Western/Central Europe, probably Germany or Austria, Medieval Period, ca. mid-15th century CE. A rare and fine example of a forged-steel wall gun with an octagonal barrel bearing seven interior rifling grooves. The cylindrical wooden carriage is of a stocky design that is reinforced with 3 iron astragals and supported on the front half with a pair of outstretched wooden legs. The wooden feet on the front would be mounted atop a fortification wall so it could be easily adjusted, and an ovoid iron chain loop could be placed over the barrel tip to facilitate its relocation as needed. Size (w/ carriage): 21" L x 7.75" W x 8.8" H (53.3 cm x 19.7 cm x 22.4 cm); (barrel): 17.2" L (43.7 cm); 0.50 caliber.

Provenance: private Coral Gables, Florida, USA collection, purchased from a castle in Styria, Austria in the 1980s via a representative

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#161009

Damage to wooden areas around backmost astragal and front of gun near barrel muzzle, with a few fissures to wooden carriage, loosening to backmost astragal, darkening to some wooden areas, and encrustations and chipping to some chain links on verso. Great patina throughout. Gun has not been tested for firing functionality.