1400's Handgonne - Veteran Arms

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Veteran Arms, the same people who brought me my beloved blunderbuss are now also selling a 1400's era reproduction handgonne. Let's talk about the history of this very early firearm and demonstrate its use.

[@nilsschenkel7149]

Fun fact: there´s a german idiom originating from the time matchlocks were first used on the battlefield, that is still in use today. "Lunte riechen" (smelling the match) means noticing a setup or imminent danger, as if you were walking into an ambush set by Arquebusiers.

[@brittakriep2938]

And because game ,smelled match' crossbows and wheellock guns had been used for hunting, even in flintlock era, some ,mostly smaller , crossbows had been used.

[@joost1120]

@@brittakriep2938 That's also because crossbows are just more effective. They aren't nearly as loud and don't spook other wildlife, they are easy to load and use, and bolts are reusable. They are also significantly more accurate than early pre-rifling firearms.

[@hlessiavedon]

@@joost1120 bolts CAN be reusable, but a modern high power crossbow will send a bolt clean through a deer and sometimes into a rock or tree, then your bolt is likely unusable.

[@bartekrdzanek6725]

In Poland we have a say that something "spaliło na panewce" which means "burnt in the flash pan" for something that failed to execute properly. Of course this references to gunpowder in the flash pan failing to ignite the powder charge that propels the musket ball

[@brittakriep2938]

@@bartekrdzanek6725 : In german there is ,jemand in die Pfanne hauen' ( to beat someone into the pan), it means , to use in a speech, debatte, court trial etc. arguments, which complete defeat your opponent, but can also mean, that you use slightly unfair methods, to symbbolicly finish your opponent.

[@quint3ssent1a]

I remember seeing an illustration of a dude who had handgonne in one hand and a special shield with cut-out to rest the weapon in the other hand. This image was overloaded with 1400`s tacticool swag.

[@townwitchdoctor5538]

It's called a "Bouche Shield" and was designed to be used with a lance on horseback.

[@ZGryphon]

Anachronistic but awesome resultant mental image: handgonne and MacAdam Shield Shovel.

[@lowkey423]

@@townwitchdoctor5538 damn, I've seen those in KCD but the game never actually explained the purpose of the cutout

[@nickblack7910]

I love your pfp!

[@AlecFlackie]

Sounds more like a Pavise

[@kilianortmann9979]

It called out to something deep in the soul. Hold it in your hand, and you had power. More power than any bow or spear - they just stored up your muscles’ power, when you thought about it. But the gonne gave you power from outside. You didn’t use it, it used you. - Terry Pratchett Men at Arms

[@mikehannigan848]

ooooohhhh...Haven't seen a Pratchett reference in a hot minute.

[@N_Jones]

haha, as soon as I started reading that I recognised it :) RIP Terry

[@kieran2221]

This book really helped me understand the seductive nature of the power of firearms. A very formative book.

[@johanrunfeldt7174]

Actually, when this weapon was state of the art of firearms, a bow was more powerful. But a warbow has a draw weight of 150lbs an upwards, so it's not for everyone to use. A handgonne can be used by anyone with an hour or two of training, compared to the dozen or so years it takes to build the strength and skill to shoot a 15th century warbow.

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

I'm not so sure if this thing had more power than a decent longbow. The upside to these early types of firearms was more or less that you needed way less training than with a longbow.

[@drksideofthewal]

There’s something magical about that period of time where both swords and guns were viable.

[@thecesso3]

Two different technological worlds were colliding back then. The age of change was giving its firsts footsteps, it is interesting indeed

[@nickblack7910]

My favorite time period

[@BigWheel.]

I feel like these hand gonnes gave way to legends of wizards with staffs. I mean, just look at it. To any un informed person it looks like a guy with a stick striking down another with a puff of smoke and a loud crack.

[@dolsopolar]

@@BigWheel. these handguns were used by some boring castle defenders or peasants in a wagon shooting behind gunholes. I don't think these thing would give off that much of an impression of a wizard since that kind of wizard you're describing also sounds kinda modern

[@JelMain]

In answer to the question of magia, check out Gilles de Rais. He was Joan of Arc's fighting man, her lieutenant-general, and after she was roasted, he retreated to his castle near Nantes to work on gunpowder. Sadly, they had next to no chemistry back then, just alchemy, and the instruction book was entirely in code. One of the instructions simply said "the massacre of the innocents", and he took that all too literally: when the authorities came visiting on a fact-finding mission, they found 83 childrens skulls in the forecourt of his castle alone, and - well, I won't labour the point. This is where the tale of Bluebeard came from. He too ended up on the pyre, in 1440.

