|
|
The
Crossbow > Chapter 7
> Handgun in Relation to the Crossbow
> p.39
Handgun in Relation
to the Crossbow
The Seigneur de Montluc,1 who
fought so gallantly for Francis I. in his wars with Charles V. of Spain,
has left on record in his Commentaries, which so ably describe his fifty
years of active service, ' that when he first commanded troops (1518-1520)
under Francis I. only crossbowmen were in the French army, and not one
soldier with a hand-gun.' It is, however, recorded that at the siege and
capture of Turin in 1536, handguns had quite superseded crossbows, and
that only one crossbowman was then present in the French army, though this
man was so clever with his weapon that he killed therewith more of the
enemy than were killed by the best hand-gunner present at the siege.2
The first hand-guns seen in England, were carried by the Burgundian
troops under Warwick, at the second battle of St. Albans in 1461. In 1471,
when Edward IV. landed at Ravenspur, a port then existing on the north
shore of the Humber close to its entrance to the sea, he brought among
his troops 300 Flemings armed with hand-guns.
It is difficult to understand the increasing popularity abroad of the
miserably ineffective hand-gun, unless it was persistently encouraged as
a rival to the English longbow.
Throughout the greater part of the sixteenth century, foot-soldiers
with hand-guns, without the support of cavalry, would have been an easy
prey in open field of battle to men armed with longbows, who were properly
trained to use them.
In 1585, Montaigne3 wrote ' that the effect of the discharge
of a handgun, apart from the shock caused by its report, was so insignificant
that he hoped the use of these weapons in warfare would soon be discontinued.'
Another chronicler records that at the battle of Kissingen in 1636,
the slowest soldiers fired only seven shots with their hand-guns during
eight hours, and that at Wittenmergen in 1638, the soldiers of the Duke
of Weimar fired off their pieces only seven times each man, and this, too,
during an engagement which commenced at noon and lasted till nightfall
!4
1 See Note 2, p. 38.
2 Discipline Militaire. - Doubtfully
attributed to Guillaume de Bellay, French general and historian, born 1491,
died 1543.
3 Michel de Montaigne - French moralist and
author of Essais, born 1533, died 1592.
4 Even a century after Wittenmergen the musket
was a very inferior arm, and the powder of its time so weak that an immense
charge was used. In 'Art de la Guerre, by the Marquis de Puyse"gur, Marshal
of France, printed 1748,' the author writes, 'We lose some men at 200 paces,
more at 100, and still more at 50 paces.' In ' Tactical Training of the
Prussian Army, 1745-1756, by Frederick the Great,' we read of his infantry
musket, that its caIibre = 20'14 mm., bullet = 31'3 grammes, charge of
powder = 19'53 grammes and that though fire was opened with it at 300 paces,
it only became effective at 200 paces (i.e. 167 yds.). In a trial of the
Prussian musket, about 1810, only 50 out of each 100 bullets that struck
it, pierced a pine-wood target one inch thick, at 200 paces.
The Crossbow
> Chapter 7 >
Handgun
in Relation to the Crossbow > p.39
|
Save up to 50% with Multi-Plan Deals
|
2 Plans $19.95 FREE Shipping
- Save Over 30%
U.S. Orders Only |
|
Get a Book of Catapult and Trebuchet Plans
Book of Catapult Plans
On Amazon.com
"Build Three Working Model Catapults, Easy to Build Plans
and Instructions"
|
Build Three Working Model
Catapults, Easy to Build Plans and Instructions is ideal for anyone
looking to build authentic, working model catapults.
This book contains professionally designed, step-by-step plans and instructions
for building three working model catapults:
The Stone Throwing Ballista, da Vinci's Spring Catapult and The Highland
Trebuchet using parts and materials available from your local home center,
or hardware store.
The straightforward designs require no complicated layout or joinery
and include:
-
A Complete Parts and Materials Shopping List
-
Measured Drawings and Dimensions for All Individual Parts
-
Step-by-Step Assembly Drawings
-
Step-by-Step Assembly Instructions
-
Detailed Construction Notes
-
Step-by-Step Firing and Tuning Instructions
-
A Photo of the Completed Catapult
|
| Working Model Trebuchet Kit |
 |
Trebuchet
Kit
TK1
|
$75.00
FREE Shipping
U.S. Orders Only |
|
|
|
The trebuchet kit includes fully precut and drilled
frame parts, pins and axles, sling cord and sewn pouch, projectiles and
fully illustrated assembly and firing instructions.
Unlike the flimsy, snap together plywood trebuchet
kits, our all hardwood trebuchet kit does not require additional cutting,
trimming or shaping.
Requires only white carpenter's glue and a few
bar clamps (not included) to assemble.
Read
More >> |
Build a Trebuchet From Plans
 |
|
-
Materials Shopping List
-
Complete Parts List
-
Measured Drawings for All Parts
-
Step-By-Step Assembly Drawings
-
Construction Details and Notes
-
How a Trebuchet Works
-
Illustrated Firing Instructions
-
Illustrated Tuning Instructions
-
Picture of the Completed Trebuchet
|
| Fully Assembled Working Models |
|
daVinci
Trebuchet
T4 |
$299.00
FREE Shipping
U.S. Orders Only
|
|
| |
|
Inspired by the great war machines and siege catapults of Leonardo da Vinci
, this all Red Oak
hardwood trebuchet features
an open counterweight cabinet for range and trajectory adjustment.
Individually crafted from cabinet-grade red oak, the da Vinci Trebuchet
stands 14 inches tall in the cocked position, 24 inches tall in the fired
position and will hurl a projectile up to 60 feet. Includes six projectiles
and fully illustrated instructions.
Read
More >> |
|
