What is that guy doing?

[The Miner '49er]

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.]

He is very, very fast?

 

[The Miner '49er]

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]

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]

Yep, I believe you nailed it. Good one!

 

[Sam squanch]

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]

Or maybe they're using it for another purpose?

 

[SOLANCO]

The fellow holding the gonne might need a dentist.

 

[The Miner '49er]

@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]

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]

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]

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]

@ChrisPer, luntenschloss is matchlock in German.

 

[ChrisPer]

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]

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]

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]

its a bong... i have been told

 

[Whitworth]

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

 

[sethwyo]

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]

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...