The pre-16th C. Philippine gun ("baril")

migueldiaz · 10th February 2011, 03:41 PM

The Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in the Philippines on 1565. On 1567 he sent the king of Spain a sampling of the local weapons:

"It seemed to me that Your Highness would be pleased with specimens of the weapons with which these natives fight; accordingly they are bringing to Your Highness a Chinese arquebus of which there are some among these natives. Although they are very dexterous in handling these guns, when on the sea, aboard of their paraus, they carry them more to terrify than to kill. And likewise they bring you a half-dozen lances and another half-dozen daggers, a cutlass, two corselets, two helmets, and a bow with quiver and arrows, all of which they use."

If somebody knows where in Spain these are stored, then I'll drop everything and will be on the next plane to Madrid.

In the meantime, would anybody have info or photos of an Asian gun from the 16th century or older?

Thanks in advance!

PS - Thanks to Nonoy Tan for the pic of Legazpi's said letter.

10th February 2011, 03:41 PM	#1
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	The pre-16th C. Philippine gun ("baril") The Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in the Philippines on 1565. On 1567 he sent the king of Spain a sampling of the local weapons: "It seemed to me that Your Highness would be pleased with specimens of the weapons with which these natives fight; accordingly they are bringing to Your Highness a Chinese arquebus of which there are some among these natives. Although they are very dexterous in handling these guns, when on the sea, aboard of their paraus, they carry them more to terrify than to kill. And likewise they bring you a half-dozen lances and another half-dozen daggers, a cutlass, two corselets, two helmets, and a bow with quiver and arrows, all of which they use." If somebody knows where in Spain these are stored, then I'll drop everything and will be on the next plane to Madrid. In the meantime, would anybody have info or photos of an Asian gun from the 16th century or older? Thanks in advance! PS - Thanks to Nonoy Tan for the pic of Legazpi's said letter. Attached Images