[@panvlk]

Looks like the gun which in Kingdom of Bohemia (nowadays Czech Republic) was called "Píšťala" (whistle) and was utilized during Hussite wars as one of the first large scale deployment of handheld firearms in European battle tactics. Fun fact, the czech word "Píšťala" eventually migrated into other languages and turned into the familiar "Pistol".

[@evandaire1449]

It was exactly those. Though, that variation had a hook often to stabilize the gun against a wagon or pavise

[@myparceltape1169]

@@evandaire1449 Hence "Hookbut" ?

[@ebbelille]

@@myparceltape1169 Exactly. Hakbütse, harquebus, hakebössa, etc in various languages.

[@asierurteaga1227]

We, basques insert them in iberian peninsula and call them "suzko makila", fire pole. they where manufactured in Baztan valley and Eibar, where nowdays many luxury shotguns gunsmiths are stablished.

[@kbilsky]

@panvlk Incorrect. Both czech word "Píšťala" and polish "Piszczel" (wich handgonnes was called then) come from latin word "pixis" -the word they were called early, hand-held firearms.

[@zer9761]

Reminds me of my childhood in the early 2000s in Eastern Europe. We used to make similar "handcannons" with pipes and trash found at the nearest abandoned construction site and used powder from firecrackers to fire them. Looking back I'm very surprised that all my fingers are still in place.

[@eduardopupucon]

trying to remake the shotgun made by Danila in Брат

[@Pidalin]

we did the same in early 2000s in Czech Republic as kids, when you did it correctly, it was really powerfull 😀

[@James_Randal]

Damn European children used to make guns for fun? Over here in Australia we used to fist fight kangaroos and ride emus.

[@Lekirius]

In malaysia and indonesia during the eid celebration, we use bamboos or pvc pipes as "cannons" and play "cannon war" with neighbouring villages. I don't exactly remember but I'm sure we used sulphur and carbide instead of gunpowder.

[@MintMilk.]

Thanks for the idea!

[@paleoph6168]

It's nice to see InRangeTV going back to firearms roots. After all those brutality matches and talk on tactical guns, what better way to lay down than with one of the earliest gun designs?

[@TheVerendus]

inb4 Teutonic Brutality with crossbows and hand cannons

[@ChuckD99]

Handgonne mud test when?

[@CDOES]

I couldnt of agreed any more. I love the other stuff. But this is just Fantastic

[@Sableagle]

@@TheVerendus Instead of throwing a kettlebell around and finishing the stage by making a shot with the sniper rifle, you have to make a shot, climb the frame of the trebuchet, hook on the rope, climb down, make a shot, crank the arm down and latch it, make a shot, hook on the sling, make a shot, load a bowling ball into the track, make a shot and finish by yanking the lanyard to yeet that bowling ball downrange.

[@Swedishmafia101MemeCorporation]

Tactical Handgonne when?

[@cymond]

I had never heard of Veteran Arms before, but a reproduction handgonne is a "must watch" episode. Now I'm browsing their website. Sending this to you was a smart business move.

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

I had always wondered why those very early firearms were on a pole. It makes sense now. Very cool.

[@FellsApprentice]

Well there's also the fact that these would have been very useful to stop cavalry charges and putting it on a pole allows you to brace it against the ground with the rest of your company and loose volley into the cavalry charge trying to kill you

[@DeHerg]

Some of those poles are also to stick that end into the ground so it could absorb the recoil (in case of larger calibers). Of course that means you always shoot in an arc.

[@ejjaquez9849]

i imagine there were several reasons. you could load standing up. people were afraid to get their face too close to literal black magic. you could use it like a long bludgeon or quaterstaff after you got your 1 (maybe 2 optimistically) shot(s) off.

[@Smashface_McBourbondick]

​@@ejjaquez9849 I'm no expert here, but I'm pretty sure these would typically be used in situations where you can shoot for quite a while before being engaged in melee. Like they'd be used in sieges, from wagon forts, etc., and in that context they'd typically have the time to shoot for quite a while.

[@moonasha]

@@ejjaquez9849 you got way more than 1 or 2 shots off. These weren't used like muskets. There were gun formations protected by armored pike formations. The gun was the primary weapon of those in the gun formations

[@backrowbrighton]

Great to see this in action. As another viewer has already said, weapons like these were deployed on a large scale in the Hussite wars (Czech v German) of the early 15th century. Mobile wooden forts mounted on wheels were deployed by the Hussite's called Wagenburgs. These were combined arms operations as crossbowmen and men with flails were there to support the handgonners. They appeared to be very effective against the armored knights sent against them.

