History of the Gun - Part 1: The Hand Cannon

[Dagsschiller]

This may sound repetitive but, what's the effective range of a Handcannon?

[dekool88]

few crossbows pierced armor, but not all, and it took a longer time to fire, more expensive and longer years of training compared to the handcannon

[PragmaticMotion]

Thanks for putting this series together Ruger. Love the fact that you produce videos related to the history and education of firearms.

[OperationAnime262]

How would you reload it for a second shot? The same method?

[ItEaChUsTuNtS]

He was on Lock N Load with R Lee Ermey on muskets

[Pre114]

actually, most crossbows in use at the time were far more powerful than fire lances and hand cannons. Qin dynasty cross bows, that's about 200BC, can pirce both bronze and iron amour.

[Dagsschiller]

@Pre114 I agree on the Fire lances, not so much on the Hand Cannons, Crossbows were powerful, but Hand Cannons were more powerful, Crossbows did have better accuracy and greater distance.

[supersmash43]

Actually a powerful crossbow can pierce armour and handcannons didn't really replace archery because it was't a very reliable projectile weapon.

[cookervillpop101]

@supersmash43 thats right some cross bows did pierce armor thats why the Chinese made them

[Dagsschiller]

@supersmash43 Agreed, Crossbows had better distance and precision, but Hand Cannons were easier to produce and were more powerful.

[zyphenband]

Didn't the Chinese invent gun powder?

[TheCitrusGames]

@zyphenband yes and they were the one who made the rifle but it was completely impractical i think

[nikanj]

The Chinese had fire-lances which were sort of like shot guns on a stick.

[tecraman8100]

what is the name of this hand cannon?

[concavius]

Wasn't the hand cannon invented in China in the 1200s?

[aa3gunner]

This guy should have first featured the triple barrel Pole Gun used by the Ming Dynasty in China- 200 years before the West.

[umwhoalol]

the ottomans were the first ones to use gunpowder in true weaponry form,with cannons,allowing them to bring down previously unpenetrable castles,and allowing the ottomans to build to an empire that stretched all the way to eastern europe,and still had influence til the 20th century...

[MrBagginsEsq]

MY favorite series.

[MrBagginsEsq]

Now, hold on. I've seen matchlocks, wheelocks, flintlocks, snafance, caplocks for sale. But where do you go to find an old fashioned hand cannon!

[hdjksa52]

Gary, have your organization or anyone else ever tested the effectiveness of the hand cannon?

[RoManLP15]

And i forgot to say that the first use of Cannons was in China in year 1221 in a Siege against the "Yuan".

[RoManLP15]

Wrong.

The Chinese did not have HAND guns... But they had plenty of guns.

In the year 1260 the Mongols used Cannons against the Egyptians in their middle eastern campaign. The Mongols had captured Chinese cannons.

The Gun is like so many other things... Made in China and then brought to Europe thanks to trade with Middle East.

[Ryooken]

@RoManLP15 the oldest surviving gun, made of bronze, has been dated to 1288 because it was discovered at a site in modern-day Acheng District, Heilongjiang, China, where the Yuan Shi records that battles were fought at that time.[2]

[ajdaballer1]

@RoManLP15 marco polo,

[y2jtakerfan]

really nice!

[bdavis54]

you have to remember the crossbow technology was not what it is today. I agree a crossbow these days can easily pierce armor, but back then they could not.  I lived in Ireland for a while due to my job and had a wonderful opportunity to travel Europe and tour castles while I did. I've seen and old crossbow. As awesome of a weapon as it was I can't belive that even when new it could soot more than 100fps or so. Intestine string and carved wood...I could be wrong but it didn't seem so.

[tsafa1]

Excellent video. Thanks for posting.

[RalphyGreene]

Didnt the mamluks use handcannons against the mongols?

[angrytigerP]

Crossbows... took months to learn... how to use?

They need to brush up on their history.

[KingOfNormans]

One question: what charge did they use in Medieval times for a hand gun? 1/2 of the ball's weight, like with matchlock muskets=?

