1. An Early Bronze Hackbut
John Morris
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

2. Agenda: Description/photos of the barrel Questions/Methods
Provenance-famous, colorful original owner
Maker
Photos of similar hackbuts
Stock/Lock
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

3. Description of the Hackbut
Cast bronze, Iron chaplets visible in breech
Length in., weight 36 lbs, bore 0.8 in.
“Hook“ to take up recoil against solid object
Front and rear sights
One bronze and one partial iron loop underneath
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4. Description (cont’d) Unknown early coat of arms cast into breech
Highly decorated; crosses, flames, trefoils, etc.
Flash pan on side drilled for cover (missing)
Nothing remains of original wooden stock
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

5. Decoration
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6. Details
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7. ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

8. Recent Provenance
History prior to 1960’s is unknown; appears excavated
1960’s-1990’s: W. Keith Neale, Hampton P. Howell Jr.
John Morris acquired in 1990’s
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

9. Questions to be answered:
Who made it and when?
Who first owned it?
Where might it have been used?
What did the stock look like?
Did it have a lock? If so, what kind?
What do the decorations symbolize?
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

10. Research Avenues Tried
Questions posted on collector websites
Numerous web searches
Gun Show displays
s to various experts
Visits with experts at Library of Congress
Searches of armorials at Library of Congress
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11. Coat of Arms Cast Into Gun
COA is that of Schellenberg family of nobles
The peculiar “coffee cup” shape of shield used on COA’s only ca. from
Ulrich von Schellenberg lived
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12. Gun was made for Nobleman Ulrich von Schellenberg
Ulrich von Schellenberg earned law degree in Italy
Decided on the profession of arms about 1510
Employed by Holy Roman Emperors Maximilian I and successor Charles V
Commanded up to 14,000 Swiss mercenaries
Known as fierce fighter and charismatic leader in many battles in Italy ca
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13. Ulrich von Schellenberg (1487-1558)
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14. Ulrich von Schellenberg (cont’d)
Colonel in Army of Holy Roman Empire (H.R.E.)
Knighted by both Maximilian I and Charles V
Served as “secret council” to two emperors of H.R.E
Wounded 36 times in one battle, but survived
Used sheets to hide breech in fortress wall
Returned to hometown in Bavaria in 1529
Appointed as bailiff of the town of Feldkirch
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15. Ulrich von Schellenberg (1487-1558)
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16. Ulrich von Schellenberg’s “Katzbalger,” 1505
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17. Decorations: Symbolic of what?
Cross of four fusils*
*Cram, Webber, CHURCH SYMBOLISM, Kessinger Publishing, 2003
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18. Who cast this gun? Peter II Mulich of Nuremburg and Zwickau?
“Rings of undulating flames” decoration connects the hackbut to several large bronze cannons cast by Mulich ca. 1525
Hackbut is unsigned but all Mulich cannons were signed and dated
Mulich trained under uncle Peter Vischer; appointed as gunfounder to the Elector Frederick in 1523; was recorded as casting guns in 1523, 1525,1528, 1533; some of his guns shown in the Geschutzbuch of Charles V; retired 1557*
*Kennard, A.N., GUNFOUNDING AND GUNFOUNDERS, Arms and Armour Press, LTD, London, 1969
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

19. Similar rings of undulating flames on Charles V cannon named “Lion” by Peter II Mulich, Nuremberg, 1523*
*Essenwein, A., QUELLEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER FEUERWAFFEN, Adademische Druck u.v. Graz 1969

20. Charles V cannons dated 1523, 1529 with rings of undulating flames and rings of crosses*
*Essenwein, A., QUELLEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER FEUERWAFFEN, Adademische Druck u.v. Graz 1969

22. Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1493-1519)

23. Maximilian arsenal inventories, early 16th century
Bronze-barreled
Hackbuts
From Zeugbuch of
Maximilian 1
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24. Maximilian arsenal inventories, early 16th century
Iron-barreled hackbuts
From Zeugbuch of
Maximilian 1
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25. Emperor Charles V

26. Example in German Museum, dated “ ,” very similar to Schellenberg hackbut-note rear peep sight, front blade sight, gradual muzzle flare, flashpan, hook*
*Essenwein, A., QUELLEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER FEUERWAFFEN, Adademische Druck u.v. Graz 1969

27. Details of flash pan and lock
*Essenwein, A., QUELLEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER FEUERWAFFEN, Adademische Druck u.v. Graz 1969

28. Similar piece in the German National Museum
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

29. An original “snapping tinder lock”
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC
Used with permission

30. Reverse
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Used with permission

31. Snapping tinder lock on a gonne
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Used with permission

32. Stock attachment details (privately owned weapon)
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Used with permission

33. Siege of fortified town.
Schilling, Diebold.
Burgerbibliothek Bern,
Mss h.h.l.1, pp. 739

34. ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

35. Ulrich von Schellenberg’s life and battles A= home, Feldkirch
Famous Battles:
Novara 1513
Vicenze 1513
Bicocca 1522
Pavia 1525
Vienna 1529

36. Battle of Pavia, 1525

37. Other Hackbuts, for comparison
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

38. Hackbuts in German Nat. Museum, Nuremburg*
*Essenwein, A., QUELLEN ZUR GESCHICHTE DER FEUERWAFFEN, Adademische Druck u.v. Graz 1969

39. Example of early iron handcannon/hackbut in U. S
Example of early iron handcannon/hackbut in U.S. National Firearms Museum

40. Other examples of hackbut…
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

41. We’d like to know the meaning of the initials “J U R” or “J V R”
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42. The End!
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43. Supplemental Slides
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44. Pavia Campaign, 1525

45. Battle of Pavia, 1525

46. Battle of Pavia, 1525

47. Detailed views of a complete, privately-owned hackbut
©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC
Used with permission

48. Details (cont’d)
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Used with permission

49. ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC
Used with permission

52. ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

53. ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC