Interesting arquebuse

Spiridonov · 20th October 2010, 10:01 AM

About 1490(?)
Length 1792mm
Barrel length 980mm
Calibre 18.8mm
Michael, hallo. I have any questions for you. What is the date of this weapon? Is the stock original or not?

Best wishes!

Matchlock · 20th October 2010, 02:43 PM

Hi Alexender,

You sure have found another remarkable early firearm!

As the touchhole is on the right hand side and is already surrounded by a rectangular pan shaped trough, and as the rear barrel plug already has a small square sort of tang, I would atribute the piece to the early 16th century, so we really are very close in our minds!

The stock may well be the original.

Where is this piece preserved? Could I have some high resolution image?

I attach my own photos of a very similar haquebut in the reserve collection of the Swiss Landesmuseum Zürich, the wrought iron barrel struck with a Nuremberg workshop mark, the pan probably a working life addition, the stock of comparable shape and stamped with the date 1519 in Gothic cyphers. Please note that in the 15th and early 16th centuries, the cypher 5 often looked like a modern 7 but the Gohic numeral 7 actually looked like this: ^

Best wishes,
Mikhail

Pukka Bundook · 20th October 2010, 03:43 PM

Hmmm....
Interesting gun!
I would have thought that the stock/tiller migh have been replaced at some point, though quite a long time ago! ...replaced, or heavily cleaned I would have said. The reason for this, is the apparent lack of handling marks, and the stains from the metal not being too pronounced
I could very well be wrong!!!
Is the tiller pointing somewhat "up-hill"? from the photo, it appears higher at the butt-end than at the wrist or grip.

Michael,
Hello!
On the gun you show, do you think it was at one time fitted with a serpentine? I am only going by the apparent hole in the stock below and behind the tang.

Best.
Richard.

Spiridonov · 20th October 2010, 04:35 PM

Michael, thank you very much for comments. I has just found the website which include this photos
http://www.feuerwaffen.ch/halbhaken.htm

Matchlock · 20th October 2010, 04:43 PM

Hello Richard,

You may be right in doubting the age of the stock. I have seen many in museums, especially Vienna, which, though being original, had been robbed of all their patina.

Anyway, I could not judge just on the grounds of these pics.

Well, I am positive there never was a serpentine on the Zürich Haken. The hole you meant would be much too big for a nail pivot of a serpentine but was for a wooden or iron transversal bolt that went thru the 'tang' and fixed it to the stock.

Best,
Michael

20th October 2010, 10:01 AM	#1
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Interesting arquebuse About 1490(?) Length 1792mm Barrel length 980mm Calibre 18.8mm Michael, hallo. I have any questions for you. What is the date of this weapon? Is the stock original or not? Best wishes! Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 20th October 2010 at 06:09 PM. Reason: Correct title

20th October 2010, 02:43 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Alexender, You sure have found another remarkable early firearm! As the touchhole is on the right hand side and is already surrounded by a rectangular pan shaped trough, and as the rear barrel plug already has a small square sort of tang, I would atribute the piece to the early 16th century, so we really are very close in our minds! The stock may well be the original. Where is this piece preserved? Could I have some high resolution image? I attach my own photos of a very similar haquebut in the reserve collection of the Swiss Landesmuseum Zürich, the wrought iron barrel struck with a Nuremberg workshop mark, the pan probably a working life addition, the stock of comparable shape and stamped with the date 1519 in Gothic cyphers. Please note that in the 15th and early 16th centuries, the cypher 5 often looked like a modern 7 but the Gohic numeral 7 actually looked like this: ^ Best wishes, Mikhail Attached Images

20th October 2010, 03:43 PM	#3
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Hmmm.... Interesting gun! I would have thought that the stock/tiller migh have been replaced at some point, though quite a long time ago! ...replaced, or heavily cleaned I would have said. The reason for this, is the apparent lack of handling marks, and the stains from the metal not being too pronounced I could very well be wrong!!! Is the tiller pointing somewhat "up-hill"? from the photo, it appears higher at the butt-end than at the wrist or grip. Michael, Hello! On the gun you show, do you think it was at one time fitted with a serpentine? I am only going by the apparent hole in the stock below and behind the tang. Best. Richard.

20th October 2010, 04:35 PM	#4
Spiridonov Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Russia, Leningrad Posts: 355	Michael, thank you very much for comments. I has just found the website which include this photos http://www.feuerwaffen.ch/halbhaken.htm

20th October 2010, 04:43 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hello Richard, You may be right in doubting the age of the stock. I have seen many in museums, especially Vienna, which, though being original, had been robbed of all their patina. Anyway, I could not judge just on the grounds of these pics. Well, I am positive there never was a serpentine on the Zürich Haken. The hole you meant would be much too big for a nail pivot of a serpentine but was for a wooden or iron transversal bolt that went thru the 'tang' and fixed it to the stock. Best, Michael