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Primitive Firearms (Read 1280 times)
Archaic Arms
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Primitive Firearms
Aug 1st, 2020 at 11:59am
 
Firelance, Handgonnes, Matchlocks, etc.

Following the evolution of firearms since their genesis is a topic that I find very interesting, especially when comparing their capabilities to competing technologies of the time e.g crossbows, or armour.
I also think for the most part, medieval firearms in particular, are very much misunderstood in terms of their power, as well as safety concerns to the user. Along with this, ingenious developments such as the powder chamber of the Tannenberg handgonne (1399), tend to be completely overlooked, along with why almost all handgonnes lacked pan-covers. 

Lots to talk about and lots to elaborate on, but just gauging to see whether there is any interest in this topic.
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Lewis
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ghost0311-8541
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Re: Primitive Firearms
Reply #1 - Aug 1st, 2020 at 10:14pm
 
Here a primitive fire arm. 


https://youtu.be/hy6vuSpA92g
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AncientCraftwork
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Re: Primitive Firearms
Reply #2 - Aug 2nd, 2020 at 9:16am
 
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All Glory to God forever and ever, amen
 
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Archaic Arms
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Re: Primitive Firearms
Reply #3 - Aug 2nd, 2020 at 1:23pm
 
ghost0311-8541 wrote on Aug 1st, 2020 at 10:14pm:
Here a primitive fire arm. 


https://youtu.be/hy6vuSpA92g


Haha, well that certainly is primitive!
Reminds me of 17th century pressurized air guns, but they used bullets of course instead of darts.
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Lewis
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Archaic Arms
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Re: Primitive Firearms
Reply #4 - Aug 2nd, 2020 at 1:36pm
 
AncientCraftwork wrote on Aug 2nd, 2020 at 9:16am:


Yes it is a rather interesting video, which is unfortunately quite short. I believe I actually had a chat to these two at a medieval festival last year, and asked them a few questions.
I would like to know whether they used medieval-type powder for this experiment, which behaves quite differently than its later, granulated form. The bronze 'gun on a pole' is the style that would be most typical in the 14th century, and would have made for the most interesting 'versus'.
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Lewis
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Archaic Arms
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Re: Primitive Firearms
Reply #5 - Aug 2nd, 2020 at 1:50pm
 
Unfortunately the video no longer exists, but someone by the name of Alexander Spiridinov solved the 'dilemma' around why handgonnes rarely had covers for the priming pan. He demonstrated in the video that serpentine powder (the gunpowder of the time) would stick together, as well as to the pan when squashed with the thumb. The gun could then be tilted at any angle (even upside down) without the priming powder falling out. Another added benefit of this, is that it would give roughly a 2 second fuse effect once lit, so that the gunner could aim before the gun went off (that's why firing from the hip makes no sense).

I would love to see this aspect of medieval firearms demonstrated at reenactments, but practically no one seems to know about it.
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Lewis
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