[@dummgelauft]

Those Wagenburgs were the original armor/tanks.

[@hessex1899]

The unreliable grill lighter reminded me of Yosemite sam using a zippo to see in a dark room. Only to realize, when the lighter lights, that he's in a powder magazine.

[@george2113]

One of my favorite Yosemite Sam/bug's bunny episodes. The Barber of Seville is my favorite

[@Aethgeir]

When you see how much harder it is to aim with the s-lever, you can really see why they came up with innovations like fork-rests. Really enjoyed this video!

[@Deathbyreality1]

This must be Beretta’s first product.

[@GNpatent]

I wonder if it takes model 92 mags

[@evandaire1449]

Lol this predates even beretta

[@ridhosamudro2199]

Jokes aside, they started out producing arquebus barrels

[@TheGM-20XX]

more like CZ.

[@TheSeanoops]

@@ridhosamudro2199 Yes!

[@cheddar-bob-9090]

Just got back from the range with this. I didn't even bother shooting my other guns, this thing was too fun! Everyone there made an effort to see it shoot at least one time. Quite the conversation starter

[@L5GUK]

Full period correct attire - complete with the 1400 Rayban Aviators. Something that many reinactors omit.

[@george2113]

The desert sun is harsh

[@tombrown4683]

Ha Ha , I thought about that too ! Some eye protection is a good thing even if not period correct. Also glare from the sun pretty strong out there I imagine.

[@ZGryphon]

The first thing I thought of was the old MST3K episode where they watched _Cave Dwellers._ "During the raping and pillaging, a prehistoric caveman can clearly be seen wearing a pair of Ray-Bans. Who's that behind the Foster Grants? It's Og!"

[@george2113]

@Ban this youtube the crusades weren't know for fashion or medical options

[@KoIossov]

Only real experts know about these details! Like Big Poppa Pump from WCW xD

[@jewishswordsman9199]

As a medieval martial arts practicioner & enthusiast I love this video. Thank you Karl.

[@BloxBuster-nv2ol]

Do you also practice your defeat at the Holy Land and crusades

[@jewishswordsman9199]

@@BloxBuster-nv2ol that's a nonsense thing to say. A moments consideration would save you looking foolish. Perhaps you'd best delete that before others see.

[@theAKGeek]

I want to see transition drills from the handgonne to your arming sword.

[@angelsfallfirst7348]

Remember, switching to your sidesword is always faster than reloading

[@quint3ssent1a]

Handgonne is a very simple mace: iron weight on a stick. You probably wouldn't need to TRANSITION if you just use it's secondary function.

[@ejjaquez9849]

the transition is to caving someones head in with the barrel

[@Owlpunk]

I mean, a gonne is a long stick with a hefty iron weight at the end. Would you even *need* an arming sword? :D

[@marcogenovesi8570]

it can be made sturdy enough to be an effective mace itself

[@paulmears5330]

I've obtained one of these. I slotted the shaft to place the serpentine lever in the centerline. I use jumbo punks (used typically for fireworks fuses) in the serpentine jaws, to light cannon fuse just like you mention. Works great!

[@richardelliott9511]

Well, that's about as far back into history as you can get with firearms. Met a fellow at my gun club many years ago that improvised one of these using the barrel from a percussion revolver. He didnt think of cannon fuse and only had matches for ignition but it turned out that a cigarette made for a good slowmatch. We ended up treating it as a crew served weapon, the one of us not shooting would stand clear with the cigarette during reloading and then step in to ignite it. That was a challenging and fun afternoon.

[@tombrown4683]

Sounds like fun. Cigarettes are a classic slow match. Used to use them as a slow fuse for time delayed cheri bomb ignition back in my younger years.

[@grahamhawes7089]

Yeah I imagine having a powder-measuring and touchhole-lighting assistant would be efficient. Basically treating it like a cannon, which it is. I’d love to see a contest to achieve the highest rate of fire. Would also love to see a max effective range analysis.

[@Dja05]

Eh, you could always go back to 10th century chinese firelances. Basically bamboo stick stuffed with rocks and black powder that you'd blow up in the face of the ennemy.

[@joshwist556]

@@Dja05 I wouldn’t call that a firearm though. Based on the description, it’s basically the first hand grenade on a stick.

