Loading manual of arms and necessary equipment for hand gonners.

[The Miner '49er]

We all have seen pictures of handgonners firing their weapons. Sometimes they apply the match themselves and other times an assistant mans the linstock. Thing is I've never seen a container of any kind for powder or balls. No horn, no ball bag or bolt container, no ramrod, and no bandolier of wooden cylinders similar to the "apostles." Does anyone know what gear the 14th and early 15th century guys carried, which of the two was the loader, did they switch off much like today's sniper/spotter, and what was the procedure for follow-up shots? I know this is a lot to ask, and maybe the answers are lost to history. Can anyone help?

 

[TobJohn]

The historical method, according to this book: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/medieval-handgonnes-9781849081559/
Is a little leather bag with powder and ball. The powder is poured directly into the hand to vaguely measure, and then poured into the muzzle. A ramrod could be tucked into the belt.

Powder horns, with the spout at the wide end, start to appear near the end of the 15th century and are the early well documented step to more conventional powder flasks.

There are conflicting claims on if it were a crew served weapon or an individual one. If viewed as a heavy crossbow replacement, it seems reasonable as a one person weapon, given its faster rate of fire and it’s less awkward to operate than a crossbow with pulley systems or cranequins

 

[TobJohn]

The gospel for our kind:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16149

 

[The Miner '49er]

Thank you, TobJohn, that's some great info. I'll check out those two references you cited. Thanks again!

 

[The Miner '49er]

TobJohn, I just realized that I ordered the book that you mentioned, and it's supposed to arrive today.

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

The historical method, according to this book: https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/medieval-handgonnes-9781849081559/
Is a little leather bag with powder and ball. The powder is poured directly into the hand to vaguely measure, and then poured into the muzzle. A ramrod could be tucked into the belt.

Powder horns, with the spout at the wide end, start to appear near the end of the 15th century and are the early well documented step to more conventional powder flasks.

There are conflicting claims on if it were a crew served weapon or an individual one. If viewed as a heavy crossbow replacement, it seems reasonable as a one person weapon, given its faster rate of fire and it’s less awkward to operate than a crossbow with pulley systems or cranequins

Grandad showed us how to do powder measuring in the field by holding a ball in the (slightly cupped) hand, then pouring powder over it until it was almost covered. Pluck out the ball, pour powder into barrel, drop the ball in followed by wad or leaves and ram it down tightly seated. Try this until you do it with consistency; then weigh the powder charges. I found it a satisfactory quick reload method, though not always my first choice.

 

[TobJohn]

TobJohn, I just realized that I ordered the book that you mentioned, and it's supposed to arrive today.

Let us know how you like the book! I found it very informative, but its claim that arquebuses were used at the fall of Constantinople seems a little too early, compared to other sources and surviving guns.

 

[The Miner '49er]

Let us know how you like the book! I found it very informative, but its claim that arquebuses were used at the fall of Constantinople seems a little too early, compared to other sources and surviving guns.

That book was a great read. Pity it wasn't about 400 pages long. That plus the vikingsword site are terrific resources, thanks for the tip. The battle of Cerignola in 1503 certainly showed the value of combining matchlock arquebusiers and superior tactics.

 

[TobJohn]

That book was a great read. Pity it wasn't about 400 pages long. That plus the vikingsword site are terrific resources, thanks for the tip. The battle of Cerignola in 1503 certainly showed the value of combining matchlock arquebusiers and superior tactics.

Cerignola is particularly fascinating because its considered one of the first battles won by gunfire and it was due to the defenders using an entrenched position, something attacking forces are still struggling to overcome 500+ years later in Ukraine!

The Italian wars are fascinating and under appreciated period of history. Guns, "knights" (gendarmes/men at arms), and pikemen/billmen all being used and experimented with to see how best to adapt to rapidly changing technology. The several decades the war covered saw the invention of the classic "pike and shot", but there were some earlier battles that swiss pikeman were able to win with just their pikes and elan.