1481 - the world's earliest dated handgun

Matchlock · 21st September 2008, 06:15 PM

A wrought-iron haquebut barrel struck with the Munich town mark.

You will remember seeing details of it in former postings where I also explained how to correctly read the date 1481, which, in the upmost image, is also seen chiseled in Gothic stone work and contrasted with the identical date on the barrel below.
Just imagine the Gothic numeral 4 being turned clockwise by 90 degrees and you get the contemporary shape.

This is a highly important historical piece in having survived so well preserved for 527 years!

Michael

21st September 2008, 06:15 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	1481 - the world's earliest dated handgun A wrought-iron haquebut barrel struck with the Munich town mark. You will remember seeing details of it in former postings where I also explained how to correctly read the date 1481, which, in the upmost image, is also seen chiseled in Gothic stone work and contrasted with the identical date on the barrel below. Just imagine the Gothic numeral 4 being turned clockwise by 90 degrees and you get the contemporary shape. This is a highly important historical piece in having survived so well preserved for 527 years! Michael Attached Images