Social distancing with a medieval handgonne

[David LaPell]

Well, one thing that hasn't been closed down here is the local range, owned by the town. So yesterday my son and I went out and we took my reproduction of a medieval 14th century handgonne.

It's in roughly .38 caliber and shoots very well with a .010" patch and a .350" roundball and 30 grains of FFFG powder.

In reality it would be fired by way of a slow match but for practicality, using a cannon fuse is easier.

My son got his chance to use it, and of course, aiming it is more guesswork but we figured it out and at 30 yards it true. It was more fun than anything else, it makes a lot pf smoke and one heck of a bang. It sure beats sitting inside going stir crazy.

https://i.imgur.com/pBQzqIZ.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/u21jZAZ.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/ntWyV9U.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/GpboqZU.jpg?1

[nun2kute]

Way Cool ! and the best part is your son will remember this forever.

[waksupi]

I have a handgonne around .56 caliber. The only one ever made by Northstar West. Kind of a fun toy to play with occasionally.

[frkelly74]

I would sure use a two hand hold on that thing!

[toallmy]

I love the hat ��

[RU shooter]

Now that neat ! Gives new meaning to the term " smoke pole" Hahahaha

[LAGS]

I made something like that when I was a Teenager.
I put the barrel into a wooden Baseball Bat.
It was fun to shoot as a hand cannon.
The bore was 5/8" and was made out of a price of 1/4" wall chrome moly pipe about 16" long.
I shot mine with both a fuse and a punk left over from the 4th of July fireworks.
Your son will remember firing that thing for as long as he lives.
Good job.

[frkelly74]

I have some cannon fuse someplace around here ,, and some 1/2" iron pipe and some .490 balls and some wood ..... aand plenty of time.. What could go wrong??

[LAGS]

If you build something like this, especially out of scrap material , you are going to catch the Piddle Bug.
Piddling with what you build will drive you crazy trying to improve it , or build a better one.
I didn't mention.
I was trying to build my Hand Cannon into a Match Lock when a friend talked me into trading it to him for a broke down motorcycle.

[jdfoxinc]

I made a 75 cal one out of silica bronze about 10 years ago. Lost it in the fire. Lots of fun.

[waksupi]

If you build something like this, especially out of scrap material , you are going to catch the Piddle Bug.
Piddling with what you build will drive you crazy trying to improve it , or build a better one.
I didn't mention.
I was trying to build my Hand Cannon into a Match Lock when a friend talked me into trading it to him for a broke down motorcycle.

I'd thought of making mine into a matchlock, too. That just may happen.....

[LAGS]

I will then have to one up you and make a Wheel Lock.
Lol
Told you.
Toys like this are addicting and inspiring

[Winger Ed.]

Cool.

Now you need to make about 20 more and have a volley fire version.

[GL49]

I've never seen or heard of one. It's just a short barreled muzzleloader with a long stick for a handle? First word that came to mind when I saw the pictures was "smokepole"

[waksupi]

I've never seen or heard of one. It's just a short barreled muzzleloader with a long stick for a handle? First word that came to mind when I saw the pictures was "smokepole"

They were pretty much the first form of a gun developed by the Chinese.

[derek45]

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