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#1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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I posted these as a preply to Stekemest's comment on the 1485 Bavarian arsenal inventory, but really wish to share them in a separate thread now.
So here they are, of 15th to early 16th century date. The watercolor illustration is from an illuminated fireworks book dated 1442, showing just how they were actually made. Mass production 460 years ago - under the critical eyes of a supervisor! Isn't that cute? Matchlock |
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#2 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
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Undoubtfully precious items.
...And the illustrations are rather cute, indeed. Are you familiar with the process ? What part of the material are those two guys 'cooking' ? Fernando |
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#3 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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The Schweizerisches Landesmuseum Zürich had them analyzed, so here they are:
1. Outer incendiary layer: 88 % sulfur 10.4 % saltpeter/potassium nitrate 1.6 % carbon 2. Inner burning mass: 13.7 % sulfur 83.5 % saltpeter/potassium nitrate 2.8 % carbon Matchlock - well, as some of the members here have been so very nice and provided me with information by private messages, I feel that I should give my real name: Michael |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,087
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These are truly amazing items. In Gilkerson's "Boarders Away II", he shows some of these in a Swedish? museum and remarks that they were one of the earliest incendiary weapons used against the rigging of ships in naval combat, circa 16th/17th century. These are extremely rare items! Are the ones pictured yours, Michael, or are they museum pics. If they are yours, I am sick with envy!!!
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#5 | |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Hi, M ELEY, Thanks for your nice lines. The two incendiary quarrels on top used to be in my collection until about 15 years ago when I passed them to a friend of mine who had concentrated on earliest crossbows and stuff. My field is earliest firearms. The ones below I photographed in the Swiss National Museum Zurich, togehter with the 'recipe'. These earliest accouterments sure range among the greatest rarissimae on earth. Michael |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,087
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Amazing,indeed. Thanks for posting them, Michael. Would have loved to have had one for my collection, but just a little out of my price range, I suspect!
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,247
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Hi Matchlock,
Thanks for posting these. I've got to admit that I'm interested in these for intellectual reasons only, not collecting them. I have this gut-negative reaction to collecting old incendiaries and bombs, especially if they still have their original chemicals in them. To me, the most interesting thing is that these highly reactive materials lasted as long as they did. F Last edited by fearn; 20th October 2008 at 09:45 PM. Reason: deleting a "not" for clarity |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
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Unless they were stored really, really well, I doubt that there is much to fear.
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