An Early Bronze Hackbut John Morris ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

Description of the Hackbut Cast bronze, Iron chaplets visible in breech Length 36.75 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 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

Decoration ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Details ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

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

Research Avenues Tried Questions posted on collector websites Numerous web searches Gun Show displays Emails to various experts Visits with experts at Library of Congress Searches of armorials at Library of Congress ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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 1470-1525. Ulrich von Schellenberg lived 1487-1558 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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. 15010-1529 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Ulrich von Schellenberg (1487-1558) ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Ulrich von Schellenberg (1487-1558) ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Ulrich von Schellenberg’s “Katzbalger,” 1505 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Decorations: Symbolic of what? Cross of four fusils* *Cram, Webber, CHURCH SYMBOLISM, Kessinger Publishing, 2003 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

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

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

Emperor Maximilian I (reigned 1493-1519)

Maximilian arsenal inventories, early 16th century Bronze-barreled Hackbuts From Zeugbuch of Maximilian 1 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Maximilian arsenal inventories, early 16th century Iron-barreled hackbuts From Zeugbuch of Maximilian 1 ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Emperor Charles V

Example in German Museum, dated “1500-1510,” 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

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

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

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

Reverse ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

Snapping tinder lock on a gonne ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

Stock attachment details (privately owned weapon) ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

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

©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

Battle of Pavia, 1525

Other Hackbuts, for comparison ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

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

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

Other examples of hackbut… ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

We’d like to know the meaning of the initials “J U R” or “J V R” ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

The End! ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Supplemental Slides ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

Pavia Campaign, 1525

Battle of Pavia, 1525

Battle of Pavia, 1525

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

Details (cont’d) ©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC Used with permission

©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC

©2011 Springfield Arsenal LLC