Breech loading 1450-1550

[broadaxe]

very interesting thread, thank you. I especialy liked the gun & bandoleer combo on #7.

Here is my contribution to the subject: a breech loading swivel cannon, found in very shallow waters off the coast of Israel, south to the city of Haifa, north to Caserea Maritima. Probably a relic from slave/pirate galley, as at that time - 15th century, there was very little buisness for merchant vessels to do there. Interestingly enough, found with the breech, swivel and breech-locking bar. The barrel used to be 30% longer but only the front rings survived (not shown). It is on display in the National Maritime Museum in Haifa. I will be able to bring measurements sometimes later.

[Matchlock]

Very nice 15th century naval breech loading cannon indeed - thank you, broadaxe!

Michael

[fernando]

Michael, you have a PM.
Fernando

[fernando]

You got new PM, Michael.
Fernando

[Matchlock]

At the Tower of London.

Michael

[Matchlock]

Only these b/w photos available, taken as early as 1883 .

Michael

[Matchlock]

From Kisak's great thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9653

Thanks a lot, Kisak!
Michael

[Matchlock]

Hi broadaxe,

Sorry for almost overlooking your post.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...64&page=6&pp=3

Yes, this is a mid- to second-half 15th century breechloading ship gun, originally mounted on the ship's rail, with its swivel stuck in the wood.
It is preserved completely, including its detachable breech.

After a bit of photoshopping, I reattached your picture.

Best,
Michael

[Itaca]

Hi Matchlock thanks for your answer...
I will hold well in consideration your suggestion, it is true that for me they are very difficult the specific terms, I think about translating from Italian but they are not the correct words.

You have really reason the length is of 42 cms. I have been wrong to write, this barrel I have found him in Albania, where I sometimes see some very beautiful rifles..

[Matchlock]

Thank you, Itaca,

Again: don't worry about your English, it is perfectly understood!

Best,
Michael

[Andi]

A breech loader chamber of the 15th century found in 1932 in front of the famous Lübeck Holstentor. Photographed at Museum Holstentor Lübeck, Germany. Unfortunately no dimensions and caliber are given.

[Andi]

Images from Tøjhusmuseet Copenhagen, Denmark.
The first is a netherlands 3/4 pounder called pothund of the 16th century the other ones were found in a ships wreck near Anholt.

[Matchlock]

This interesting piece of light artillery, the wrought iron barrel not marked but doubtlessly made either in Suhl or in the neighboring center of Zella, and the butt of the beechwood full stock carved with floral motifs in the characteristic Suhl manner, is mounted on its original two-wheeled carriage. This way, it could be moved more quickly from one place of the castle walls to another.

The Suhl style of carving stocks was carried out from ca. 1590 - the earliest known is a similar wall gun in the Livrustkammaren near Stockholm, the barrel struck with Suhl marks and the date 1592 - until ca. 1620 when the outbreak of the Thirty Years War in 1618 literally stopped any superfluous decoration of "military" guns.

Although this gun was made on the eve of the Thirty Years War, its breech still opens and shuts the same way breechloaders did around 1540. One iron cartridge is still preserved but oiriginally there must have been several more to enable rapid firing.
Even though this actually could be termed a high-tech item to the world of 400 years ago, it does not have an igniting mechanism. The ingnition had to be done the usual way: pour some priming powder on the pan-like moulded touch hole and touch it with either a glowing matchcord (German: Luntenstrick) clamped in the heaed of a linstock (German: Luntenstock) or a red hot igniting iron (German: Loseisen).

Its overall length including the carriage is ca. 3.5 meters.
The author photographed it in the exhibition rooms at Schloss Hohenlohe-Langenburg, which belongs to the Prince of Hohenlohe.

Similar pieces are in the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt and the Veste Coburg.

In a part-sale of the armory of Schloss Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Thomas Del Mar Ltd., 3 December 2014, there was another breechloading Bockbüchse but with a simpler breech mechanism.
I will post it here soon.

For three interesting wall guns, two of them dated 1525 and 1537 respectively, the third ca. 1535-40, please see:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=3&pp=30



Best,
Michael

All photos copyrighted by the author.