Breech-loading hand gonne from 1480

[Flint62Smoothie]

Gotta put this somewhere in the build schedule ... a MUST have!

 

[TobJohn]

If you figure out the bronze casting, let us know!

 

[russellshaffer]

This is maybe the simplest and most practical breechloader I have seen.

 

[Commodore Swab]

Any more pictures?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

None ... maybe our resident reseacher @TobJohn can find more!

 

[TobJohn]

None ... maybe our resident reseacher @TobJohn can find more!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpost.php?p=91585&postcount=49

 

[Commodore Swab]

Would be pretty easy to make. It looks like the insert is thin like a cartridge? If so a legitimate breach loader unlike cannons that incorporate the breach into the block. It would explain why the ball is loaded first. Essentially a powder measure insert.

 

[rickystl]

WOW !!! Talk about an interesting piece. Even back then, there seemed no shortage of the adventurous inventor types. Actually, a very clever idea. The brass cartridge would likely eliminate any leaked gas when firing. One of the more interesting items I've seen. Thanks for posting.

Rick

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Rick,
Most early cartridges were iron, but still ahead of its time!
I have fancied making an iron one of these for a long time, since Michael first brought it to my attention.

Best,
R.

 

[Jaeger]

If you're going to have a Büchse, make sure it's a Stangenbüchse!. That's my zwei Pfennigs worth.

 

[TobJohn]

I have fancied making an iron one of these for a long time, since Michael first brought it to my attention.

Best,
R.

On the other hand, you may be the only person here with the space to bronze cast and safely test fire, if you have ever been looking for an excuse to set up a foundry in your back yard.

 

[BillinOregon]

Pukka, I assume you would mill and bore one out of iron? Seems casting one would be quite a challenged.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Bill,
Two young lads I know were going to cast a bronze gonne barrel, but wound up moving back to England.
I don't have time to cast something even if I knew what I was doing!

Yes, I'd bore the barrel.
I keep looking at the likely bits when I walk past them!

 

[Commodore Swab]

Bill,
Two young lads I know were going to cast a bronze gonne barrel, but wound up moving back to England.
I don't have time to cast something even if I knew what I was doing!

Yes, I'd bore the barrel.
I keep looking at the likely bits when I walk past them!

I'll be putting my foundry back together this summer

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Would be pretty easy to make. It looks like the insert is thin like a cartridge? If so a legitimate breach loader unlike cannons that incorporate the breach into the block. It would explain why the ball is loaded first. Essentially a powder measure insert.

So, the ball is inserted followed by the powder carrier, and gravity keeps the ball resting against the mouth of the powder carrier, OR does the ball rest against a spot where the barrel is tighter and thus the ball will swage into the barrel when fired similar to a screw barrel pistol? Even if smoothbore, swaging the ball would give pretty good performance as far as muzzle velocity OR is this rifled???

LD

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Dave,
I am sure the ball will be oversize compared to the bore of the barrel, so it sits against a small ledge or step.
I imagine it will work just the same as the later guns with a turn off barrel just like you suggest!

 

[Commodore Swab]

Doubt it was rifled considering it's bronze

 

[Pukka Bundook]

I too am sure it won't be rifled Commadore.

Mind, we must remember that the earliest rifled arm known belonged to Maxmilian 1, and made between 1498 and 1503.
This rifle has a bronze barrel, multi-groove rifling, and peep sights.

 

[billraby]

If you figure out the bronze casting, let us know!

I would not cast that. You would do much better to work from a piece of bar stock.

 

[Commodore Swab]

I would not cast that. You would do much better to work from a piece of bar stock.

I disagree, many reproduction early cannons are machined and just look "wrong" a hand made mold with the imperfections is the way to go