Superimposed firearms

Marcus den toom · 5th December 2013, 05:58 PM

Aaaah darn (sorry ) i knew i had seen something similiar before, sorry michael

Fernando K · 5th December 2013, 06:56 PM

Hello:

Just to say that I think that the two arms of the beginning of the thread, are not superimposed loads, but two guns (barrel)

Fernando K

Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 07:13 PM

Although I did not author this thread: exactly, Fernando K, thanks!
Of course these are locks from over-and-under-barrel guns, not from superimposed-load firearms.
Marcus?

Best,
Michael

Marcus den toom · 5th December 2013, 07:55 PM

correct again, ouch not a good day for me.

The multiple bullets on a row configuration is know to me, but i doubt it was used to often. I read that the bullets tended to get stuck inside the barrel?
On the other hand, i have seen replica's beeing fired without trouble. (not because they where replica's but because there is a lot of sense in the idea).

if i remember correctly (and that is pretty hard for me today apparently) i recall a firearm which used a trail of gunpowder in the middle of 2 barrels. With multiple holes in the barrel with a corresponding load of powder and bullet lined up.

Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 09:16 PM

Many horrible accidents must have happened when firing superimposed load guns. The tiniest mistake in the loader's concentration must have lead to a gore ...
I basically assume that it was literally impossible to flawlessly load them in the thick of a fight, so to speak ... And they of course were much too expensive and rare to voluntarily expose them to such a risk as well.

m

Marcus den toom · 6th December 2013, 11:40 AM

quit right indeed, especially since manpower was very cheap and even a "simple" farmer in a feudalistic society would have been able to shoot with the same accuracy as the pistol with the superimposed load (train of bullets / "roman candle" ).

Some other pictures than, quit a neat pistol, but horribly imbalanced i think (book: wheel lock firarms of the royal armouries, Craeme Rimmer, page 25)

Matchlock · 6th December 2013, 12:40 PM

Some twenty years ago, I handled another triple-shot superimposed-load wheellock pistol from that same series by the very same maker, preserved in as-new condition and retaining all its original bluing, in the world-famous Habsburg Collection in Vienna, while the museum was closed to the public.
It was rather ill-balanced but please remember that these actually were arquebuses and were always held with two hands, with the buttstock touching the cheek!

The date assigned by Graeme is exactly correct: ca. 1555, most probably Augsburg.

Best,
Michael

6th December 2013, 12:40 PM	#7
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Some twenty years ago, I handled another triple-shot superimposed-load wheellock pistol from that same series by the very same maker, preserved in as-new condition and retaining all its original bluing, in the world-famous Habsburg Collection in Vienna, while the museum was closed to the public. It was rather ill-balanced but please remember that these actually were arquebuses and were always held with two hands, with the buttstock touching the cheek! The date assigned by Graeme is exactly correct: ca. 1555, most probably Augsburg. Best, Michael Attached Images

5th December 2013, 05:58 PM	#1
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	Aaaah darn (sorry ) i knew i had seen something similiar before, sorry michael

5th December 2013, 06:56 PM	#2
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello: Just to say that I think that the two arms of the beginning of the thread, are not superimposed loads, but two guns (barrel) Fernando K

5th December 2013, 07:13 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Although I did not author this thread: exactly, Fernando K, thanks! Of course these are locks from over-and-under-barrel guns, not from superimposed-load firearms. Marcus? Best, Michael

5th December 2013, 07:55 PM	#4
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	correct again, ouch not a good day for me. The multiple bullets on a row configuration is know to me, but i doubt it was used to often. I read that the bullets tended to get stuck inside the barrel? On the other hand, i have seen replica's beeing fired without trouble. (not because they where replica's but because there is a lot of sense in the idea). if i remember correctly (and that is pretty hard for me today apparently) i recall a firearm which used a trail of gunpowder in the middle of 2 barrels. With multiple holes in the barrel with a corresponding load of powder and bullet lined up.

5th December 2013, 09:16 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Many horrible accidents must have happened when firing superimposed load guns. The tiniest mistake in the loader's concentration must have lead to a gore ... I basically assume that it was literally impossible to flawlessly load them in the thick of a fight, so to speak ... And they of course were much too expensive and rare to voluntarily expose them to such a risk as well. m

6th December 2013, 11:40 AM	#6
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	quit right indeed, especially since manpower was very cheap and even a "simple" farmer in a feudalistic society would have been able to shoot with the same accuracy as the pistol with the superimposed load (train of bullets / "roman candle" ). Some other pictures than, quit a neat pistol, but horribly imbalanced i think (book: wheel lock firarms of the royal armouries, Craeme Rimmer, page 25)