[EEDDLL1234]

THANKS A TON! this really helped with with my gunpowder history project great video

[Blipware56]

This is a great series. :D

[thethethetheluis]

hehe he flinched

[lifes40123]

being able to pierce armor or not just depends on how much gunpowder there is 

[De4dm4u5Rulez]

Cant pierce armor? He obviously never played Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Lol, just kidding, that's an awesome vid.

[jethro035181]

where do you mount the leupold scope....and will it shoot minute of angle

[HeroesofGrammar]

Longbow can pierce armour as well.

[SecuR0M]

@HeroesofGrammar At just barely past 20 feet.

Longbows and crossbows are fucking useless against plate armour at any meaningful range that doesn't involve getting your head lopped off.

[alexj5887]

1 wrong gun invented in china

2 wrong crossbow can pierce armour

[camerl2009]

@alexj5887 first guns where in europe

chinese use blackpowder for fireworks till about 1500 or so. when thay made the 3 barrel handcannon

[iqentab]

@alexj5887 Crossbows can definitely pierce armor. Easily. Like butter. In the time of the introduction of the crossbow (late middle ages), armor-piercing arrowheads were commonplace. These arrowheads were long and thin and razor sharp. They weren't broadheads. Shot from a bow, they could penetrate plate armor if they hit right. Crossbows fire at a much higher velocity, which obviously improves penetrating power.

[SecuR0M]

@iqentab Bodkin arrows could barely dent plate armour at anything past 20 feet, their real use was increased range.

[EzKrispy]

You can most defiantly pierce Armour with the crossbow.

In fact pope Innocence II forbid use of the crossbow against Christians because nobles and knights were being slain in droves by crossbow wielding peasants.

[6U4RD1AN]

@GIDAN2987 False, longbows could´nt pierce any armour with the exception of the leather ones, is along with the katana one of the most overrated weapons.

[iceland2121]

Crecy was in 1346, man this guy should open a book, or at least just use google.

[theorenj]

"in europe" HAH, it was the TURKS who invented the gun.

[TheTitto]

Who would want to shoot that?

[khinzeerhindu]

@pakidreamer ask ur hijra force how many hindu were kill for fun and how do they fight with mukti bahini

and how many indian air field was taken have u asked that no cos u r talking about 92000 army force which was orderd by their comander from the west and u claim its cridet hahahhahaha

wasn`t that russias help on the UN ????? u deny that

[PompeusMagnus]

Comme on dude... Like you learn how to shoot a crossbow in less then 4 day's... And the crossbow had the Cranquine wich was kind of a fast spanning device... And i betch his ass that a crossbow pierces armour, plus it's hell more accurate then a hand-cannon...

[ewbecht]

this gu had a far less impact on wrfare than said in the video

[dogfootrot189]

@ewbecht thats true, and after the invention of the hand cannon, archers and crossbowmen continued to be implemented on the field, however its in the refinement of the hand cannon that an effective firearm was able to be reached

[buidseach]

alot of scottish castles were designed to have these mounted behind portholes to defend the castle, good to see one in action.

[TheMedievalMan]

Yeah, this guy is not very historically accurate. The Chinese knew about cannon like weapons before Middle Easterners or Europeans did. Crossbows could pierce armor. Including the more powerful crank powered Arbalest, which is what he was showing. Early hand cannons actually made poor armor penetrating weapons at the time. And the Chinese made a variety of black powder weapons that shot projectiles. Rockets, fire lances and early grenades are examples of some of these Chinese weapons.

[ThemanDeshawn]

you can pirec armor with a crossbow

[gmodrules123456789]

easiest homebrew gun ever

[Diabokid12]

I have to disadree that someone can't learn how to shoot a crossbow in 3 months, you don't belive?? then watch the video "Conquest - Medieval Crossbow" :)

[Epic41241]

I want to know the first firearm of the whole world

[Spartiatai300]

@Epic41241 This is probably it.

