Snapping matchlock arquebus from еhe Bavarian manuscript

[Spiridonov]

Specially for Michael

Pictury from the manuscript of last third of 15 centuries "Feuerwerks- und Büchsenmeisterbuch" (Probably, there is an error in dating but clothing and armour talk us that it is a really 15 century) It is amazing but we can see the earliest pictury of snapping matchlock. Probably, mechanism of this type
You can download this book here:
http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/...036875/images/

[Samik]

Thank you very much for this Spidorov!

Though not my area of interest, but man that's one hell of a gun !.. Note the bowman near the gunner; it appears that the arquebusier was at this early stage still a part of a coherent "missle" unit rather than a separate one. Also, the war-wagon very much reminds me of the one used by the Hussites
(note the nasty looking "scythe-blades" attached to the side of each cartwheel.)

Regards,
Samuel

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by Samik

(note the nasty looking "scythe-blades" attached to the side of each cartwheel.)

It looks like one horse is going to have a bobbed tail

[Matchlock]

Thank you so much, Alexander, for posting these!

I fully agree with your opinion and the dating which is clearly supported by the style of the Gothic armor (ca. 1470-80).

Also the existing arquebus that you are referring to (in the Vienna armory) is indeed very closely related to the one in the drawing. It is known, though, that the snap tinder lock serpentine on the Vienna gun is a modern replacement.

Well done!

Best,
Michael

[Spiridonov]

Yes, but the picture has been drawn not later than 1480 (Volker Schmidtchen dates this manuscript as 1460-70). And it means that this earliest image of snapping matchlock. It is a very AMAZING for me

[Samik]

Originally Posted by bluelake

It looks like one horse is going to have a bobbed tail

as well as shaved hindlegs

But man this manuscript is a pure gem , theres also a mounted
proto-Cuirassier



Regards,
Samuel