Arquebus
The Arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus or hackbut) was a primitive firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. Like its successor, the musket, it was a smoothbore firearm although somewhat smaller than its predecessors, which made it easier to carry. It was a forerunner of rifle and other longarm firearms.
Arquebus was fired by a matchlock mechanism and had a larger bore than its predecessors. The flared muzzle made it easier to load the weapon and the arquebusier braced the gun?s barrel into a metal pole with a forked end when firing. The name (?hook gun?) is often claimed to be based on the bent shape of arquebus? butt. It may also be that the some of the original arquebus had a metal hook near the muzzle that may have been used for bracing against a solid object to absorb recoil. Since all the arquebuses were hand-made by various gunsmiths, there is no typical specimen.
Arquebus came into greater prominence first during the Battle of Padua in 1525. Defeat of French knights before the heavy fire of arquebusiers inspired other people to adopt the weapon as well.
In the 16th century, musket begun to slowly replace arquebus except in places like Japan, where the use of firearms was severely curtailed by shogunate degree.
External Link
- http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Campground/8551/arquebus.html
Referenced By
Firearm | Firearms | Guns | List of medieval weapons | Medieval weapons
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