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#1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Hi !
on top of being a collector i do quite a lot of metal detecting in the south of France. A few days ago i found what i think to be a "handgonne". I found it not far from a ruined tower and a small spanish church in the vicinity of Perpignan in the south of France. The spot is a strategic hilltop in a region where the kingdom of France and the Kingdom of spain fought over centuries. When i cleaned it, it was packed with remains of black powder. But i can not find a "touch hole". I read somewhere that some kind of early handgonne had no touch hole and were ignited by the front end of the barrel . thanks for sharing your knowledge Last edited by fernando; 8th June 2019 at 01:34 PM. |
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#2 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
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Welcome to the forum, Via Dixiane
![]() I have re-uploaded your images using the forum attachment features and moved your thread to the European section, where members should come around to comment on your curious item. |
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#3 |
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Certainly too small for a handgonne, but not too small to be a signal mortar.
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#4 |
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Location: Tennessee, USA
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Does the bottom have any kind of socket, or what remains of such?
Can’t edit my prior post... it takes a while to show up. |
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#5 | |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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#6 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Via, i confess it is new to me that early gonnes might not have a touch hole.
Still this is a mysterious piece. Can you take a picture of it, but not inclined, you know, featuring its actual front look? and give us its measurements (height, width and bore) ? |
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#7 |
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To me, it looks like a breech from an early breech-loader, but why no touchhole I cannot say, unless it is filled with rust and hidden....
Best regards, Richard. |
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#8 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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A rather reasonable guess, Richard.
But then, a couple things to figure out ... - Lack of a handle; could it have fallen with time ? - Its conical format; aren't loading chambers more cylindrical, only tapering in their very end to couple (seal) with the barrel ? Judging by its outer condition, it sure looks rather early. The bore opening looks perfect, though. Let us see if a straight front picture and its dimensions enlighten us a bit further. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2019
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Hi everyone and thanks a lot for your interest.
No socket 240 gr 50 mm length 33 mm diameter 15 mm caliber Should mention that the spot is also a 1793 battle field |
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#10 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
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Amazing; i have seen quite a number of these things, also have a few in my little collection but, this one seems to be atypical, so to say. So small in size and with so small bore for a signal or celebration 'banger'.
Honestly, i wouldn't know what to make of it ... but hopefully other members will. By the way Via, isn't that a touch hole ? It certainly looks like one ![]() . |
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