Gunsmith

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Historical illustration of two gunsmiths shooting and casting bullets around 1411

The gunsmith (also: Büchsenschütz ) was in the late Middle Ages , from the middle of the 14th century , the professional designation for craftsmen who commercially manufactured and operated firearms .

history

The tasks of the gunsmiths, whose activities were referred to as "gunsmiths", included the manufacture of all types of firearms, such as hand rifles , cannons , mortars and bombards . They mastered the straightening and loading, the maintenance and repair of the pieces. In addition, they often made projectiles , black powder and protective weapons . Gunsmiths were mostly directly subordinate to the city ​​council or the sovereign and were usually responsible for the operation of the local armory . Gunsmiths were not only courted by sovereigns and cities because of their technical expertise , they were also among the local keepers of secrets who had precise tactical knowledge of the protection and armament of their clients. In order to keep gunsmiths in their service, they were often offered relatively high salaries and jobs for life. However, this did not rule out the possibility that gunsmiths could also work for other clients with the approval of their employer. They took part in military campaigns as artillerymen. Numerous gunsmiths worked as traveling craftsmen or mercenaries for changing clients. Early gunsmiths were most likely recruited from technically related professions such as blacksmiths , bell-makers, and locksmiths .

In the second half of the 15th century , due to the advancing technical development, a further specialization in the field of firearms took place. For individual activities of the gunsmiths, such as gun casting or powder production, separate professional groups such as piece casters , gunsmiths , gunsmiths and powder makers emerged, some of which then organized themselves properly . In the 16th century, gunsmiths were initially incorporated as a subordinate professional group in the guild of blacksmiths, locksmiths and grinders, to which watchmakers were added in the 17th century. Specialization initially developed in the large aristocratic armies, while it took place more slowly and with a time lag in the more manageable urban area.

Lore

The best known gunsmiths at the moment include Konrad Kyeser (1366–1405), Johannes Formschneider (before 1420-after 1470), Martin Merz (1425–1501) and Franz Helm (16th century), whose handwritten notes are still available today in numerous copies. Her works called Bellifortis , war and gunsmith books, were among the earliest examples of technical books in the German language. The Fireworks Book of 1420 was widespread, the contents of which can be found in other works, for example under titles such as “Büchsenmaisterey”, abbreviated, modified or supplemented. In addition, numerous accounting books of the treasuries contain detailed records of expenses for gunsmiths and their work. The Bavarian gunsmith Johann Praunberger was a fireworker specializing in the preparation of black powder in the 15th century and wrote a text on the production of saltpeter.

Trivia

The job title of the gunsmith (like that of the crossbow ) was also adopted as a family name .

literature

  • Rainer Leng : You can serve with bush work. A new profession in the late Middle Ages: the gunsmith . In: Dieter Rödel, Joachim Schneider (Hrsg.): Structures of society in the Middle Ages: Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies in Würzburg . Reichert, Wiesbaden 1996, ISBN 3-88226-883-2 , pp. 302-321 .
  • Volker Schmidtchen : 'Pixen, war armor, storm gear and fireworks' ('War and Pixenwerch'). In: Author's Lexicon . Volume VII, Col. 711 f.
  • Volker Schmidtchen: Bombards, fortifications, gunsmiths: From the first wall breakers of the late Middle Ages to the siege artillery of the Renaissance . Droste, Düsseldorf 1977, ISBN 3-7700-0471-X .
  • Wilhelm Hassenstein: The fireworks book from 1420. 600 years of German powder weapons and gunsmithing. Reprint of the first edition from 1529 (published in the same year by Egenolph in Strasbourg under the title Büchsenmeysterei ) with translation into standard German and explanations, Munich 1941.
  • Eugène Heer, Ellen Ducommun (ed.): The new Støckel. International encyclopedia of gunsmiths, firearms manufacturers and crossbow makers from 1400–1900 . 3 volumes, Journal-Verlag Schwend, Schwäbisch Hall 1978–1982.

Web links

Commons : Master gunsmiths  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Volker Schmidtchen: Gun factory. In: Burghart Wachinger et al. (Hrsg.): The German literature of the Middle Ages. Author Lexicon . 2nd, completely revised edition, volume 1 ( 'A solis ortus cardine' - Colmar Dominican chronicler ). De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1978, ISBN 3-11-007264-5 , Sp. 1110 f. (for the handwriting Dise after written pieces and art is nuwe Buchsen Werk is called sy )
  2. ↑ a b c Rainer Leng : getruwelich serve with bush work. A new profession in the late Middle Ages: the gunsmith . In: Dieter Rödel, Joachim Schneider (Hrsg.): Structures of society in the Middle Ages. Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies in Würzburg . Reichert, Wiesbaden 1996, ISBN 3-88226-883-2 , pp. 302-321 .
  3. ↑ Hans-Peter Trenschel: The Würzburg guild of locksmiths, rifle, watch and winch makers . In: Ulrich Wagner (Hrsg.): History of the city of Würzburg. 4 volumes; Volume 2: From the Peasants' War in 1525 to the transition to the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1814. Theiss, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8062-1477-8 , pp. 448–453.
  4. ↑ Volker Schmidtchen: 'Fireworks book from 1420'. In: Burghart Wachinger et al. (Hrsg.): The German literature of the Middle Ages. Author Lexicon . 2nd, completely revised edition, Volume 2 ( Comitis, Gerhard - Gerstenberg, Wigand ). De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1980, ISBN 3-11-007264-5 , Sp. 728-731.
  5. ^ Volker Schmidtchen: Schongau, Konrad. In: Author's Lexicon . 2nd ed., Volume 8, Col. 824 f. (to Konrad Schongau, the author of one of the earliest versions of the 'Fireworks Book of 1420')
  6. ↑ Volker Schmidtchen: 'Fireworkers and Gun Master Book'. In: Author's Lexicon . 2nd ed., Volume 2, Col. 731-733.
  7. ↑ Volker Schmidtchen: 'Fireworks Art'. In: Author's Lexicon . 2nd ed., Volume 2, Col. 733.
  8. ↑ Gundolf Keil : Praunperger, Johann (es). In: Author's Lexicon . 2nd ed., Volume 7, Col. 809 f.