goldnow
Sr. Member
- Apr 10, 2008
- 386
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- Tesoro Vaquero
This is an update on a find of a few months ago that I posted here thinking maybe it was a fireworks or a salute cannon from the 1800's. They are collectible, but obviously a piece was missing; the base. After some unrewarding research I put it on the shelf and forgot about it.
Original post link; http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,249083.msg1780783.html#msg1780783
Then I posted another find a week ago of a swan formed wheelock gun key/spanner and another poster (sorry I can't remember exactly who at the moment, but thank you) gave me a link which led to another and Voila! I found out what my original piece is;
The original hand gun, or in the correct vernacular "handgonne" or "hand cannon". circa 1380.
Basically they were little cannons that you lit with a match by hand, then in 1410 they added to the invention a mechanism (called the serpentine) to light the gunpowder mechanically which is known as the Matchlock, then the Wheelock was introduced, then the Flintlock, then the Colt, until what we have today as a hand gun....The last picture shows the order in which guns developed.
Mine would be attached to the end of a long wood stock and held in place with iron bands.
The second to last picture of museum pieces gives you a good idea...
This one is 15mm bore, and is only 4" long. They were not very accurate, but made a lot of noise in battle.
If you google " handgonne images" or "hand cannon images" you will be able to see many variations of this early invention. Wikipedia also has an article on them.
I spent hours trying to find out its value amongst all the history of the piece, but to no avail. They are rarer than rare. Only some museums seem to have a few examples of them. No two are exactly the same. If anyone can help on evaluating this handgonne, I'd be most appreciative.
Original post link; http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,249083.msg1780783.html#msg1780783
Then I posted another find a week ago of a swan formed wheelock gun key/spanner and another poster (sorry I can't remember exactly who at the moment, but thank you) gave me a link which led to another and Voila! I found out what my original piece is;
The original hand gun, or in the correct vernacular "handgonne" or "hand cannon". circa 1380.
Basically they were little cannons that you lit with a match by hand, then in 1410 they added to the invention a mechanism (called the serpentine) to light the gunpowder mechanically which is known as the Matchlock, then the Wheelock was introduced, then the Flintlock, then the Colt, until what we have today as a hand gun....The last picture shows the order in which guns developed.
Mine would be attached to the end of a long wood stock and held in place with iron bands.
The second to last picture of museum pieces gives you a good idea...
This one is 15mm bore, and is only 4" long. They were not very accurate, but made a lot of noise in battle.
If you google " handgonne images" or "hand cannon images" you will be able to see many variations of this early invention. Wikipedia also has an article on them.
I spent hours trying to find out its value amongst all the history of the piece, but to no avail. They are rarer than rare. Only some museums seem to have a few examples of them. No two are exactly the same. If anyone can help on evaluating this handgonne, I'd be most appreciative.