Videos tagged with Arquebus

This video provides an expert overview of the medieval hand cannon, tracing its origins from Chinese gunpowder to its development in Europe. It details the basic design, early projectiles, and the evolutionary path leading to later firearms like the arquebus. The information is presented by knowledgeable individuals from NRA Publications, highlighting the historical significance of this early firearm.

This lecture by Joe Tryner, PhD Student at The University of Sheffield, explores the evolution of portable firearms during the Italian Wars (1494-1560) and their societal impact. It details the development of matchlock, wheel-lock, flintlock arquebuses, and pistols in production centers like Italy and southern Germany, highlighting their effect on battlefield tactics and their rapid spread into civilian life. The talk uses the example of goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini to illustrate early gun cultures, examines the appeal of firearms in 16th-century Italy across various social strata, and offers a new perspective on this period by exposing the realities of early modern warfare and the Italian Renaissance.

Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries, provides an expert overview of a rare 1540 Italian arquebus. He details its evolution from the 'hook gun,' differentiates it from muskets by size and power, and explains its use by light infantry. Ferguson highlights the arquebus's precision engineering, including its octagonal barrel, advanced rear sight, and sophisticated snap matchlock mechanism. He also discusses historical firing techniques and the weapon's significant role in military history, noting its manufacturing hub in Gardone, Italy, which continues to produce firearms today.