Ca. 1500 to 1650: Bandeliers for Arquebusiers and Musketeers

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 01:27 PM

Many good musketeer's bandeliers of Dutch type are preserved in the Emden armory, Northwest Germany. I took the following photos when attending that armory in 1987 and 1992.
As stated before, all these Emden bandeliers have a sturdy, pleated lether pouch with draw strings, an oval piece of felt for resting the heavy musket, and either a brass ring or a leather loop for a portion of matchcord.

In my collection there are three bandeliers from the Emden Armory, ca. 1600-20. One of them has attached a powder measure that is much heavier than the others made of wood; it consists of lead and has a removable leaden cap, both covered with black leather. I cannot think of any practical reason except a better prevention against moisture, but I know that at least the caps of such measures were sometimes made of lead in England, and I attached a few samples. But even then: a complete bandelier consisting of leaden chargers would have been simply too heavy, so what?
Please see also
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18290

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 01:55 PM

More of my Emden bandeliers.

The measurements and data of an average Emden musketeer's bandelier are:

overall length of belt: ca. 120 cm
width of belt: 5 cm
smooth upper side tooled with parallel lines and dyed with a black lacquer, underside rough and brown
10 powder measures made of oakwood, 14 x 3.5 cm, suspended on twisted round and blackened leather strings
weight ca. 700-800 g.

I also attached two close-ups of the leaden flask on one of the bandeliers.

Finally there are some photos of extremely rare and well-made Swedish bandeliers, ca. 1620, the belt consisting of seal skin.

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 07:39 PM

Close-ups of one of the sturdy, pleated leather ball pouches with its lid and draw strings and its sewings.
At the bottom one of the brass rings (now heavily patinated to a blackish color) for carrying a portion of matchcord.

m

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 08:23 PM

There are two Emden variants as a solution to fix a length of matchcord to the bandelier: a brass ring (now patinated to a greenish black) or a leather loop.

Please note the way the piece of felt for resting the heavy musket on the shoulder more comfortably is sewn to the main belt.

And enjoy the best and most detailed photos ever taken of wonderfully preserved, 400 year-old musketeers bandeliers!

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 08:37 PM

Finally there are some photos of extremely rare and well-made Swedish bandeliers, ca. 1620, the main belt consisting of seal skin (!).

I do not know of any records of the use of bandeliers after the end of the Thirty Years War (1648). We may therefore assume that by the mid-17th c., leather cartridge/cartouche bags had taken over. Similar to the 16th c. patrons, they were fitted with a wooden block, slightly curved to fit the musketeer's belly, and drilled with compartments to receive an average of 10-15 paper cartridges.

Attached are

- a view of a row of such bags in the Emden Armory, mid- to 2nd half 17th c.; they are displayed right under the bandeliers

- a plain, tooled leather Austrian cartridge bag

- two similar samples in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Wien (Army Museum Vienna), one showing the inner wooden core.

Best,
Michael

Marcus den toom · 17th March 2014, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Many good musketeer's bandeliers of Dutch type are preserved in the Emden armory, Northwest Germany. I took the following photos when attending that armory in 1987 and 1992.
As stated before, all these Emden bandeliers have a sturdy, pleated lether pouch with draw strings, an oval piece of felt for resting the heavy musket, and either a brass ring or a leather loop for a portion of matchcord.

In my collection there are three bandeliers from the Emden Armory, ca. 1600-20. One of them has attached a powder measure that is much heavier than the others made of wood; it consists of lead and has a removable leaden cap, both covered with black leather. I cannot think of any practical reason except a better prevention against moisture, but I know that at least the caps of such measures were sometimes made of lead in England, and I attached a few samples. But even then: a complete bandelier consisting of leaden chargers would have been simply too heavy, so what?
Please see also
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18290

Hi Michael,

I posted a possible answer to your question about the lead powder flask, but i am afraid i was a bit to early since you where still posting more images (etc).

Could the lead powder flask be some sort of weight to keep the bandelier in place?

best,
Marcus

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

Hi Michael,

I posted a possible answer to your question about the lead powder flask, but i am afraid i was a bit to early since you where still posting more images (etc).

