XVI century matchlock and barrel, help with more precise dating

Kerja · 6th May 2014, 11:11 PM

Hello Michael,

Thank you for your very kind words! And thank you very much for such a detailed answer! I will try to examine all the links on Sunday, when I will have a day free and might be I will have more questions and ideas.

I will also ask about the circumstances finding the barrel, where exactly it was found in the castle and what items were found near it. Because thetheory was that it was lost during the siege of the castle by Ivan the Terrible army, what was in 1577 what contradicts with the version of the 17th century modernisation of the pan.

Unfortunately, during the excavations there were almost no artifacts found which would be connected with early firearms. Most of the military related findings were the parts of body armour from about the same period as the barrel and lock. So we can speculate that during this period the armament of the castle was modernised.

I know of finding of two wheellock pistols, bullet mould and some bullets. If you have an interest, I can try to get some photos and descriprion.

Best regards and thank you once again for the information provided!

Kirill

Matchlock · 7th May 2014, 10:22 AM

Hi Kirill,

Thank you for replying so comprehensively.

Yes, I would love to see all the material you can get on those wheellock pistols, the ball mold and the balls!

Could you please send me a PM (private message) on the forum? Just click on my user name 'Matchlock', and you will see the option 'Send Matchlock a private message'. That's it.
I would then reply the same way and provide you with my email, so you could send me all the photos in high resolution - which sadly is not possible on the forum.
Of course, I would ask you to post them here as well, in a thread of their own. I would comment then in detail, posting similar objects and giving a date for the items excavated.

Earliest European firearms and all kinds of related accouterments, ca. 1330-1700, are my field of special expertise.

If you are interested, just read my threads and have fun:
click on 'Matchlock', and you will see the option 'Find all threads started by Matchlock'. There are so many that I cannot remember ...

Best regards and wishes from Bavaria,
Michael

Kerja · 10th November 2014, 05:53 PM

Some additional information has poped up about the dating of the barrel. In excavation protocols is mentioned that in the same are, about 10 centimeters from the barrel the following coin was found. It is dated 1568 - 1592, so it is very likely that the barrel was lost during or right after the siege of 1577. No lated dated objects were found in the ground nearby those artifacts.

7th May 2014, 10:22 AM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Kirill, Thank you for replying so comprehensively. Yes, I would love to see all the material you can get on those wheellock pistols, the ball mold and the balls! Could you please send me a PM (private message) on the forum? Just click on my user name 'Matchlock', and you will see the option 'Send Matchlock a private message'. That's it. I would then reply the same way and provide you with my email, so you could send me all the photos in high resolution - which sadly is not possible on the forum. Of course, I would ask you to post them here as well, in a thread of their own. I would comment then in detail, posting similar objects and giving a date for the items excavated. Earliest European firearms and all kinds of related accouterments, ca. 1330-1700, are my field of special expertise. If you are interested, just read my threads and have fun: click on 'Matchlock', and you will see the option 'Find all threads started by Matchlock'. There are so many that I cannot remember ... Best regards and wishes from Bavaria, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 7th May 2014 at 03:04 PM.

6th May 2014, 11:11 PM	#1
Kerja Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 4	Hello Michael, Thank you for your very kind words! And thank you very much for such a detailed answer! I will try to examine all the links on Sunday, when I will have a day free and might be I will have more questions and ideas. I will also ask about the circumstances finding the barrel, where exactly it was found in the castle and what items were found near it. Because thetheory was that it was lost during the siege of the castle by Ivan the Terrible army, what was in 1577 what contradicts with the version of the 17th century modernisation of the pan. Unfortunately, during the excavations there were almost no artifacts found which would be connected with early firearms. Most of the military related findings were the parts of body armour from about the same period as the barrel and lock. So we can speculate that during this period the armament of the castle was modernised. I know of finding of two wheellock pistols, bullet mould and some bullets. If you have an interest, I can try to get some photos and descriprion. Best regards and thank you once again for the information provided! Kirill

10th November 2014, 05:53 PM	#3
Kerja Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 4	Some additional information has poped up about the dating of the barrel. In excavation protocols is mentioned that in the same are, about 10 centimeters from the barrel the following coin was found. It is dated 1568 - 1592, so it is very likely that the barrel was lost during or right after the siege of 1577. No lated dated objects were found in the ground nearby those artifacts.