A Truly Sensational Seven Barrel Matchlock Arquebus, Brescia, ca. 1530, in Prague!

Dmitry · 16th October 2010, 05:14 AM

Amazing! Thanks for showing it to us!
If I'm not mistaken, the rear barrels have been fired, perhaps excessively, as the stock shows what appear to be period[?] repairs. I'm sure everybody wanted to fire the 'butt-gun'.

Matchlock · 16th October 2010, 10:02 AM

The seeming stock 'repairs' are not repairs!

In order to make this construction possible, each single one of the four rear barrels had to be inserted in a square block of wood, which then was glued to a cutout recess in the buttstock. It is not possible to do this any other way.

The very same procedure was used on my four barrel mace of ca. 1540: all barrels are individually inset and surrounded by pieces of wood:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=meyrick

Best,
Michael

Dmitry · 16th October 2010, 02:02 PM

Thanks! Next time I'll see one of these, I'll know not to worry about the possible alterations!

Matchlock · 16th October 2010, 02:57 PM

The barrels are inset in separate oak blocks.

m

Spiridonov · 17th October 2010, 10:27 AM

Hallo Michael! This photos is really impressive. Thank you for such details

Matchlock · 17th October 2010, 03:08 PM

Thank you for appreciating these, Alexender,

More on similar Italian multibarrel arquebuses coming soon!

Best,
m

Jim McDougall · 18th October 2010, 03:02 AM

Hi Michael,
As a complete novice at medieval guns, aside from sharing in the obvious accolades on what a fantastic piece this is, all I have is lots of questions.

Aside from the fact that walnut is a favored wood in N. Italy, what in particular would distinguish this as Brescian?

What caliber does 10mm & 8mm translate into? If these are standard calibers would this technically qualify as a caliver?, as was often a term for lighter arquebus' of standard bore.

With these being smoothbore, why would a sight be needed or used? and presumably the three forward barrels might have been fired simultaneously to achieve the 'volley fire' method to ensure a hit.

As always, I wonder about decorative motif, and is there distinguishable parallel in other Brescian weapons that might be compared ?

How soon after these matchlock arquebuses did the German wheellock mechanism begin use in Brescian guns?

A virtual 'barrage' of questions I know

but these guns really are fascinating, and though I have difficulty with the mechanisms, I think the history of the developing types is most interesting.

Thank you Michael as always, for sharing these!!!

All the best,
Jim

16th October 2010, 02:57 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	My four barrel Landsknecht Mace, ca. 1540, Revisited The barrels are inset in separate oak blocks. m Attached Images

16th October 2010, 05:14 AM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Amazing! Thanks for showing it to us! If I'm not mistaken, the rear barrels have been fired, perhaps excessively, as the stock shows what appear to be period[?] repairs. I'm sure everybody wanted to fire the 'butt-gun'.

16th October 2010, 10:02 AM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The seeming stock 'repairs' are not repairs! In order to make this construction possible, each single one of the four rear barrels had to be inserted in a square block of wood, which then was glued to a cutout recess in the buttstock. It is not possible to do this any other way. The very same procedure was used on my four barrel mace of ca. 1540: all barrels are individually inset and surrounded by pieces of wood: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...hlight=meyrick Best, Michael

16th October 2010, 02:02 PM	#3
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Thanks! Next time I'll see one of these, I'll know not to worry about the possible alterations!

17th October 2010, 10:27 AM	#5
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Hallo Michael! This photos is really impressive. Thank you for such details

17th October 2010, 03:08 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you for appreciating these, Alexender, More on similar Italian multibarrel arquebuses coming soon! Best, m

18th October 2010, 03:02 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Hi Michael, As a complete novice at medieval guns, aside from sharing in the obvious accolades on what a fantastic piece this is, all I have is lots of questions. Aside from the fact that walnut is a favored wood in N. Italy, what in particular would distinguish this as Brescian? What caliber does 10mm & 8mm translate into? If these are standard calibers would this technically qualify as a caliver?, as was often a term for lighter arquebus' of standard bore. With these being smoothbore, why would a sight be needed or used? and presumably the three forward barrels might have been fired simultaneously to achieve the 'volley fire' method to ensure a hit. As always, I wonder about decorative motif, and is there distinguishable parallel in other Brescian weapons that might be compared ? How soon after these matchlock arquebuses did the German wheellock mechanism begin use in Brescian guns? A virtual 'barrage' of questions I know but these guns really are fascinating, and though I have difficulty with the mechanisms, I think the history of the developing types is most interesting. Thank you Michael as always, for sharing these!!! All the best, Jim