[beaucoup ammo]

This is a Spanish Hand Cannon..believed to be the first hand gun.

[1911Tuner]

So it's the Spaniards who are responsible for all this carnage!

And here all this time I thought it was the rednecks.


Sorry beaucoup. Couldn't resist. :D

Good picture and a very interesting historical piece. If you find more information on the gun, please post.

[Timthinker]

If I am not mistaken, the term handgun originally applied to any firearm capable of being held in one's hands. Thus, a handgun was not necessarily a pistol, but could also include longarms as well.

The photo of that Spanish pistol is interesting. I second 1911's request for some more information about it. As a muzzleloading enthusiast, I would enjoy reading about the history of that gun. Thanks again for the photo.


Timthinker

[nwilliams]

This one's earlier:neener:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Yuan_chinese_gun.jpg

[CWL]

I don't know the provenance of that Spanish "hand cannon" but it looks to be from the wrong century (it is too crude for a 16th Century weapon).

The earliest handgonnes were already in use in Europe from the 1300's and were fired by placing a hot wire directly into the touch hole.

By the 1515's the German Hapsburgs (and possibly their Spanish cousins) were already outfitted with some amazingly intricate wheellock pistols and arquebuses. It is highly possible, but not proven, that German clockmakers created the wheellock firing mechanism by late 1490-1500 and which were immediately applied to pistols and carbine-sized weaponry.

[beaucoup ammo]

I suppose the phrase "...earliest FORM of handgun" covers that. It does indeed resemble a "cannon." The crude handle was obviously made so the weapon could be hand held.

Of the several pics I took yesterday, there may be another of this one. At any rate I'll get around to the others later.

You should be able to read the info here on the "Equalizer."

[Seancass]

note the obvious plow handled grip on the OP gun. clearly this design was stolen by Colt for his own use. the Spanish should sue colt for royalties for every gun produced with said grip.

[katastrof0]

CWL got it right

http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/handgonne.html

Heres from the same page, making one from scratch
http://www.musketeer.ch/blackpowder/forging.html

Ofcourse you could debate forever if this is a handgun/cannon/rifle:D

BB John