Brass Bohemian Haquebut 1440

Marcus den toom · 23rd December 2015, 07:35 PM

I should research this barrel beter before posting, but i am just to proud to resist.
This brass haquebut is of Bohemian type, about 1440s.

In the Park Museum in Varna Bulgaria there are two iron barrels of a very similar make.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...emian+haquebut

and: (post6)
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20840

The length of my haquebut is 62,3cm with a 65mm hook and a 17mm bore and a 35mm socket hole diameter.
It was found in Croatia which was at that time a union Kindom with the Hungarian empire. The barrel could have been used in the Crusade of Varna in the year 1443-44.

Interesting thing is... IT MIGHT BE LOADED!!! I tried to feel the dept of the bore and came 18cm short to the touch hole. There seems to be lead inside the bore, but i won't know for sure until my borescoop arrives.

At this time the Hungarian King had died and his son soon followed. It was decided that king Władysław III of Poland was to rule the Hungarian kingdom. Władysław took up arms against Murad II of the Ottoman empire and marched to war. The crusader army was defeated at the Battle of Zlatitsa, but managaed to capture the son in law of the Sultan when in retreat. Murad did not want to pursue the war and was pressured into negotiating a treaty to secure the release of his son in law. Murad retired and appointed his own son, of 12 years old, to be his successor. Shortly after all the short-term requirements of the treaty were fulfilled, the Hungarians and their allies resumed the crusade. Murad was called back to lead the Ottoman army. On 10 November 1444 the two armies clashed at the Battle of Varna (near the Black Sea fortress of Varna, Bulgaria). The Ottomans won a decisive victory despite heavy losses, while the crusaders lost their King and over 15,000 men.

Andi · 25th December 2015, 10:12 PM

Hello Marcus
Merry Christmas and congratulations to your new barrel

If you have a possibility to X-ray the barrel, the lead ball should clearly be visible. There you can also determine the volume of the powder load.

fernando · 26th December 2015, 03:52 PM

Hi Marcus,
I see that your beautiful brass barrel doesn't match with the others of your collection.
In case you regret having acquired it, let it come over Portugal and i will take care of its unloading

.

,

Marcus den toom · 27th December 2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andi

Hello Marcus
Merry Christmas and congratulations to your new barrel

If you have a possibility to X-ray the barrel, the lead ball should clearly be visible. There you can also determine the volume of the powder load.

Thank you and a happy new year to you

That is a great idea, will need to search for someone who could do that for me, maybe the dentist.. though it would be strange to carry this to him.

[QOUTE=Fernando]Hi Marcus,
I see that your beautiful brass barrel doesn't match with the others of your collection.
In case you regret having acquired it, let it come over Portugal and i will take care of its unloading . [/QOUTE]

I know you would surely pay the price for the Brass, but i don't want to burden you with this "corroded" piece.. it would need to be cleaned to bare metal before it would be worth anything, i am sure :P

Andi · 28th December 2015, 08:10 PM

Hello Marcus
I fear that dental X-ray machines are not powerful enough for X-raying metal objects. Probably it may work with a powerful medical X-ray machine on a high output capacity and a long exposure time - bus this will need a lot of experience matching the right settings. Definitively it should work with an unit for Non Destructive Testing.

Marcus den toom · 28th December 2015, 08:27 PM

Hi Andi,

Do you know anyone who is capable of this? In the Netherlands these machines are only found in hospitals and i can't bring myself to go there with a antique gun...

Andi · 29th December 2015, 07:25 PM

Maybe in a technical universities, a steel processing company building high pressure pipes or equipment e.g. for gass pipelines or nuclear power plants, or companies providing Non Destructive Testing services....

Why not bringing it self to the hospital just strap it around your leg with palster bandages and tell the doctors your leg might be broken

23rd December 2015, 07:35 PM	#1
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 525	Brass Bohemian Haquebut 1440 I should research this barrel beter before posting, but i am just to proud to resist. This brass haquebut is of Bohemian type, about 1440s. In the Park Museum in Varna Bulgaria there are two iron barrels of a very similar make. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...emian+haquebut and: (post6) http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20840 The length of my haquebut is 62,3cm with a 65mm hook and a 17mm bore and a 35mm socket hole diameter. It was found in Croatia which was at that time a union Kindom with the Hungarian empire. The barrel could have been used in the Crusade of Varna in the year 1443-44. Interesting thing is... IT MIGHT BE LOADED!!! I tried to feel the dept of the bore and came 18cm short to the touch hole. There seems to be lead inside the bore, but i won't know for sure until my borescoop arrives. At this time the Hungarian King had died and his son soon followed. It was decided that king Władysław III of Poland was to rule the Hungarian kingdom. Władysław took up arms against Murad II of the Ottoman empire and marched to war. The crusader army was defeated at the Battle of Zlatitsa, but managaed to capture the son in law of the Sultan when in retreat. Murad did not want to pursue the war and was pressured into negotiating a treaty to secure the release of his son in law. Murad retired and appointed his own son, of 12 years old, to be his successor. Shortly after all the short-term requirements of the treaty were fulfilled, the Hungarians and their allies resumed the crusade. Murad was called back to lead the Ottoman army. On 10 November 1444 the two armies clashed at the Battle of Varna (near the Black Sea fortress of Varna, Bulgaria). The Ottomans won a decisive victory despite heavy losses, while the crusaders lost their King and over 15,000 men. Attached Images

26th December 2015, 03:52 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Marcus, I see that your beautiful brass barrel doesn't match with the others of your collection. In case you regret having acquired it, let it come over Portugal and i will take care of its unloading . , Last edited by fernando; 26th December 2015 at 04:10 PM.

25th December 2015, 10:12 PM	#2
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	Hello Marcus Merry Christmas and congratulations to your new barrel If you have a possibility to X-ray the barrel, the lead ball should clearly be visible. There you can also determine the volume of the powder load.

28th December 2015, 08:10 PM	#5
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	Hello Marcus I fear that dental X-ray machines are not powerful enough for X-raying metal objects. Probably it may work with a powerful medical X-ray machine on a high output capacity and a long exposure time - bus this will need a lot of experience matching the right settings. Definitively it should work with an unit for Non Destructive Testing.

28th December 2015, 08:27 PM	#6
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 525	Hi Andi, Do you know anyone who is capable of this? In the Netherlands these machines are only found in hospitals and i can't bring myself to go there with a antique gun...

29th December 2015, 07:25 PM	#7
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	Maybe in a technical universities, a steel processing company building high pressure pipes or equipment e.g. for gass pipelines or nuclear power plants, or companies providing Non Destructive Testing services.... Why not bringing it self to the hospital just strap it around your leg with palster bandages and tell the doctors your leg might be broken