case with many older military firearms and edged weapons alike, was re-used during the Thirty Years War about a century later, when it was fitted with a new priming pan which obviously had no provision for a swiveling cover.

This is what a characteristic priming pan and cover of ca. 1530 looked like, compared to a Thirty Years War emergency repair.

In the bottom image you can also see the original shape of the back sight with the flat top mount still present.