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Topic: Something for the gunners

Gwen
Member
Member # 126

posted 07-19-2005 12:25 AM

As posted on the Living History UK site:

"This photo was taken by a very friendy Aus chap called Martin Cazey who managed to capture the exact moment when the flame is at its best. "

I imagine it was the Rougham or Twinwood event. Having been there, I expect whatsisname with the floppy red hat can supply the details.

Enjoy!

Gwen

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

John McFarlin
Member
Member # 564

posted 07-19-2005 02:36 AM

Whoo-Hoo! Ye Fyrecrake!

Looks like an old 14th century/early 15th century gun there. Very cool.

John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus

Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

Dave Key
Member
Member # 17

posted 07-20-2005 08:07 AM

Had a similar pic many moons ago early in the early White Company ... much more interesting is looking at the negative, which showed the 'real' blast concentrated in the midst of the big bang. Useful for explaining to those who thought these weapons are just toys how much force actually comes out of a blank firing gun.

Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Gwen
Member
Member # 126

posted 07-20-2005 10:32 AM

There has been a good deal of banter going back and forth on the UK list from those in attendance about presenting the event promoter with a laundry bill for soiled linens. It seems when this went off it startled quite a few people.

Gwen

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Gordon
Member
Member # 597

posted 07-20-2005 05:34 PM

That's very cool! Looks like one of the cast ones that screws together like Mons Meg or the Dardanelles Gun (both from ca. 1450). You can see THREE puffs of smoke in the photo: The first primary one from the muzzle, the second at the breech end from the vent, and then... well, the third one in the middle from what looks to be the gap in the threads... just like the original ones! Very cool!

Thanks for posting that one!

Cheers,

Gordon

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"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"

Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

Ulfgar
Member
Member # 225

posted 07-27-2005 05:39 AM

Yeah, and the fourth puff from the trousers of the guy firing it!

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Yes, these are bruises from fighting.That's right, I'm enlightened!

Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

chef de chambre
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 4

posted 07-27-2005 04:13 PM

I've always wanted to live fire one of those on a range, and see it's performance.

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Bob R.

Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Gwen
Member
Member # 126

posted 07-28-2005 12:17 AM

Thre are times I want to fire that thing at the back of my neighbor's house, when her dogs have been barking nonstop for hours at a stretch.

Gwen

Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

Brent E Hanner
Member
Member # 44

posted 07-28-2005 12:58 AM

If I recall Jeff has a nice little hand cannon that makes a nice boom.

Brent

Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

John McFarlin
Member
Member # 564

posted 07-28-2005 10:59 PM

I always thought it would be nice to have a little 14th century handgonne--you know, one of those primitive things that looks like it's just as dangerous to the person using it as the person it's pointed at.

John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus

Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

Ulfgar
Member
Member # 225

posted 07-29-2005 03:56 AM

So has anyone done any live firing with any of these cannon or handguns? It sounds like incredible fun!

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Yes, these are bruises from fighting.That's right, I'm enlightened!

Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Dru
Member
Member # 180

posted 07-29-2005 08:38 AM

I have made and live fired a number of different guns, both hand guns and artillery. With the 14th style hand guns, I can guarantee that I can hit a 4x8 sheet of plywood at 30' almost every time. It is not a sniper weapon. They also have almost no recoil to speak of. The artillery on the other hand is a blast, literally. My one pounder shot almost perfectly level at 300 yards and was even more fun to shoot at night.

Dru

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Dru Shoemaker
www.medievalshoes.com

Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Gordon
Member
Member # 597

posted 07-29-2005 12:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ulfgar:
So has anyone done any live firing with any of these cannon or handguns? It sounds like incredible fun!

There are actually a bunch of folks who are into live-fire of these things (I personally prefer to use the far-more advanced, and accurate, matchlocks, myself!) Here's some websites:

http://216.110.181.227/index.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/1945/Guns/BP.htm[/URL]

http://www.geocities.com/whomisit/

And the Muzzleloader Forum, in the "Pre-Flintlock" section. Threads on shooting hande gonnes...

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0&C=2

And of course, our own Jeff and Gwen who can supply a very nice early matchlock...

http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=133&c=24&PHPSESSID=7c5cce24db7857b4e7f45898db90de51

Ah, nothing like the smell of burning sulfer in the mornings...

Cheers!

Gordon

[ 07-29-2005: Message edited by: Gordon ]

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"After God, we owe our victory to our Horses"

Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged

Seigneur de Leon
Member
Member # 65

posted 07-31-2005 02:46 AM

I had one of the hand gonnes shown in your first link. It was a 56 caliber, and I used it as a "flashpot" to accustom the horses. No kick at all and pretty boring. Then I packed some gravel in the barrel and the thing got loud. Still no kick, and no accuracy. I'm sure a "bullet" would have some accuracy, but the barrel was too short to really direct the projectile.

Great fun, however!

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VERITAS IN INTIMO
VIRES IN LACERTU
SIMPLICITAS IN EXPRESSO

Registered: Nov 2000 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

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