[@richardelliott9511]

@@tombrown4683 hadn't thought about this in years, we used to use them to judge cook time for baked potatoes and corn on the cob in the campfire coals.

[@rin-joh8644]

The sound of the lead ball hitting that metal plate is great.

[@shawnadams1965]

Really cool Karl, living in Germany I've seen my fair share of these and other "ye old firearms" in Museums all the time... and thanks to you I finally get to see someone fire one. And IMO the Handgonne really earns the title BOOMSTICK!

[@Owlpunk]

Zu deiner Information: Muzzle loaders (and even some black powder breech loaders) are completely legal ("Ab 18", so just like crossbows or airguns) here in Germany. You'll need a permit for the black powder, but that is *much* easier to get than a _großer_ _Waffenschein_ .

[@shawnadams1965]

​@@Owlpunk I know, however I wouldn't buy a Handgonne regardless. Mein frau schimpf sowieso, dass ich zu viel Geld für unnötige Sachen ausgibt.

[@Owlpunk]

@@shawnadams1965 Lmao ok, besser die Frau bei Laune halten ;)

[@Gulliolm]

@@shawnadams1965 ich versuche noch meine Generalität von der Notwendigkeit eines Chassepot gewehres zu überzeugen. Easier said than done

[@TurboCarotte]

Shop smart, shop S-Mart !

[@e_g99]

Ive been DYING for a proper gun channel to do a video on handgonnes and very early firearms. InrangeTV always delivers with the historical gun content.

[@LovesTrains440]

You can hold the tiller further back to use the serpentine lock like a crossbow btw. Its unbalanced but more effective. Great video!

[@grahamhawes7089]

A counterweight on the operator end would help keep it the match from falling prematurely. I’d still be worried about embers or sparks falling, if the match was held closely…

[@LovesTrains440]

@@grahamhawes7089 Good observation👍

[@danirizary6926]

Thank you for the fascinating review. I enjoyed it. It is clear you aren't biased by receiving it, you never seem swayed, and are always transparent about sources. Thank you!

[@LovesTrains440]

I especially appreciate the correction of the myth of accuracy and serpentine powder making it possible to properly aim!!!

[@stevenmike1878]

looks cool, an og fuse shotgun gotta try .375 cal round balls. they would fit perfectly and any 36 colt navy owner would have the lead balls. 8 balls = 640 grains vs the one 600 gr fat ball. im sure someone historically woulda used it as a shotgun. any curious person would of.

[@antonisauren8998]

Just trail of low quality powder on the pan wouldn't compare to modern match stick into a hole. It could be blown away, spill from too eager aiming or just burn on the pan. And you still need somebody with fire source nearby to assist. Match seems much more reliable and allows for single person to operate. There is a reason why they invented them and later locks to keep priming powder on pan.

[@LovesTrains440]

@@antonisauren8998 This is unfortunately incorrect. I've tested it myself. Karl describes the process incorrectly as well. You don't put a trail on top of the barrel, you simply fill the flash hole. The powders of the time (of a few I've made and tested myself) are compressible, and, for lack of a better term, sticky, thus won't simply be blown away. In my experience using a fuse rather than serpentine powder is functionaly the same, albeit slightly slower in Karl's case. But one person can tremendously easily fire these weapons by themselves. Having another man only realy assisted in the speed of reloading, not firing in itself. I've seen few if any period iconography depicting another man needing to touch off the charge, not that it categorically didn't happen. I assume the myth comes from people using modern powder in their experimental archeology. Though Karl inadvertently dispells this by shooting it with modern powder and a slow match, by himself.

[@IrishRepoMan]

Muskets are the firearms commonly known to be inaccurate. They were only accurate to ~100 yards with shots typically being fired 25-50 yards away. The projectiles were round balls traveling through a smoothbore barrel. Instead of rifling putting a spin on it like modern bullets, it'd bounce around on its way out.

[@donaldbeamer3563]

We made something similar when I was a young man. We used a 3/4" galvanized pipe crimped about half way down the barrel but not completely. Tiny whole drilled at the crimp. Black Cat fire crackers were disassembled for the powder and we used some old marbles. Fired one marble at a time. Kids, them little SOB's just getting into mischief in a small town in Kansas right before the fourth of July. We were Survivors.

[@f0rb-idden0n-e]

Finally, my obsession with all things medieval collides with InRange!

[@blackhawk65589]

I love these videos on older firearms.

