by Mr SAM Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:46 am
As m-r Iwo had been mentioned a Crossbow-gun theme, I would like to tell about that one interesting.
With the wheellock invention the fire-arms gain the increasing distribution across all Europe. It were the samples of a great skill quite often combined with other types of weapon – swords, axes, daggers, well and, certainly, crossbows. Fighting value of the majority of copies is doubtful, but the basic purpose of the combined weapon was not in fighting application - it has quickly turned in a status thing, an accessory of the mighty of this world. Owing to the uniqueness and target audience this weapon has usually been ornated.
There is a crossbow-gun concerns such status things from the Bavarian National museum in Munich. The weapon belonged to Austrian duck Ferdinand I Gabsburg (1503-1564), the emperor of The Holy Roman Empire. It has been presented to him by wife Anna, sister of Hungarian-Czech king Louis II (Lajosh II Jagellonsky). A fire trunk and wheellock the top, a nut and a trench - from below are located from above. (Or on the contrary, depending on that than to consider this artefact first of all - a gun or crossbow).
All metal parts of the weapon blued also are partially gilt. It is considered that its pistol type wheellock is oldest of all reached to us.
It is dated 1521-1526. In this interval specify the arms decorating it (are available the monogram both Ferdinand Gabsburg, and Anna, their wedding has taken place in 1521, but among the arms on a trunk there is no Bohemia and Hungary which earths Ferdinand in 1526, after destruction of Lajosh II in fight at Mohache, has attached to the possession). On the museum tablet crossbow it is presented as Italian, however its doubtless similarity with bows from a Maksimilian I collection , up to a covering from a red varnish and the gilt ornament on a stock, allows to carry it to products from Aragon(Spain).

I apologise for quality of photos and as a bonus I offer you my reconstruction drawing of this crossbowgun
