Jul 04, 2023 20:00:00

A cast bronze cylinder sold as a decoration at a flea market turned out to be a valuable medieval hand cannon

A '

hand cannon ' that attaches a metal barrel to the end of a wooden stick, ignites gunpowder and fires iron balls and stones, was used in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. Such a hand cannon barrel was found at a flea market in the UK and was bid for 2000 pounds (about 367,000 yen) at an auction.

Very Rare Late Medieval Cast Bronze Hand-Cannon (Found in England) 17cm long, 4cm to 3cm diameter, 1.7cm bore.
https://hansonslive.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/395/lot/182444

Medieval cannon turns up in garden rockery - and it could blow up bidding at auction - Hansons Auctioneers

https://hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/medieval-cannon-turns-up-in-garden-rockery-and-it-could-blow-up-bidding-at-auction/

Flea market find is medieval hand cannon – The History Blog

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/67580

Thought to have been invented in China in the 13th century, hand cannons were introduced to Europe in the 14th century. A type of hand cannon used in Europe in the middle of the 14th century, the `` Roschult gun '' can fly to a range of about 205 to 360 m at a speed of 63 to 87 m per second when a total of 1.8 kg of arrows are ejected. bottom. In addition, when a 184g lead ball is fired, it is said that it achieved a speed of 110m to 142m per second and succeeded in spreading it to a range of about 630m. Hand cannons later evolved into matchlock guns and arquebuses .

The barrel of the hand cannon found in England this time is made of cast bronze, 17 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 1.7 cm in diameter. According to the discoverer of the barrel, I found it sold for less than 20 pounds (about 3670 yen) at a flea market held in Hertfordshire , England. Flea market sellers did not know the true identity of the barrels and sold them as garden decorations.

Hanson's Auctioneer appraisers have determined that this hand cannon was used in late medieval Europe between 1400 and 1450. Originally, this hand cannon was mounted on a wooden stick with a powder bag and a ramrod attached. Turns out it was installed.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hanson's Auctioneers, said, 'I have been in the antiques industry for over 20 years and have never seen anything like it. This is an amazing discovery.' increase. He also said, 'I'm not sure how the original seller discovered the hand cannon, but I think it was dug up from somewhere, as far as the attached soil is concerned.'

Brought to Hanson's Auctioneers, this hand cannon was put up for auction on June 15, 2023 and sold for £2,000 (approximately 367,000 yen), more than 100 times the selling price at the flea market. .