[@Erikreaver]

Hah! Nice to see you in a different kind of armour. I'm making myself a vest of mail pretty much like yours, in style of the Gjermundbu find, right now. Proper, riveted stuff, though slightly larger rings than the original. A lot of people forget that by the time knights in full plate were around, so were guns!

[@triumphant39]

That's awesome, man. I've never seen a reproduction of those fired and demonstrated before. Kudos!

[@ok9nja741]

Yep, Handgonne (in Czechia called "píšťala") was a common weapon used by husites against catholic armies during husite wars in early 1400s.

[@TokenWhiteGuyAGR]

Can't wait for him to review Hussite armored war wagons!

[@Erikreaver]

Czech Republic, come on. Or CZ for short.:P Sully not our name with that drivel.

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

They also invented 'the tank' with their war wagons. Saw that there was a new movie about that conflict out recently but havened watched it yet.

[@Cl0ckcl0ck]

@King Of Crunk The knights would charge right up to their wagon forts so pretty much point blank.

[@lordmuhehe4605]

@@Erikreaver Czechia is just Česko in english. I'll never understand why some czechs have a problem with that. But czechs are one the whiniest nations out there.

[@The-Armed-Pacifist]

I really enjoyed this throw back video. To me, it is way more interesting than one more rapid fire auto or semi-auto platform video. Thanks for this one.

[@iirainey]

The serpentine on early handgonnes appears more in art than physical examples, holding the match was clearly preferred. Larger Haakbus used into the early 16th century, and mounted on a castle wall or a wood mount, were still lit by match in hand. Serpentine match holders become far more popular in the second half of the 15th century when arms with a more recognizable stock start showing up.

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

Great to see the serpentine powder thing depicted. "Handgonnes" are almost always shown as hip-fired despite period art showing otherwise. There's a wonderful depiction of a skeleton firing the immediate successor to this design but still without a lock (despite the basic pivoting serpentine type trigger/lever already being in use) and fired over the shoulder, in a fresco at the Oratory dei Disciplini in Italy. edit - in case it isn't clear, the serpentine lever was still used with serpentine type powder (the names are coincidental). Thus you would still have the ability to aim as shown here. Perhaps you could simulate this with a short piece of fuze in the vent, plus the S-lever? The issue of match geometry would still apply however, since without a pan cover you can't "try your match" before firing to make sure that when you use your lock, the burning end will contact the priming charge.

[@thenathanr4243]

Karl, this type of video is awesome and I really enjoy it. Thanks for putting this out! Veteran Arms makes cool stuff.

[@jopeteus]

These historical firearms are the most interesting videos you have made so far

[@normalcitizen_1]

Really good episode and fun the handgonne got attention. Follow up video idea: “Handgonne buckshot, medieval home defense”

[@brittakriep2938]

So you must always have a burning fire to burn the match.

[@tius_thus_reborn]

I use Handgonne for home defence, since that is what Jan Hus intended...

[@hedgehog3180]

On an interesting somewhat related note, the earliest mention we have of firearms being used for home defense is from 16th century Scotland and is about a noblewomam who used a mix of firearms to fend off robbers, IIRC she had her maids reload the weapons for her while she fired.

[@radioanon4535]

​@@hedgehog3180of course it's a Scot, the most based people in Europe

[@tombrown4683]

Always enjoy your content. Thought the illustration at 6:45 was perfect for making the point. Hope you enjoy "dressing the part" for the historical firearms as much as I like seeing it !

[@xFlow150]

Tip for the next time. It's much easier to light the cannon fuse with the glowing cord than it is with a lighter. I learned this the hard way during lighting fire works. Great video as usual! I really like your historical videos as well as these videos where you focus on older firearms.

[@Fyreye]

One tool I've used is a stick of incense, is like a burning cord but stiff and smelly :P

[@jamesbarca7229]

Best thing I've found is a turbo lighter. They're wind resistant and light fuses very quickly. The ones I use have an extension on them (not as long as a BBQ lighter, about 2 inches) so you don't burn your fingers when the fuse lights.

[@ryanvargas4889]

@@Fyreye I remember buying the same thing @ a fireworks stand it was just non scented and designed for fireworks. I’d rather use/smell some nag champa or spirit guide instead tho.

[@cadelllwellyn6021]

I would love to see this included in the "Arrows vs Armour" series over on the Tod's Workshop channel.

[@LovesTrains440]

YES!!! We need to settle this dispute once and for all!!!

[@James_Randal]

I feel like this thing would blow through armor.

[@hedgehog3180]

@@James_Randal It would actually struggle somewhat against plate armour, but probably still be dangerous.