[heavymetalsinner1]

@Epic41241 your looking at it this was the first firearm ever made

[FunSudioz]

This guy is not totally correct.the chinese was the first to invent gunpoder.

[sfcender2012]

@FunSudioz didnt he say that it came from the east?

[magner58]

@FunSudioz You are right, not only the chinese invented gunpowder - but also cannons and firearms they used looong looong time before muslims or christians.

[coozy100]

thatd be easy to make *butane light or a box on the side filled with strike anywhere matches.

[killercrabman]

he says lets starts at the beginning...the intro of gun powder to europe...china had gunpowder weapons (including true guns) thousands of years b4 europe could wipe its butt. but i guess only a white guy could invent something that important.. ignorant yank.

[revolrz22]

@killercrabman

Long before Europe could wipe its butt? I guess the Roman Empire means nothing.

Regardless, even most Chinese sources state that Chinese military use didn't get much further than bombs and artillery applications before it was abandoned. It was in Europe that the firearm got its real meaningful start towards evolution as a dominant battlefield system.

[patch5129]

Been a while since I picked up a book about arms and warfare, but I am pretty sure a crossbow could pierce armor. It was either the crossbow or the longbow that was a major piece in the hundred year war.

Nonetheless good video.

[sword519]

@patch5129 The crossbow can pierce armor. It was so dangerous for Knights and the Nobles that a pope tried to banish crossbow but it didn't work. Also, crossbow is kinda the ancestor of muskest because the 2 weapons posses a trigger.

[LordBifford]

@sword519 Wikipedia says the Pope Innocent II banned the crossbow because stupid idiots were shooting apples off people's heads without aiming high enough, and stuff like that.

Archers had to practice a long time to master the bow, during which they were taught responsibility. Crossbows were easier, so a lot of morons got their hands on them.

[6U4RD1AN]

@LordBifford Most stupid answer ever. You won one internet.

[Vanelence649]

The Chinese invented the gunpowder

[fletcher0102]

@Vanelence649 and the chinese had the technique for manufacturing gun barrel! rockets , grenades metal cannons and guns exsists !

[runescape44411]

@Vanelence649 no they didn't!! they made black powder.. theres a difference

[lifes40123]

@Vanelence649 i like how u said "the gunpowder"

[huoopt]

@Vanelence649 yes if you would lisen he says that gun powder was introducted to europe, that means the chinese gave europe gun powder

[greatsharkman]

@Vanelence649 They also invented the crossbow a thousand years before the Europeans did.

[emu4286]

@greatsharkman I used to think this as well but it's actually incorrect; the ancient Greeks and Romans had handheld bolt-shooting crossbows. Admittedly not much is known about them, but they did exist.

Anyway, cool video, and that appears to be a somewhat later type of hand cannon, perhaps from the Hussite Wars era. The very earliest ones were basically just wooden poles with metal barrels attached to one end, even simpler than this one.

[greatsharkman]

@Vanelence649 Chinese also invented the first crossbow, including the famous repeating crossbow, fireworks, and explosives.

[Nefus1988]

@Vanelence649 But they never invented gunpowder weapons

[aa3gunner]

@Vanelence649: The Chinese also invented the first firearms, cannons, trip mines, grenades, and continuous flamethrowers in the early 13th century.

[aa3gunner]

@Vanelence649: The Chinese also invented the first firearms, cannons, trip mines, grenades, and continuous flamethrowers in the early 13th century.

