Re: The oldest known handgun in existence, ca. 1400-10

Paddy T. · 7th August 2018, 08:38 PM

In German there are some medieval terms like "Handbuchse", "Hantbusse", "Fustbusse", "Handror" or "Handrohr". They all mean something like "handgun" in different variations. Many original pieces are clearly handguns, but some barrels can´t be assigned to be "handguns" or "cannons (=artillery)". These weapons are definitely the ancestors of our modern handguns. The oldest european handguns are the two pieces from Tannenberg castle in Germany, but there are older ones in China.

Helleri · 8th August 2018, 06:28 AM

Great information thanks. It occurs to me that "hand cannon" is still colloquially used to occasionally refer to very large revolvers with a caliber that makes for a lot of stopping power. It's interesting how terminology like this can basically stick with us for so long and keep finding new ways in which to be applied.

7th August 2018, 08:38 PM	#1
Paddy T. Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Germany Posts: 13	In German there are some medieval terms like "Handbuchse", "Hantbusse", "Fustbusse", "Handror" or "Handrohr". They all mean something like "handgun" in different variations. Many original pieces are clearly handguns, but some barrels can´t be assigned to be "handguns" or "cannons (=artillery)". These weapons are definitely the ancestors of our modern handguns. The oldest european handguns are the two pieces from Tannenberg castle in Germany, but there are older ones in China.

8th August 2018, 06:28 AM	#2
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chino, CA. Posts: 219	Great information thanks. It occurs to me that "hand cannon" is still colloquially used to occasionally refer to very large revolvers with a caliber that makes for a lot of stopping power. It's interesting how terminology like this can basically stick with us for so long and keep finding new ways in which to be applied.