Superimposed firearms

Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 05:30 PM

The correct term is superimposed load firearms

, just like the title of D.R. Baxer's standard reference work (hard to find and extremely (!) expensive - I paid 300 euro; a copy is in my own library).
P.S. I just noted it's offered at 180 € at abebooks ...

The reason of course is that the loads in these guns were superimposed, not the firearms themselves.

BTW, sometimes the SEARCH button on the forum is of some help

- please see my threads:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load

Attached please find a scheme of the superimposed load principle of a four-barreled mid-17th c. wheellock carbine, from D.R. Baxter, 1966.

Best,
m

Marcus den toom · 5th December 2013, 05:58 PM

Aaaah darn (sorry ) i knew i had seen something similiar before, sorry michael

Fernando K · 5th December 2013, 06:56 PM

Hello:

Just to say that I think that the two arms of the beginning of the thread, are not superimposed loads, but two guns (barrel)

Fernando K

Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 07:13 PM

Although I did not author this thread: exactly, Fernando K, thanks!
Of course these are locks from over-and-under-barrel guns, not from superimposed-load firearms.
Marcus?

Best,
Michael

Marcus den toom · 5th December 2013, 07:55 PM

correct again, ouch not a good day for me.

The multiple bullets on a row configuration is know to me, but i doubt it was used to often. I read that the bullets tended to get stuck inside the barrel?
On the other hand, i have seen replica's beeing fired without trouble. (not because they where replica's but because there is a lot of sense in the idea).

if i remember correctly (and that is pretty hard for me today apparently) i recall a firearm which used a trail of gunpowder in the middle of 2 barrels. With multiple holes in the barrel with a corresponding load of powder and bullet lined up.

Matchlock · 5th December 2013, 09:16 PM

Many horrible accidents must have happened when firing superimposed load guns. The tiniest mistake in the loader's concentration must have lead to a gore ...
I basically assume that it was literally impossible to flawlessly load them in the thick of a fight, so to speak ... And they of course were much too expensive and rare to voluntarily expose them to such a risk as well.

m

Marcus den toom · 6th December 2013, 11:40 AM

quit right indeed, especially since manpower was very cheap and even a "simple" farmer in a feudalistic society would have been able to shoot with the same accuracy as the pistol with the superimposed load (train of bullets / "roman candle" ).

Some other pictures than, quit a neat pistol, but horribly imbalanced i think (book: wheel lock firarms of the royal armouries, Craeme Rimmer, page 25)

5th December 2013, 05:30 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The correct term is superimposed load firearms , just like the title of D.R. Baxer's standard reference work (hard to find and extremely (!) expensive - I paid 300 euro; a copy is in my own library). P.S. I just noted it's offered at 180 € at abebooks ... The reason of course is that the loads in these guns were superimposed, not the firearms themselves. BTW, sometimes the SEARCH button on the forum is of some help - please see my threads: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...erimposed+load Attached please find a scheme of the superimposed load principle of a four-barreled mid-17th c. wheellock carbine, from D.R. Baxter, 1966. Best, m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 5th December 2013 at 07:37 PM.

5th December 2013, 05:58 PM	#2
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	Aaaah darn (sorry ) i knew i had seen something similiar before, sorry michael

5th December 2013, 06:56 PM	#3
Fernando K Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 671	Hello: Just to say that I think that the two arms of the beginning of the thread, are not superimposed loads, but two guns (barrel) Fernando K

5th December 2013, 07:13 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Although I did not author this thread: exactly, Fernando K, thanks! Of course these are locks from over-and-under-barrel guns, not from superimposed-load firearms. Marcus? Best, Michael

5th December 2013, 07:55 PM	#5
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	correct again, ouch not a good day for me. The multiple bullets on a row configuration is know to me, but i doubt it was used to often. I read that the bullets tended to get stuck inside the barrel? On the other hand, i have seen replica's beeing fired without trouble. (not because they where replica's but because there is a lot of sense in the idea). if i remember correctly (and that is pretty hard for me today apparently) i recall a firearm which used a trail of gunpowder in the middle of 2 barrels. With multiple holes in the barrel with a corresponding load of powder and bullet lined up.

5th December 2013, 09:16 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Many horrible accidents must have happened when firing superimposed load guns. The tiniest mistake in the loader's concentration must have lead to a gore ... I basically assume that it was literally impossible to flawlessly load them in the thick of a fight, so to speak ... And they of course were much too expensive and rare to voluntarily expose them to such a risk as well. m

6th December 2013, 11:40 AM	#7
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 535	quit right indeed, especially since manpower was very cheap and even a "simple" farmer in a feudalistic society would have been able to shoot with the same accuracy as the pistol with the superimposed load (train of bullets / "roman candle" ). Some other pictures than, quit a neat pistol, but horribly imbalanced i think (book: wheel lock firarms of the royal armouries, Craeme Rimmer, page 25)