My conclusion is that the Monks gun was a generic term referring to an early rasp operated ignition system associated by tradition with the monk Berthold Schwartz . Of which the Dresden gun is a late and probably non functional example . Thierbach ( Die geschiliche Entwickelung der Handfeurwaffen - Dresden 1886-7) illustrates two other examples , one a brass cannon lock manually operated in the Zeunghaus , Berlin and a gun lock in Sigmaringen Museum actuated by a spiral spring. If anyone has a copy of this book or knows these examples it would be good to see illustrations.
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