Incendiary quarrels/arrows/crossbow bolts

[Andi]

Let me take the opportunity to post some photos of the Fire or Light Balls (in German: Feuerballen, Leuchtballen, Leuchtfässer or Sturmfässer) form the permanent exhibition of Veste Coburg, Bavaria, Germany. Please excuse the reflections on the photos as I had not much time to prevent them.

The large containers (Leucht-/Sturmfässer) on the second and third image and the 3 from the right on the fourth image, are really huge they have diameters between 27-33 cm and height ranging from 26 - 50 cm. The inner construction is a rough wooden barrel covered in a linnen fabric and overknitted with hemp ropes.

The smaller Fire Balls (Image 1 and 5) have dimensions of a coconut. One is with small projectiles (German: Mordschlägen) which are missing on the other model with the visible hole. They were made of a linnen bag filled with a highly flammable mass of blackpowder, sufur, salpeter and others. They are also overknitted with hemp ropes. They are dated probably to 17th Century.

Unfortunately the forums software mixed up the intended order of the images.

[Matchlock]

Another great job, Andi,


Thanks a lot for showing these rarities!

May I add the average measurements:
the bigger barrels used in attacking a fortress (Sturmfässer): ca. 30-38 x 30-45 cm,
the gleaming 'bulbs' (Leuchtballen): 14-17 x 16-20 cm.

They most probably date from the Thirty Years War (1618-1648).

Diverging from the norm, I attached an image of an exact replica of a Coburg Leuchtballen, made by Armin König, to illustrate the construction containing small grenades (Mordschläge).

Quite nasty things - the terms downplaying their dangerousness ...


Best,
Michael

[Andi]

Tonight we have launched some pages about incendiary devices and grenades on our web page (Sorry that they are available in German language only but we hope get them translated into English in the near future)

http://bummsbrigade.de/cms/index.php/de/zeug/feuerwerk

[Matchlock]

Great site, Andi,


And perfectly researched and illustrated as well, providing tons of historic material from original sources (14th to 16th century manuscripts and books)!
An exemplary and highly commendable site, also from an academic point of view!

Everybody interested in early warfare and earliest firearms - GO THERE!


Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

Please see my new thread
on THE ONLY KNOWN EXISTING INCENDIARY GUN ARROW, 14th-16th century:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ght=incendiary

Best,
Michael

[Aerinsol]

After hearing a lot about this forum from my husband (Andi), I decided to drop in, too

Thank you very much for all the great information and fotos in this thread (and in many others)!

As a kind of introduction, I'd like to show you what we did in our backyard on sunday: Video "Burning incendiary quoit"

Of course this is a reconstruction, not an original
It was only our first try, so don't expect too much - and naturally we are a little hampered by current legislations (not being allowed to simply use black powder etc.)

The core was made of straw, wrapped in nitrified linnen, coated with a mixture of tar and sulfur and then coated in charcoal.

Hope you enjoy it anyway!

[Matchlock]

... sold with Sotheby's, London, in December 2004.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

This large iron grenade, 18th century, diameter 21 cm, was sold for 230 Eruo plus 23 per cent commision, on May5, 2014, Hermann Historica's, Munich.

m