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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Russia, Leningrad
Posts: 355
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Has somebody better quality photos of this crossbow? I need also length, width and other dimension parameters. I wish to help to one good men to make the replica of this:
"Crossbow, combined with wheel-lock rifle. Inscription, initials, coats of arms and emblems of the medal of the golden fleece: Archduke Ferdinand I. of Austria and Anna von Boehmen. Upper Italy (?), around 1520/26. From Ambras Castle" |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 182
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Here's a picture of it from Dolinek's The encyclopedia of European historical weapons. I can't recall there being much in the way of measurements in the book though.
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#3 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Hi Alexander,
This is the earliest closely datable combined wheel-lock gun and crossbow. It came, as you said, from Schloss Ambras, The Tyrol, and is preserved in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich. The measurements are: Length overall: 73 cm Length of barrel: 39.9 cm Caliber: 9.8 mm smoothbore I attach more images that I took myself. Sorry for the unusual poor quality but I took them during various visits there and was not always allowed to use flash. Moreover, they are 20 years old. Best, Michael |
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#4 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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More.
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#5 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Please note that the wheel-lock dog is incomplete, the top with the jaws is missing.
As is the case with the earliest matchlocks, there are no screws to the mechanism; all parts are riveted. Michael |
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#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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The inscription reads:
FERDINANDVS on the center of the octagonal rear section, inlaid in gold against the blued ground. F and A on the stock, together with the arms of the Golden Fleece below an archduke's hat. That's about all I can tell you, sorry. I attach images of the Order of the Golden Fleece but not from that object. Best, Michael |
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#7 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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And the Cross of Burgundy (Wikipedia).
m |
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#8 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Just one more note:
Alexander, As you called it a rifle, please remember that the barrel is of course not rifled but, as I wrote, smoothbore. m |
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Russia, Leningrad
Posts: 355
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Is the wheel of the lock of this crossbowgun open or closed? I can't understand it looking at photo
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#10 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Hi Alexander,
Please forgive me for not replying any earlier, I somehow must have overlooked your request. ![]() If I am getting you right you wish to know whether the wheel is outside or inside the lockplate. It is outside but extremely small and narrow, like all earliest wheels on locks; it is centered by a spindle and surrounded by a very delicate sickle shaped dog spring. Does this answer your question? ![]() |
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Russia, Leningrad
Posts: 355
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My Belarus friend expresses huge gratitude to those who has answered in this topic. He has given the preliminary drawing for discussion. He will be made replica of this. I can give a high resolution drawing at email if somebody want
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Russia, Leningrad
Posts: 355
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