The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

What we all have in common here on the Collector's Forum is a passion for firearms. We share in the history, development, implementation and geopolitical consequences.

But before the first gun was shouldered some time in the 15th century, gunpowder had been throwing fire and projectiles for at least 200 years. And an infantry soldier could use a gonne. I won't get into the debate of whether gunpowder was first formulated in China or Europe. Instead, I'd like to show you what I found at a yardsale today.

It appears to be an eight-shot hand gonne (handgonne, hand cannon), which could be utilized by an individual or in tandem. It's well aged piece of cast iron, and missing its handle. The pole could be braced against the ground or another solid object, or held underarm to absorb recoil. This one could be equipped with eight loads of powder, rocks, ceramic, lead or iron shot. It has eight fuse holes, and could be ignited with flame, coals or slow burning match.

Not very accurate, and not meant for long range. But it had to be quite an attention getter when it was first used in battle.

My best google-fu identifies mine as Chinese, and from the late 15th to early 17th century. I may be way off! And anyone with any better information, please be free to add to this early hand cannon topic.

Pics, and thanks for looking.

Interesting firearm. I posted a Chinese three-shooter a while back. It had been converted to a cap firing device that needed to be hit on something to detonate the cap on a nipple.

Probably brought home as a souvenir by some US traveler before the commies took over, very interesting.

That was an amazing find. Congrats! I guess I am going to have to start going to yard sales.

Pic hosting site went down this morning, hopefully it will be back up soon.

So how does it group at the 100 range?

Very nice Martin and Chuck!

The Chinese actually invented gunpowder three times, and forgot about it twice. Originally it was an "elixir of life" along with liquid Mercury and a lot of other nasty things. Fire arrows, gonnes, the Asians cooked up really interesting weapons...

Google the Korean "Hwatcha" and "Turtle Ship".

Next is the Bedouin Shabria found in a tool box drawer. It took a little dickering to get out of buying the entire beat up box full of junk. But $20 later, it was mine.

The shabria is in poor condition. The wooden grip handle is cracked on both sides, and likely once had a metal covering. The blade, which has an illegible roundel and signature, has dark splotchy patina. It has many scratches, dull edges and rounded point.

The scabbard appears to be two pieces of thinly sliced horn, and covered with decorative stamped copper on the front and tin with a soldered belt loop on the back. The two halves are crimped together and wrapped with wire and a silver band.

I wouldn't dare to guess the age. Some pics and thanks for looking.

This weekend's yardsale circuit netted a Japanese Civil Defense helmet shell. No liner or insignia emblem, but a genuine WWII relic in original finish condition, nonetheless.

Enjoy.