Big Pistols
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I have admired fest bollerin for years.
I just made arrangements to have a barrel made from 2 inch 4140 stock.
I have a nice chunk of mahogany for a stock
I just made arrangements to have a barrel made from 2 inch 4140 stock.
I have a nice chunk of mahogany for a stock
It is something that I have little information about.
(I am interested more from the wow factor (gasps) those big bores get)
They have clubs or groups that open festivals and fairs with massive noisey salutes fired from these guns. They fire cork wads. Some groups wear the military looking jackets and others dress more like Schulplattern dancers in the white shirts and lederhosen. Apparently it is considered a work of honor to be included in such a group.
The guns themselves run between 16mm and 40 mm normally. They are displayed on fancy stands and are often decorated with fancy carving and engraving.
I found a German site for a manufacturer of these guns, both pistols and short muskets, and they are quite expensive. That German site has a photo gallery of some Boller clubs.
Check this out: http://www.boellerkaiser.com/
(I am interested more from the wow factor (gasps) those big bores get)
They have clubs or groups that open festivals and fairs with massive noisey salutes fired from these guns. They fire cork wads. Some groups wear the military looking jackets and others dress more like Schulplattern dancers in the white shirts and lederhosen. Apparently it is considered a work of honor to be included in such a group.
The guns themselves run between 16mm and 40 mm normally. They are displayed on fancy stands and are often decorated with fancy carving and engraving.
I found a German site for a manufacturer of these guns, both pistols and short muskets, and they are quite expensive. That German site has a photo gallery of some Boller clubs.
Check this out: http://www.boellerkaiser.com/
We have discussed these occasionally on BP THR. When I was in Germany in the 1970's these seemed to mainly be found down in the alps. I first saw them down in Ober Amergau were I was told that a lot of folks had them and that on new years it was custom to ring the valley with folks so armed, who fired on command to ward off witches for the coming year. When I jokingly ask if it works I was told there had been no witches in the last 200 years or so......
As to the gentleman on the street with the bolt action rifle, in Ulm we had an annual shooters walk where folks did a traditional Volks Marche sort of thing but at speed from the Munster over the river to Neu Ulm and out to our club. I wanted a patch for this badly but Uncle Sam always had other plans and I never got to participate. There was quite a stir in 1974 when both the run and shoot were won by a woman, the wife of a member, and the club at that time refused to honor it.
All of our BP events were Wednesday nights so as to not smoke out other members, model cannon of .50 to .75 were popular and fired with lead ball. I shot borrowed guns then as owning more than one or two guns was a pain for a lower enlisted man. I shot some original caplock military guns, some Italian replicas of revolvers, and once a 200+ year old Jager Rifle that really did require hammering a patchless lead ball all the way down the barrel. Thunder pistols like the OP shows were however not well thought of in the shooting club and some guys seemed to feel that they were making fun of serious shooters
-kBob
As to the gentleman on the street with the bolt action rifle, in Ulm we had an annual shooters walk where folks did a traditional Volks Marche sort of thing but at speed from the Munster over the river to Neu Ulm and out to our club. I wanted a patch for this badly but Uncle Sam always had other plans and I never got to participate. There was quite a stir in 1974 when both the run and shoot were won by a woman, the wife of a member, and the club at that time refused to honor it.
All of our BP events were Wednesday nights so as to not smoke out other members, model cannon of .50 to .75 were popular and fired with lead ball. I shot borrowed guns then as owning more than one or two guns was a pain for a lower enlisted man. I shot some original caplock military guns, some Italian replicas of revolvers, and once a 200+ year old Jager Rifle that really did require hammering a patchless lead ball all the way down the barrel. Thunder pistols like the OP shows were however not well thought of in the shooting club and some guys seemed to feel that they were making fun of serious shooters
-kBob
Thanks guys,looking at the Pistols it would,nt be much of a job to make one.I wonder if any of the group try them with Ball.Although they are unweildly beasts they have a certain charm about them.
I lived in Germany for a few years in my 20s. I don't ever remember seeing this for Oktoberfest but I saw them during a festival called Schutzenfest. It was sort of a tribute to a towns defenders back in the middle ages. They had what would amount to town militias that would defend against other towns, marauders, etc. Each town had its own Shutzenfest and they varied a lot in how and when they celebrated it. I have heard that some of the towns actually have shooting competitions but, at least where I was, it was mostly celebrated with a lot of parades, beer and karaoke.... Kind of like Oktoberfest.
