Handgonne Barrels and Böllers

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Now the lines become blurred. With these last pictures and the pictures posted before ,you can see the similarities between a classic form "Boller" and examples of "Handgonne Barrels ", showing there relationship in both design and origin. Pictured is examples of 2 " Barrels " with round seemingly untouched vents and re-venting in other examples done exactly the same way as on "Classic Bollers " , the same tool marks , and remember from the same area in Austria ! We know for a fact that 15th century handgonne barrels where used as " Bollers" and certainly where the origin of these devices , what else would a peasant have access to , to load with a powder charge and fire , to ever start the tradition ? Why would later "Bollers" follow these barrels in design so much , that they are common even mistaken by collectors as "Gonne Barrels" Many barrels you see on market now , original ones from the 1400s , have a later use cup shaped flash pan cut out of the area of the touch hole to facilitate easier lighting when Tube is placed in a upright position . Such little design elements such as rounding of the bore face , and flaring base continued , though in the classic examples of " Bollers " you see a actual base forged flat and with extended edges to offer a more stable platform .In the example photos comparing, the suspect early "Boller" example with a Classic 18th or 19th Century " Boller" You can see even the hole in the forging has similarities , and the forging characteristics are too strong to not take notice of . In my humble opinion , taking into account all evidence I've seen in photos and in hand , the "Mimic " barrel , a item made to and in much if not the same way as " Handgonne Barrels " was made to augment the supply of " Bollers " people using these for generations over hundreds of years , would have lost track of the original purpose of the devices they used as "Bollers " if one went to the blacksmith and asked for him to make you a " Boller" presented him with a " Handgonne Barrel " , if he was skilled you'd get a copy , a close copy , after all these Barrels would have been all that was know and used for generations , at least until the original supply was exhausted or need supplement. Another interesting thought is , why where these objects valued enough not to be recycled especially into weapons at war time ? , you would think with the many wars in this region that at one point they would have been used in a Cannon or Tank !

My conclusion and statement on this subject is as follows; Handgonne Barrels , most likely spoils of War , and a good candidate is I believe the Hussite Wars of 1419 to 1434 where the origin of the " Boller". The existing Medieval Gonne Barrels from these mountainous areas in Austria , and Southern Germany fit the types used then. That within a generation they found use as a cultural celebratory device , and gained a practical and cultural value above their material value. For the reason of their cultural use , these original Medieval Handgonne Barrels in secluded areas where preserved and used , over time the supply was replenished and design was improved for their usage. It is important to note that Iron will deteriorate when exposed to the elements , left in the outdoors , not protected they would and some show many years of neglect , but these pieces must have had value as a heritage and family heirloom to be preserved as the small portion of original 1400s pieces show , they seem not to be the property of Church or State but property of the general population , and thanks to these values they exist for us to enjoy . Be careful and study the subject and those objects around it , not only in form , use, material and way of manufacture but also in cultural aspects , all of these have valuable insights into common histories.Most of what Mankind does is just a repeat of the past.