Could the lead powder flask be some sort of weight to keep the bandelier in place?

best,
Marcus

Hi Marcus,

Please forgive me, I overlooked your query indeed being too busy taking and loading up tons of photos.
I do not think that that leaden flask was an apt means to keep the bandelier hanging straight.

Best,
Michael

Martin Moser · 17th March 2014, 08:41 PM

The lead flask could perhaps have been used for the priming powder. Dpeneding on the actual size of the flask, this would stay longer in the flask than a single charge. So if resistance to moisture played a role, this might be a reason.

Michael, again great details, your pictures are invaluable!

Matchlock · 17th March 2014, 08:45 PM

Hi Martin,

That's basically an interesting point.

On the other hand: all known priming flasks on bandeliers have characteristic nozzles, and one of my three Emden samples is actually the only one of about 25 samples I did research on to feature a leaden flask.

And thanks for appreciating my photos; good photos are the most important thing; you cannot tell in a whole book what everybody can see and grasp when looking at a good picture!

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 18th March 2014, 05:26 PM

More detailed studies on those Swedish (?) bandeliers, the main belt consisting of seal hide.

m

Matchlock · 18th March 2014, 08:46 PM

A very spacious but delicate leather pouch on an arquebusier's bandelier of Swiss type, 1st half to mid-16th century, in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (NM) Nuremberg; the small powder measures are of tinned iron. This enormous pouch certainly not only answered the purpose of holding balls but had other small accouterments as well: e.g. for wadding and cleaning tools like scourers etc. that were screwed to the threaded finial of the ramrod.
A bandelier of the same type is preserved in the reserve collection of the Historisches Museum Basel, Switzerland; the straight edges of the trapezoid powder flask denote that it is early 16th c., the leather is tooled with an episcopal staff, the city arms of Basel.
The six small iron flasks are tinned and covered with thin leather (now mostly missing). Cf. my earliest bandelier, posts #1 and 2. I believe the powder measures on my bandelier were originally covered with leather as well, just to keep them from rattling; also, the tannin acid of the leather may account for their being heavily rusted. Today, only the leather cover of the match hider lid is still present.

Author's photos, 1993.

To Martin Moser:
The small round, brown priming flask with the integral stand is also early 16th c. and exactly the type to go perfectly with your snap-tinderlock arquebus! Sadly, some of the photos are out of focus.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 21st March 2014, 04:23 PM

Contemporary illustrations of a musketeer equiped with his bandelier, from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe Van Roers, Mvsqvetten Ende Spiessen. Achtervolgende De Ordre Van Syn Excellentie Maurits, Prince Van Orangie, Graue Van Nassau, Etc, Gouverneur Ende Capiteyn Generael Ouer Gelderlant, Hollant, Zeelant, Vtrecht, Overyssel, Etc., S. Graven Hague, 1607 (somtimes given as 1608).

An incomplete but colored copy was sold at Bonhams.

m

17th March 2014, 01:55 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More of my Emden bandeliers. The measurements and data of an average Emden musketeer's bandelier are: overall length of belt: ca. 120 cm width of belt: 5 cm smooth upper side tooled with parallel lines and dyed with a black lacquer, underside rough and brown 10 powder measures made of oakwood, 14 x 3.5 cm, suspended on twisted round and blackened leather strings weight ca. 700-800 g. I also attached two close-ups of the leaden flask on one of the bandeliers. Finally there are some photos of extremely rare and well-made Swedish bandeliers, ca. 1620, the belt consisting of seal skin. Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 17th March 2014 at 07:59 PM.

17th March 2014, 07:39 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Close-ups of one of the sturdy, pleated leather ball pouches with its lid and draw strings and its sewings. At the bottom one of the brass rings (now heavily patinated to a blackish color) for carrying a portion of matchcord. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 17th March 2014 at 08:15 PM.

17th March 2014, 08:23 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	There are two Emden variants as a solution to fix a length of matchcord to the bandelier: a brass ring (now patinated to a greenish black) or a leather loop. Please note the way the piece of felt for resting the heavy musket on the shoulder more comfortably is sewn to the main belt. And enjoy the best and most detailed photos ever taken of wonderfully preserved, 400 year-old musketeers bandeliers! Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 17th March 2014 at 09:04 PM.

