Two Late Gothic Tiller Guns, ca. 1400-20 and 1450

Spiridonov · 22nd September 2014, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcus den toom

That second one reminds me of these tiller guns in this manuscript: Martin le Franc (c. 1410 – 1461): Le Champion des Dames. Flandres 1442. Bibliothèque royale de Belgique, Bruxelles 9466, Fol. 4r. Found on Pinterest.

The tiller guns depicted here seem to have an ignition mechanism integrated with it?

I was thinking about this picture about 2-3 years ago. Then I have came to the conclusion that it just flexible steel spring fitted by nails from one end and tinder grasped in another end. And it seems that handgonners push on the free end of the spring by his thumbs to bend it so that tinder go into the touch hole. It doesn't look like "classic" serpentine

Matchlock · 10th October 2014, 08:47 PM

Shame on me -

I have to admit that I did not notice my friend Marcus's post - thank you so much, Alexender, my Russian friend, for pointing it out to me.

Marcus, those illustrations are really great.
If it were not for your effort, and spending many hours searching the web for such important sources, all of us students of weaponry would be far less enlightened ...

Also, your young eyes are much better than mine.

Anyway - without your hint, I would have overlooked that delicate long and flat igniting action hovering tightly above the surface of the barrel ...
Actually, that wormlike tinderholder seems to be spring loaded, or, as Alexender has suggested, be nothing but a leaf spring moved manually.
Alexender, I am convinced that your thinking, as always, is logical and correct.
I cannot imagine any other way how this action might possibly work.

With my very best wishes to Alexender and Marcus.
Michl/Michael

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10th October 2014, 08:47 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Shame on me - I have to admit that I did not notice my friend Marcus's post - thank you so much, Alexender, my Russian friend, for pointing it out to me. Marcus, those illustrations are really great. If it were not for your effort, and spending many hours searching the web for such important sources, all of us students of weaponry would be far less enlightened ... Also, your young eyes are much better than mine. Anyway - without your hint, I would have overlooked that delicate long and flat igniting action hovering tightly above the surface of the barrel ... Actually, that wormlike tinderholder seems to be spring loaded, or, as Alexender has suggested, be nothing but a leaf spring moved manually. Alexender, I am convinced that your thinking, as always, is logical and correct. I cannot imagine any other way how this action might possibly work. With my very best wishes to Alexender and Marcus. Michl/Michael . Last edited by fernando; 11th October 2014 at 11:50 AM.