A very rare breech-loading swivel gun, Germany, 15th century.

Length: 147 cm.
Diameter muzzle: 16 cm.
Caliber: ca. 5 cm.
Dossier as PDF

Exhibition: Störtebeker and Company of the European Hansemuseum in Lübeck, 27.9.2019 to 26.7.2020. Published in: Europäisches Hansemuseum (Ed.): Störtebeker & Konsorten. Piraten der Hansezeit?, p.101., Kiel 2019.

The present cannon belongs to the type of early breech-loading swivel guns that were used on ships of the Hanseatic League in the 15th and 16th century.

As an innovative organisation the Hansa had also a cutting edge in securing their interests militarily and equipped their ships with the best and technologically leading weapons of their time. So as early as in the year 1352 preserved historical documents of the city of Lübeck mention a “vüerschütte” (cannon) and in 1385 the son of the mayor of Stralsund Wulf Wulflam had six “Donnerbüchsen” (thunder pipes) on board of his vessel. more