Photos from museum of Tabor. Czechia

[Spiridonov]

can anybody aswear my questions?

[Matchlock]

Hi Alexander,

As to your questions about the early Pilsen handgun:

1. I do not know the caliber.

2. The marks on the stocks are no doubt owner's or arsenal markings. I will try and zoom them from the 100 year old photograph.

3. The barrel and stock seem to be connected only by means of the hook.

4. I don't know.

5. The iron finial of the ramrod is a scourer meant for cleaning the barrel walls.

6. I don't know.

7. I date the piece ca. 1430, the barrel may be as early as the late 14th century.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A zoom of the mark on the left side of the butt; it seems to be a simple arsenal or housemark.

Michael

[Matchlock]

Hi Alexander,

I did some research for you and found the data of that early Prague handgun/arquebus in an 1898 copy of the Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde:

The overall length of the gun is 113 cm, the barrel length 29.5 cm, the bore is 27 cm long and the caliber is 33 mm, the weight is 7.5 kg.

Unfortunately no information is provided on the color and finishing of the stock.

As I said I believe that the barrel is the oldest part of the gun, of. ca. 1390-1400 - hark, Fernando! - and the hook and stock are working additions of ca. 1430.

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

THank you! What do you think about bossibility of using this weapon at 1470 year? For axample Mosi gever was using about 60 years

[Matchlock]

Sure it is possible that that gun was in use up to the 1470's.

Best,
Michael

[SVEN]

You have posted several fotos from what I understand a German book.
"Handbüchse mit verriegeltem Ringhaken", "Diese Hakenbüchsen ist aus Schmiedeeisen", "Stangenbüchse mit ursprunglichem Schaft". Would be interesting to know the Title of this book or if they are several the titels.