Description:  Wrought-iron guns of this era were made by forming a tube of gutter-shaped iron staves reinforced by a series of hoops and bands heated and shrunk over it. This example has

a massive 44 mm caliber bore, with a cylindrical and slightly tapered breech, with a rear vent. Wooden haft of recent production,  however very well reproduced. Two iron bands holding the barrel to the haft held with rivets. Total Length: 100 cm.

Discussion: The introduction of the hand cannon/gun likely closely followed that of the cannon itself. The earliest unequivocal evidence for the existence of guns dates from 1326 when the Council of Florence passed a decree authorizing the appointment of two men to make metal cannons (cannones de metallo) for the defense of the Republic.

The “English Royal Privy Wardrobe Accounts” for the year 1346 refers to guns with tillers (cum telariis), probably meaning handguns. The accounts of the Italian commune of Perugia in 1364 specifically refer to “500 bombards of a span in length, which can be carried in hand” (Blair, op. cit., p. 40; and Blackmore, op. cit., p. 5). The earliest reference to the handgun by name occurs in the English Royal Privy Wardrobe accounts for 1388, which refer to “canones paruos vocatos handgunnes” (Blair, op. cit., p. 40; and Blackmore, op. cit., p. 6, where the date of the document is correctly rendered).

Conclusion: A rare find. Superb condition. This appears not to be a ground find.  Contact me for a very reasonable price. I own several hand cannons from this period and absolutely love them. If not, I would be keeping them!!!*