[@vadimflaks7795]

Much respect for getting a proper riveted maille hauberk!

[@rofljohn23]

What a wonderful little video! Thanks Karl!

[@marty2129]

Ah, now InRange got a replica of a weapon from the times that through Hussites of Bohemia (today's Czechia) gave the world words for pistol and howitzer from czech "píštala" (means "flute") and "houfnice" (means "crowd gun" or "crowd-destroying weapon" as it was usually aimed against a "houf", which means "flock" or "crowd", and "nic" means "nothing" or "ničit" means "to destroy") Also, kudos for using a riveted chainmail, but if you want to be period-correct, you would need a gambeson or padded shirt under that (or at least many woolen tunics atop each other if we go few more centuries back to viking times) And getting into that period... someone needs to call Skalagrim for a collab now to test whether you can fire a pommel from one of those... :D

[@LovesTrains440]

Mega end him rightly 😂

[@joost1120]

While fabric armour underneath mail was commonly used, more often than not it was the other way around. Throughout the 14th and early 15th century you'd have a hard time finding mail as the outermost layer, it was almost always covered by quilted armour. There are also plenty of examples of mail being worn without any quilted armour over or under it. There's no dampening, but you'll survive most attacks.

[@Maldunn]

Love your black powder firearm videos, I’ve never seen a gun like this fired before. Really cool and interesting!

[@Sableagle]

To clarify, when he says "three ninety-nine," he means $399.00, not $3.99, so don't get ideas about buying a dozen and carrying them in a quiver like Legolas.

[@mcintoshpc]

Bold of you to assume I’m not doing that anyway

[@user-uhhuhuuhuuuuuuuuuhhhu]

I know this is impractical today but I love it! The design, the simplicity, but also the power. There's something very satisfying about these medieval shoulder cannons.

[@adityamaharaya7477]

no, its good for they who live in authoritarian country that banned guns

[@scottshaw2143]

Nice Chain Mail Karl.

[@dote9079]

I really don't have too many strong opinions around monetisation or anything, but god its refreshing to hear you talk so plainly about receiving the product for free. It's hard to realise you miss authenticity.

[@LovesTrains440]

PLEASE do a true accuracy test and possibly an armor penitration test! lots of myth and cognitive dissonance surrounding these. Would LOVE to see! My medieval enthusiast friends gap far from my black powder friends.

[@evandaire1449]

@King Of Crunk another difficulty would be the powder though. Modern off the shelf powder is more powerful than old powders were.

[@Piloulegrand]

Problem for that is first getting proper armour accurate for the time period and also the fact that we have no idea how much powder they used (it varied greatly) and modern granulated black powder is completely different than the one they had (way more efficient). This is why getting modern day data on those is really tricky. But I think even if the test is not really historically accurate, it would still be fun to see some armour getting shot with this !

[@Piloulegrand]

@@evandaire1449 Exactly, only way to get a powder ressembling the one they (and it really varied on the location depending on for exemple the wood charcoal they had) used would be digging in the medieval sources and making it from scratch yourself, which would be very hard because if you even find a "receipe", they usually don't really tell you the exact amount, just rough proportions

[@evandaire1449]

@@Piloulegrand beyond even that. Many of the very old mixtures had nonsense like leaves and honey in them. And the ball would have minimal uniformity, proabbly being made out of stone even.

[@LovesTrains440]

@@Piloulegrand It actually isn't that hard. It only takes a quick Google search. There was a recent academic study done on various recipes tried in a cannon reproduction from the 14th or 15th century I can't recall. I don't have the link to the article but I can find it for you if you'd like something to read? But even if he didn't want to do that he could just use the best possible recipe and a consistent plausible load for each test. The king of random actually makes the best historically authentic serpentine powder on KZbin. BTW serpentine powder is actually a specific recipe, they all have names its really cool, but serpentine is also an accurate generalization to describe primitive black powder.

[@antikoerper256]

6:28 was effectively history in action - how the need for triggers appeared and was realized. Very good video, thanks a lot!

[@Swedishmafia101MemeCorporation]

"This is my BOOMSTICK"

[@MaffiaRK]

This is awesome! Thanks for showing off this piece of history

[@Jimijaz]

Props for going full medieval and wearing actual chain mail in that desert heat. It’s gotta be uncomfortable.

[@D_M_U]

I'm very glad you covered this. It's super rare to see anything about these.