[sayyid14]

@aa3gunner but why Chinese dont conquer the world before west have nothing no London,No Cordoba,nO Paris.chinese also have alot advance weaponry at that time like chu ko nu crossbow,rocket artillery(korean vrsion is hawcha),flamethrower,grenades,­claymore etc Chinese also have greatest and the biggest armada.why.latter when european get gunpowder technology like German,British,US,France,Russi­an,Hungary etc,attack other weak nation,conquer, steal rich resource & wipeout other nation in America etc

[sayyid14]

@aa3gunner what happen is Chinese Conquer Russian and all Europe? are Native American like Sioux, Iroquois,Maya,Aztec,Zapotec,Ca­rib,Cree,Apache,Comanche,Navaj­o,Inca etc still have right rule their land? i think Aborigines Australia,New Zealand Maori,Volga Tatars,Siberian Turkic-Mongol,Sakhalin & Kuril island habitat by Ainu & Japanese are happy with they land.Indonesian & Malaysia are be 1 United Country or like Majapahit era.India happy with Sultanate & Hindus rule.Thank European of anything =)

[jefferson1232757]

@Vanelence649 in fact the chinese discover the saltpeter, a franciscan monk invented the saltpeter combined with the charcoal wich was the black powder

[USMarineRifleman0311]

@jefferson1232757

The combination of sulfur, salt peter and charcoal was already made in the orient. It traveled to Europe through the middle east. Bacon didnt invent anything if you ask me. Salt peter was nearly non existant in Europe at the time.

[Roddyoneeye]

The wire was inserted into the core of the cord (match) to allow stiffness, The cord burned around the wire, while the other end of the wire was used as a prick to clear the touch hole.

[Diabokid12]

See this video and i'll prove that a crossbow can pierce amour... Conquest-Medieval Crossbow - Part 1

[Diabokid12]

Dude a crossbow can pierce armour...!!!!!!!!!

[uncleleo1million]

awesome!!

[veniceofamerica]

Great stuff but the Chinese made early hand cannons too around the same time (Ming Dynasty). Check out the demonstrations when you search Pole Cannon.

[desertkoi]

Great video, is the aspect ration off though?

[cz52fanatic]

I have to respectfully disagree about a crossbow not being able to pierce armor.

[thegangvault2]

lol totally dude....but I guess it depends on the crossbow....and probably the armor.

[zainaku]

@cz52fanatic if you get a big enough bow, and a strong enough bolt. Yeah, but id still bet a cannon would do more damage

XD

[snipeahead]

@cz52fanatic a french crosbow could pierce armor form 350 mtrs

[Stanislaw93]

@cz52fanatic Yes you are right - it only depends on the size and power of the crossbow. In the past I was in some museum in Poland and the crossbow that was in there, was able to pierce the whole oak tree (with diameter of over 1 metre). And it was mainly used in the sieges, but any way - it still could be used by one person.

[PHOTOGRASPER]

@cz52fanatic I think they mean consistently. armor varies, skills vary, distance, angles, etc all factor in.

if you were wearing armor, which would you rather be shot by? 

[kevinlimwangli]

@cz52fanatic yeah cos crossbows were meant to pierce Armour(not sarcastic)

[ArchangelUriel2]

@kevinlimwangli

Except for the fact that they were. It was less likely to pierce plate, admittedly, but scale and chain were no problem. Neither of these was the 'armor' you meant, I'm sure, but they ARE armor, nonetheless.

[kevinlimwangli]

@ArchangelUriel2 is chain considered armour i think it is cos wiki the definition is that it is a cover to prevent dmg from being inflicted on object human etc



[ArchangelUriel2]

@kevinlimwangli

Then your original statement- that arrows couldn't pierce 'armor'- was flawed, wasn't it?

I was merely trying to point out that it depended on the definition of armor being used, since many people think exclusively of plate armor when the word armor is mentioned in a medieval context.

Unless you were being sarcastic when you said that, and I missed it. If that was the case, then I apologize.

[DeHeld8]

@cz52fanatic

True, some crossbows and highly trained longbowmen could penetrate (some) armour. However, with the handcannon it was way more easy.

However, archers still could shoot 12 arrows a minute at least. That rate of shot was not equelled by the firearm untill the american civil war period.

[ivanspajic1]

@cz52fanatic You could pierce chainmail but not a single piece of chest steel.

[robscorobson86]

Very cool! finally some quality gun history

[boxant]

Great video, looking forward to the rest of the series.

[ArizonaAdventures]

nice video