17th March 2014, 08:37 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Finally there are some photos of extremely rare and well-made Swedish bandeliers, ca. 1620, the main belt consisting of seal skin (!). I do not know of any records of the use of bandeliers after the end of the Thirty Years War (1648). We may therefore assume that by the mid-17th c., leather cartridge/cartouche bags had taken over. Similar to the 16th c. patrons, they were fitted with a wooden block, slightly curved to fit the musketeer's belly, and drilled with compartments to receive an average of 10-15 paper cartridges. Attached are - a view of a row of such bags in the Emden Armory, mid- to 2nd half 17th c.; they are displayed right under the bandeliers - a plain, tooled leather Austrian cartridge bag - two similar samples in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Wien (Army Museum Vienna), one showing the inner wooden core. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 17th March 2014 at 11:53 PM.

18th March 2014, 05:26 PM	#10
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	More detailed studies on those Swedish (?) bandeliers, the main belt consisting of seal hide. m Attached Images

17th March 2014, 01:27 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Many good musketeer's bandeliers of Dutch type are preserved in the Emden armory, Northwest Germany. I took the following photos when attending that armory in 1987 and 1992. As stated before, all these Emden bandeliers have a sturdy, pleated lether pouch with draw strings, an oval piece of felt for resting the heavy musket, and either a brass ring or a leather loop for a portion of matchcord. In my collection there are three bandeliers from the Emden Armory, ca. 1600-20. One of them has attached a powder measure that is much heavier than the others made of wood; it consists of lead and has a removable leaden cap, both covered with black leather. I cannot think of any practical reason except a better prevention against moisture, but I know that at least the caps of such measures were sometimes made of lead in England, and I attached a few samples. But even then: a complete bandelier consisting of leaden chargers would have been simply too heavy, so what? Please see also http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18290 Attached Images

17th March 2014, 08:41 PM	#8
Martin Moser Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Near Munich, Bavaria, Germany Posts: 12	The lead flask could perhaps have been used for the priming powder. Dpeneding on the actual size of the flask, this would stay longer in the flask than a single charge. So if resistance to moisture played a role, this might be a reason. Michael, again great details, your pictures are invaluable!

17th March 2014, 08:45 PM	#9
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Martin, That's basically an interesting point. On the other hand: all known priming flasks on bandeliers have characteristic nozzles, and one of my three Emden samples is actually the only one of about 25 samples I did research on to feature a leaden flask. And thanks for appreciating my photos; good photos are the most important thing; you cannot tell in a whole book what everybody can see and grasp when looking at a good picture! Best, Michael

18th March 2014, 08:46 PM	#11
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A very spacious but delicate leather pouch on an arquebusier's bandelier of Swiss type, 1st half to mid-16th century, in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (NM) Nuremberg; the small powder measures are of tinned iron. This enormous pouch certainly not only answered the purpose of holding balls but had other small accouterments as well: e.g. for wadding and cleaning tools like scourers etc. that were screwed to the threaded finial of the ramrod. A bandelier of the same type is preserved in the reserve collection of the Historisches Museum Basel, Switzerland; the straight edges of the trapezoid powder flask denote that it is early 16th c., the leather is tooled with an episcopal staff, the city arms of Basel. The six small iron flasks are tinned and covered with thin leather (now mostly missing). Cf. my earliest bandelier, posts #1 and 2. I believe the powder measures on my bandelier were originally covered with leather as well, just to keep them from rattling; also, the tannin acid of the leather may account for their being heavily rusted. Today, only the leather cover of the match hider lid is still present. Author's photos, 1993. To Martin Moser: The small round, brown priming flask with the integral stand is also early 16th c. and exactly the type to go perfectly with your snap-tinderlock arquebus! Sadly, some of the photos are out of focus. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 18th March 2014 at 10:19 PM.

21st March 2014, 04:23 PM	#12
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Contemporary illustrations of a musketeer equiped with his bandelier, from Jacob de Gheyn's Wapenhandelinghe Van Roers, Mvsqvetten Ende Spiessen. Achtervolgende De Ordre Van Syn Excellentie Maurits, Prince Van Orangie, Graue Van Nassau, Etc, Gouverneur Ende Capiteyn Generael Ouer Gelderlant, Hollant, Zeelant, Vtrecht, Overyssel, Etc., S. Graven Hague, 1607 (somtimes given as 1608). An incomplete but colored copy was sold at Bonhams. m Attached Images