[@eazy8579]

So a few things: 1) gonne is thought to have been pronounced like “Gone,” as it is likely of either French or Italian origin, but that is not certain 2) most art from the period shows the gun held under the arm, much like you did with the match lever, which makes it easier to manipulate and control 3) A lot of art depicts these being used with a large shield called a Pavise, which had a stand to prop it up while you shoot the weapon 4) these generally were fired in a ragged volley, pointed into a formation, generally pointed at one guy, but with the understanding that if you missed him, you had a decent chance of hitting another guy, and would at least scare the crap out of anyone near where you fired 5) these probably weren’t always able to defeat heavy plate armor, and especially later on they were designed to defeat early firearms, but would heavily dent the armor, which would make it hard to move and breath, let alone fight in, and eventually things like the arquebus and Musket would be able to defeat heavy plate armor, but they main effect of the weapon was to destroy a formation and break the enemy moral while the men with polearms went into beat them

[@ArcanisUrriah]

Agree with all your points in general. Pronounciation is very misunderstood. Similar to "Ye Olde Shoppe" being pronounced "the old shop". The written spelling was the randomiser. I _think_ (I'm no expert) that most early plate wasn't particularly good against gunpowder weapons until later. It didn't need to be until gunpowder became more common, so weight would be kept down to the minimum needed to protect against the (melee) weapons of the day. That said, the guns were probably underpowered as well, so maybe I'm just speaking rubbish. :) I mean, if pavises (and hanging straw, as used in feudal Japan) helped block shot, maybe the thinner stuff worked just fine, as it had to be pretty tough anyway, just not in the exact same way (more thicker ridges than thicker plates, for example). Sorry, just thinking out loud here, as I type. Now I'm going to have to look up armour variations in time from pre-powder to post-powder to see if protective design changed in that way. lol

[@HistoricalWeapons]

First effective firearms date back to 900ad. Effective does not mean kill it just has to do it’s job of scaring off horses

[@CommissarMoody1]

Pretty cool, I will give the company a look. I am in the market for an Arquebus as well.

[@thgsMASK]

arqebus' are from the 15th century, they are fired by match but have stocks and frizzens and pans and everything much like a matchlock. Not the same thing as a 'Handgun' like in this video.

[@evandaire1449]

@@thgsMASK same company makes both

[@CommissarMoody1]

@@evandaire1449 Thanks and Cheers!

[@theminorityshack7071]

I wanna get one too

[@marcinchaciej]

I could easily teach myself how firearms work and operate from this video. The long, handheld barrel reminds me of the pipe rifle from the early Fallout series, thank you!

[@stirfrywok2927]

"In medieval times someone would light your fuse for you". I love the idea of some ornately dressed guy - pointy shoes, huge feathered hat, the works - whose one sole job is to light fuses. Guilded and everything. 'It was a very sought after position'

[@mickcoulson6188]

Possibly called a fusilier maybe

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

​@@mickcoulson6188Or maybe a Flasher.

[@captaindestruction9332]

Love the photo of the guy actually using the fuse by hand lol almost like you knew the armchair historians would come after you.

[@mathildadeer]

Can't wait for the Handgonne Distance Challenge with Russel

[@PopeMetallicus]

You really just taped yourself playing with your stick, and made me enjoy watching it.....

[@random_tech_adept6117]

I'd love to see more of this era of firearms if you're able to get your hands on more perhaps even ballistic tests with them either on gell or maybe accuracy at range?

[@rogerwinright2290]

That part at 0:57 with the mouth-noise of the fuse and the gun going off in the background was impeccable timing

[@finnmcool2]

It's about time someone created the recreational arquebus.

[@KAFRAMARU420]

wow sir, this is a way where the gun Starts. I didn't think that I would see it..rain pattern is easy to understand, and realy lookin good.👍✨

[@crabmansteve6844]

I want to see this thing going out to various ranges from tall battlements, for science of course.

[@rileyernst9086]

This is just too cool. Love the naile shirt as well. Very authentic.

[@Xbuschwacker]

Very curious about any sources (books etc) you used for research in this video. Love the medieval firearms!

[@peterkratoska4524]

As others have said the Czech Hussite soldiers (pre-protestant rebels) were the first to use these in large numbers in the Hussite revolutionary wars 1419-34. A handgun like this was found in 1900 when they were doing some construction in my home town of Tabor (CZ).

[@LovesTrains440]

Thank you!!! I've been preaching the good word of the handgonne forever!!! Seems like just as much myth if not more so than a musket!

[@xboxnube]

And one can totally see where the stock began to morph from simple pole arm into the modern shape. having a way to ensure the gun didn't fly out of one's hand is pretty important.

