An Unusual Haquebut (Ganzer Haken), ca. 1440-1500

[Matchlock]

Hello Alexander,

I know the barrel you posted; unfortunately it is mounted on a new stock but the bulge behind the touch hole is the same. I would date it to the first half of the 16th c., which is almost 100 years later than the one I posted.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hello Alexander,
I would date it to the first half of the 16th c.

Hmmmm... I was sure that this barrel much earlier

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Spiridonov

Hmmmm... I was sure that this barrel much earlier

I don't think so; it formerly was in my collection and I still own similar ones; this kind of punched decoration does not usually occur on all kinds of ironwork, e.g. axe heads and halberds, before the early 16th century.

m

[Matchlock]

I once photographed a small Late Gothic hand cannon with a similar notable bulge behind the touch hole. I would not date this before ca. 1460-70, the short tang was pierced for a stock or grips.

m

[Spiridonov]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

I once photographed a small Late Gothic hand cannon with a similar notable bulge behind the touch hole. I would not date this before ca. 1460-70, the short tang was pierced for a stock or grips.

m

Michael, why do You never shared this before? It's one of the most beautiful barrels! Especially decoration! Tang look unusual. It is similar to tangs of knives. This barrel belongs to my favorite period of Burgundian wars. It is possible to get information about caliber and barrel length?

[Matchlock]

Just because lack of money pressed me to sell it - I guess all avid collectors know what I mean: there are times when you feel that you just need to have a certain item, and you got to lay your money down immediately. So when you know someone special who has been offering you fair money for an item from your collection, you sell it. Today, I guess I would not deaccession it.

On the other hand, I guess I still own the finest collection of earliest handgonnes I can imagine . You are no doubt the only mate around to judge this because you were in my collection!

I do remember it was tiny, about 30 cm in all, the bore being about 12-14 mm.

Anyway, I know where it went and will try and get the data. Please allow some time.

Just one more thought: as the only handgonnes I have ever noticed to have pierced tangs/tillers intended for attaching grips doubtlessly dated from the early 16th c. there is a chance that the tang on the barrel in question was added later during its working life.

For a better understanding, I attach images of several early 16th century tiller haquebuts with long and flat tangs obviously intended to be originally mounted with grips - just like the Landsknecht messers of the same period. As is evident in one close-up, some of them even retained their original grip nails!
Author's photos, taken in the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt some 30 years ago.

Please note that the date of 'ca. 1480' for the Ingolstadt haquebut in the bottom image given by a friend of mine actually should read 'ca. 1515-20'.


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Addendum to post #10:

The overall length of the handgonne is 28.6 cm, the bore 13 mm.

m