What is that guy doing?

The Miner '49er · Sep 21, 2024

Most of us have seen this drawing many times before but it puzzles me. Can anyone suggest what the guy on the right is applying to the touch hole? Unless those medieval fingers were a lot tougher than mine, and he is igniting the handgonne, I bet he will only do it once. Any ideas?

Ed C. · Sep 21, 2024

He is very, very fast?

The Miner '49er · Sep 21, 2024

Ed C. said:
He is very, very fast?

He better be, but if not I bet from that day forward they called him 'Ol Eight Fingers.

Canute Rex · Sep 21, 2024

I'd consider that drawing an artist's fantasy. Look at the way the other man is holding the gonne. No way he could handle the recoil in that position. The drawing style looks Victorian. I'll bet someone said,

"I need a drawing of one man holding a primitive hand cannon and another man setting it off with a hot coal. Both wearing armor."

"Should I do any research first?"

"No, we're on a deadline."

The Miner '49er · Sep 21, 2024

Yep, I believe you nailed it. Good one! :thumb:

Sam squanch · Sep 21, 2024

He may be priming it with a small amount of fine powder mixed with a binder to press fit in the flash hole. Then he would light it.

mortarman · Sep 22, 2024

Or maybe they're using it for another purpose?

SOLANCO · Sep 22, 2024

The fellow holding the gonne might need a dentist.

The Miner '49er · Sep 22, 2024

@Sam squanch, I never thought of that, but all joking aside, I think you're onto the most plausible explanation. @mortarman, could those two be Cheech and Chong's ancestors?

Sam squanch · Sep 22, 2024

I read that Indian matchlocks without a pan cover had priming mixed with a flammable binder, and it would stay put in the pan. So maybe that is the reason for the picture.

PhDBrewer · Sep 23, 2024

Maybe they thought it was a pipe...
Loading a bowl... of something. Tobacco was not discovered yet...
jokes aside...
What in the world is this fighting technique?

ChrisPer · Sep 23, 2024

It most likely was AI (artist intelligence) from verbal prompts.
But remember, what we call matchlocks we assume were lit from burning string.
What does 'luntenschloss' mean? I understand the backup matchlocks in wheellocks used a dry fungus lint, that formed a coal and burned slow.

The Miner '49er · Sep 23, 2024

@ChrisPer, luntenschloss is matchlock in German.

ChrisPer · Sep 23, 2024

Thanks! You are right - and 'lunten' referes to the dry fungus punk match.

I think that could be what we see being used in a pinch to light the OP's powder - except the picture is so modern that I just think the artist interpreted the action of lighting a touch hole for himself.

I learned not to light safety fuse with a BIC lighter because it hurts and you say 'I was dumb! Again!' And I wouldn't light that handgonne off with a pinch of match, for the same reason.

TobJohn · Sep 23, 2024

PhDBrewer said:
Maybe they thought it was a pipe...
Loading a bowl... of something. Tobacco was not discovered yet...

The artist took some liberties in illustrating them, but these two time travelers are the most likely culprit

Dusty_Traveler · Sep 23, 2024

TobJohn said:
View attachment 350552
The artist took some liberties in illustrating them, but these two time travelers are the most likely culprit

Noooo Waaaayyy!!

2 shots · Sep 23, 2024

its a bong... i have been told

Whitworth · Sep 23, 2024

I'm guessing it's glowing punk to light off the charge.

sethwyo · Sep 23, 2024

Consider the recent picture in the news of that fella in the Navy who was firing his piece off with the scope on backwards and the lens covers shut

Black_Feather · Sep 23, 2024

Man, I want a hand gonne so bad.... The rifle shoppe has em in a kit for (you have to buy a wood pole at home depot) http://www.therifleshoppe.com/catalog_pages/hand_gonnes/hand_gonnes.htm vetran arms also sells em in a completed form but at a higher price https://veteranarms.com/shop/muskets/Medieval-Handgonne-American-Hasta-Brand-p380105911. Here in modern times, you can use a piece of hobby cannon fuse to touch it off.... Sounds pretty sweeet...

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