[@LUR1FAX]

It's literally a boom stick!

[@rthj6446]

THAT is a magical staff from mythology. Every story has a grain of truth in it.

[@piRaufasertapete]

This reminds me of Warhammer 40000 Bolter Spear custodes weapons.

[@thgsMASK]

well these dont have a spear head or traditional haft, there is a chinese weapon called a fire lance that's basically a spear with a one shot underbarreled incendiary shotgun from around the 13th century. Thats way closer to the Custodes halberds.

[@ForceSmart]

I love these old school historical firearm videos. Ty Karl

[@joshuaspicer8454]

Very cool indeed, the price surprised me $399 is a bit but it certainly looks very well made .

[@Owlpunk]

You should definitely do more videos on muzzle-loaders, there aren't very many guntubers in that niche. Also, they're completely legal here in Germany, so getting one isn't much of a hassle for me! :D

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

Most modern firearms are also completely legal in Germany. What you mean is "free without a permit". But you'll still need a permit for black powder. What I'm trying to say is: just get all the damn permits, it's not rocket science! Seriously, join a gun club, get all the permits. We need more people owning firearms.

[@robertengland8769]

Never realized just how advanced my home made 12 guage pipe shotgun is. Thanks for the video on the origins of firearms.

[@iginheo]

It'd be neat if they could make a handgonne that resembles the guns of Princess Mononoke that were used to defend iron town. I've seen many complaints versions but none that fire

[@robertrobert7924]

Thank you for this great video. This is a true hand cannon. I did not know VA still had this item in stock.....

[@RedTSquared]

Great Googly Moogly! That thing is crazy! You just have to hope the bad guy doesn't run up on you while you're waiting for that thing to go off!!! Oh, hey.... would that Chainmail Vest count as Armored Division?

[@Shimazusama]

This kind of content has been super cool to watch.

[@ommsterlitz1805]

What really started the black powder era is the battle of Castillion were the French engineers destroyed the english shredding 7000 of them until they retreat back to there boats while Frankish soldiers only lost 100 knights.

[@angelsfallfirst7348]

Nice video, mates; you guys always have interesting topics. One small clarification I'd make is that the powder hopefully isn't actually detonating, but rather deflagrating, the slower act of the burning powder propelling the bullet down the barrel.

[@RodrigoFernandez-td9uk]

I'd love to see Ian using that handgonne in a match.

[@h.a.9880]

As nice as the Handgonne is, I have to give a quick shoutout to the fact that the mail shirt Karl is wearing is actually a fully rivetted version with flat rings. Those are just the best.

[@ThatAintGud]

I think we need a tacticool handgonne , 2 vertical grips, blacked out wood, and an a-cog 🤣

[@Hibernicus1968]

I love the period-correct aviator sunglasses to go with the mail shirt and early firearm.

[@Edi-zp4wp]

Damn I wanna use it so bad in kcd 2

[@ds6872]

I'd like to see a ye old gel test

[@dannyfubar3099]

Excellent post, thank you for sharing.

[@viperscot1]

Used them in my re enactment time ahhh! The smell of black powder the smoke the flash happy times 😁😁😁😁😁😁 Slow match time 😁😁😁😁 candle in lantern to keep ,matches lit Ps try a cut feather eg quil filled with black powder as fuse just an idea they did this too

[@Redemptiametallicus]

I do late XVth century reenactment in France. We have harquebuses and handgonnes, as well as 2 cannons : a couleuvrine and a veuglaire. We fire tested them a few times, against munition armor early harquebuses were very, very deadly, blowing up helmets quite easily at 30m. As for the cannons, we fired an old wooden tent peg that we used for our campaign tents with the couleuvrine, just for fun. The projectile crossed the valley that lied at the feet of the castle my guys were in, and ended up landing 400m away right were they were aiming.

[@MsTugg]

Medieval Brutality 2023 coming to a vassal state near you!

[@billsummy2412]

NOW THAT IS AMAZING ! That handgonne is something I want to own , Looks like a BLAST !

[@bluemonday09]

...so when's the mud test?

[@remcovanvliet3018]

The gun is fun n all, but what makes this video really great is the sunglasses.

[@SavageTactical]

Pretty neat Carl. 2 questions: What Muzzle velocity do you thing it’s getting, and did you buy that chain mail?

[@zealotguy]

Seeing how portable firearms first started it becomes increasingly clear why standing shoulder to shoulder and doing volley-fire was the way to go for hundreds of years.