A fine Nuremberg matchlock Landsknecht harquebus, dated 1539

Matchlock · 11th November 2008, 04:16 PM

The stock of limewood, partly carved with triangular ornament; behind the barrel tang the Nuremberg city mark N. The barrel and lock of wrought iron, the first deeply struck twice with a Nuremberg maker's mark, two crossed crossbow bolts (also known from cranequins of the 1530's-40's), and the dated 1539. Although the upper end of the buttstock shows some damage the whole is preserved in unusually good condition regarding its great age; even the ramrod is the original, retaining its long iron finial threaded for cleaning tools. Overall length 112 cm, cal. 16 mm.

Only one other similar piece is known, the barrel bearing the same marks and date: it is on display in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg. I attach some details of that, too. It mostly differs from my piece in that the GNM's gun is in worse condition overall, especially the stock. The iron parts show traces of acid cleaning. The shape of the lock plate is slightly different from mine, the long tiller trigger is broken off and the ramrod missing. The barrel, however, is remarkable for having an incised serpent like wavy line ornament in its forward section ending in stylized Gothic trefoils consisting of three circles each.
The stock does not bear the N for Nuremberg, and the description reads that it is of walnut. The graining, however, is clearly that of limewood or possibly maple.
The measurements are almost exactly the same as in my piece.

These harquebuses were employed by those mercenaries who were called harquebusiers. The attached Nuremberg woodcuts of the 1530's show South German Landsknechte with their matchlock harquebuses.

Michael

Matchlock · 11th November 2008, 04:22 PM

Photos of the gun in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.

Matchlock · 11th November 2008, 04:28 PM

Here they are.

Matchlock · 11th November 2008, 04:33 PM

The harquebusiers.

The fist English, of Henry VIII's army, ca. 1540. The buttstock of his harquebus closesly resembles that of my gun.

The others Nuremberg, 1530's.

Michael

Matchlock · 24th November 2008, 02:12 PM

The Landsknecht harquebusier aims his short matchlock harquebus which closely corresponds to my fine Nürnberg piece dated 1539 at the target.

You can see the serpentine moved towards the pan.

Michael

Matchlock · 1st December 2008, 01:32 PM

At the Museum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck/The Tyrol.

The non-presence of a pan denotes that the barrel was originally stocked together with

- either a matchlock mechanism with integrally riveted pan

or

- a wheel-lock mechanism.

The present stock is a 19th century reconstruction; while its form seems quite correct the wood is not. It is pinewood whereas heavy pieces were originally stocked mostly in oak and sometimes in ash.

Michael

11th November 2008, 04:16 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A fine Nuremberg matchlock Landsknecht harquebus, dated 1539 The stock of limewood, partly carved with triangular ornament; behind the barrel tang the Nuremberg city mark N. The barrel and lock of wrought iron, the first deeply struck twice with a Nuremberg maker's mark, two crossed crossbow bolts (also known from cranequins of the 1530's-40's), and the dated 1539. Although the upper end of the buttstock shows some damage the whole is preserved in unusually good condition regarding its great age; even the ramrod is the original, retaining its long iron finial threaded for cleaning tools. Overall length 112 cm, cal. 16 mm. Only one other similar piece is known, the barrel bearing the same marks and date: it is on display in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg. I attach some details of that, too. It mostly differs from my piece in that the GNM's gun is in worse condition overall, especially the stock. The iron parts show traces of acid cleaning. The shape of the lock plate is slightly different from mine, the long tiller trigger is broken off and the ramrod missing. The barrel, however, is remarkable for having an incised serpent like wavy line ornament in its forward section ending in stylized Gothic trefoils consisting of three circles each. The stock does not bear the N for Nuremberg, and the description reads that it is of walnut. The graining, however, is clearly that of limewood or possibly maple. The measurements are almost exactly the same as in my piece. These harquebuses were employed by those mercenaries who were called harquebusiers. The attached Nuremberg woodcuts of the 1530's show South German Landsknechte with their matchlock harquebuses. Michael Attached Images

11th November 2008, 04:28 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Here they are. Attached Images

11th November 2008, 04:33 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The harquebusiers. The fist English, of Henry VIII's army, ca. 1540. The buttstock of his harquebus closesly resembles that of my gun. The others Nuremberg, 1530's. Michael Attached Images

24th November 2008, 02:12 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A Nürnberg Schützen letter, dated 1532 The Landsknecht harquebusier aims his short matchlock harquebus which closely corresponds to my fine Nürnberg piece dated 1539 at the target. You can see the serpentine moved towards the pan. Michael Attached Images

1st December 2008, 01:32 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A fine brass barrel dated 1539 At the Museum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck/The Tyrol. The non-presence of a pan denotes that the barrel was originally stocked together with - either a matchlock mechanism with integrally riveted pan or - a wheel-lock mechanism. The present stock is a 19th century reconstruction; while its form seems quite correct the wood is not. It is pinewood whereas heavy pieces were originally stocked mostly in oak and sometimes in ash. Michael Attached Images

11th November 2008, 04:22 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Photos of the gun in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.