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Pretty plain for German guns. I guess they're ceremonial only. They're certainly attention getters and effective.
As for the uniform parade, did anyone else notice the fellow who had more medals than Herman Goering. The only people with more medals are the North Koreans.
As for the uniform parade, did anyone else notice the fellow who had more medals than Herman Goering. The only people with more medals are the North Koreans.
The Pistol in the forefront the lady holding it looks to be basic and unfinished.the next one down the line has better lines with the timber around the Lock a better shape.I would think that for a group demonstration they would be ideal since these cannons can be fired upwards with absolute safety.
Well... nobody can say they don't know how to celebrate anyhow.
Huge pistols and beer... what's not to like about that?
Huge pistols and beer... what's not to like about that?
Patocazador
Member
I think the guy with all the medals is wearing "volksmarch" medals. For instance, when we go to a regional rendy, they give medallions which are often displayed in front of a camp on a piece of leather or on a string. When they take part in a parade, or march, they get a medal. Many German, Austrians and Swiss put their volksmarch medals on their walking sticks, some on their clothes. I have seen 5 ft tall walking sticks with dozens of medals on them.
I have a 75 caliber cannon and a 1.25 inch cannon. In the 75 caliber, a 90 grain charge with a couple fiber wads makes quite a crack. In the larger cannon, 120 grains and two 1/4 inch leather wads has created such a concussion that I broke windows in a neighbor's house. 700 ft away. They shoot cork wads, over powder so I am guessing about 80 to 100 grains. Some are much smaller bores than other. 16 mm is only about 20 ga, and 25mm is about .92 inches. About a 5 or 6 ga
mdauben
Member
Dixie Gun Works actually sells "Bavarian Style Salute Guns" (aka "Boller Pistols") although at .58 cal they seem a bit smaller than the one's shown earlier in this thread.
Still, they look like they would be a real hoot to use at gun related events.
Still, they look like they would be a real hoot to use at gun related events.
Deltaboy1984
Member
RPRNY
Member
The Lady with the barrel would have been called a "Vivandier" at the beginning of the American Civil War or more properly War Between the States and the barrel would have been full of brandy.
I think this has a St Bernard beat all to heck!
I agree with that Chinese Admiral likely being decked out in Volks March medals.
That Eagle in a wreath on the guy with the rifle reminds me of the German Equivilant of our Expert Infantry badge. It was a test involving physical fitness, test of Infantry knowledge and skills and high marksmanship. Typically in the US army only about 3 percent of those going for the EIB got one and the German version was not much more common. The Badge looks like a pin version of the Shooting Knot's medal portion. One wore the Shooting knot on the right shoulder with the rope portion looping under the right lapel and the Infantry Badge on the right breast pocket. Never got a chance for the Infantry badge though I studied for it (thought it would go nice with my EIB) , but still have a Shooting Knot somewhere. I was made to remove it at Ft. Sill by a grumpy General Officer that disliked 2LTs wearing ferrin awards......
-kBob
I think this has a St Bernard beat all to heck!
I agree with that Chinese Admiral likely being decked out in Volks March medals.
That Eagle in a wreath on the guy with the rifle reminds me of the German Equivilant of our Expert Infantry badge. It was a test involving physical fitness, test of Infantry knowledge and skills and high marksmanship. Typically in the US army only about 3 percent of those going for the EIB got one and the German version was not much more common. The Badge looks like a pin version of the Shooting Knot's medal portion. One wore the Shooting knot on the right shoulder with the rope portion looping under the right lapel and the Infantry Badge on the right breast pocket. Never got a chance for the Infantry badge though I studied for it (thought it would go nice with my EIB) , but still have a Shooting Knot somewhere. I was made to remove it at Ft. Sill by a grumpy General Officer that disliked 2LTs wearing ferrin awards......
-kBob
Even though Bavarians are rather a weird tribe and not representative for germany (At all!!) ...
... but i like the comment.
Schützenfeste are infamous for heavy beer (and schnaps) consumption.
That`s why the rifle for shooting down the "Bird" is in a fixed setup,
so none of the drunk competitors gets him or others killed
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