Need Help Identifying an antique firearm

Matchlock · 25th May 2014, 05:05 PM

Hi Aptheo,

I would much appreciate your getting me in touch with both the Bowers Museum and the few people you mentioned!

Please pass on my email to them, together with my posts.

Basically, I do not exactly share your opinion that that arquebus in question originates from Asia, and was made there. The general shape of the gun, and features like the absence of a lock mechanism, all make me tentatively assign a very early date, and a European, maybe German, Bavarian/Franconian (Nuremberg?) background to it.

Before assuming that provenance with sufficient probability, though, I definitely need [[/B] needle-sharp high-resolution images of the gun, with a minimum of 7 MB per photo.
I also need to know the bore!
The brass pan is a later addition, and of Asian type - without a provision for a cover; the dovetailing for the original wrought iron pan, fitted with a pivoted swiveling cover, is still clearly visible.

Arquebus is the correct term for this small 'long' arm, its overall length of only 33.5 in, equaling 85 cm, and making it longer than a fine and important German (Nuremberg manufactured) Landsknecht arquebus or Halbhaken, with a recoil hook, dated 1516?, preserved in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, inv.no. A. 1977.65 up, measuring only 74 cm overall (topmost three attachments):
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ingrove+museum

For example, a fine Central Italian (Tuscan) Landsknecht arquebus of about 1520-30, in my collection (see three attachments), is 82 cm long, cal. 14 mm smoothbore:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...necht+arquebus

I am certain that mentioning a museum like the Bowers in Santa Ana, OC, California will not violate any forum rules, so please allow me to link their site here:
http://www.bowers.org/
http://www.bowers.org/index.php/coll...ent-collection
http://bowers.org/index.php/collecti...on-trabuco-gun

Best,
Michael

25th May 2014, 05:05 PM	#9
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Aptheo, I would much appreciate your getting me in touch with both the Bowers Museum and the few people you mentioned! Please pass on my email to them, together with my posts. Basically, I do not exactly share your opinion that that arquebus in question originates from Asia, and was made there. The general shape of the gun, and features like the absence of a lock mechanism, all make me tentatively assign a very early date, and a European, maybe German, Bavarian/Franconian (Nuremberg?) background to it. Before assuming that provenance with sufficient probability, though, I definitely need [[/B] needle-sharp high-resolution images of the gun, with a minimum of 7 MB per photo. I also need to know the bore! The brass pan is a later addition, and of Asian type - without a provision for a cover; the dovetailing for the original wrought iron pan, fitted with a pivoted swiveling cover, is still clearly visible. Arquebus is the correct term for this small 'long' arm, its overall length of only 33.5 in, equaling 85 cm, and making it longer than a fine and important German (Nuremberg manufactured) Landsknecht arquebus or Halbhaken, with a recoil hook, dated 1516?, preserved in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, inv.no. A. 1977.65 up, measuring only 74 cm overall (topmost three attachments): http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ingrove+museum For example, a fine Central Italian (Tuscan) Landsknecht arquebus of about 1520-30, in my collection (see three attachments), is 82 cm long, cal. 14 mm smoothbore: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...necht+arquebus I am certain that mentioning a museum like the Bowers in Santa Ana, OC, California will not violate any forum rules, so please allow me to link their site here: http://www.bowers.org/ http://www.bowers.org/index.php/coll...ent-collection http://bowers.org/index.php/collecti...on-trabuco-gun Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 25th May 2014 at 09:40 PM.