Hand cannons.

[Ming general]

Some specialised units in Sengoku armies used large calibre matchlock cannons, firing lead shot weighing up to 3lbs!. These weapons were used to great effect during the invasions of Korea, also known as the Imjin wars.

[Zenith Darksea]

I'd have thought that the recoil on that baby would shatter the guy's shoulder, not to mention the weight that that thing must have. Actually, I recognise that picture from the end credits of Shogun Total War.

[Ming general]

Some Japanese arquebus were not rested against the shoulder, as they had short stocks (Turnbull highlights this in his "Warriors of medieval Japan") This example is likely the same. However, unlike the picture shows, these large-calibre matchlocks were probably mounted on a tripod rather than fully hand-held.

IIRC, the hand cannon could weigh up to 65lbs.

[Osceola]

I'm pretty sure they would've held it out and fired it to avoid recoil. Also I have a few SJ era drawings of them being mounted in wheeled carriages and shot like a civil war cannon. Yet the guy was sitting at it kinda like a WW2 machine gun. Pretty cool.

[antisocialmunky]

They are the early equivalent of trench mortars.

[Ecthelion]

That picture is not for real. I forgot the name of the samurai depicted, but the drawing was a sort of hyperbolized praise for his strength. It's actually a really popular drawing by a well know artist. And it's one of the only one showing prominent samurai wielding firearms.

Japanese arquesbuses were shot from the cheek not the shoulder. No one knows exactly why this change was made. But most speculate that the amount of powder used would need to be cut, otherwise the recoil could shatter or seriously damage a man's jawbone.

[waitcu]

i don't think it's hyperbolized praise for his strength . in YunNan china , there is a ancient sword which use by a the Miao nationality , it's more than 40 KG weight .

[Ecthelion]

Umm... I think that I speak for everyone when I say that that sword is ceremonial. I don't think that the average Miao PERSON even weights that much.

[antisocialmunky]

40kg?!? Why don't you try and fight with it then? You'd probably have better luck with the Norimitsu.

[sephodwyrm]

I detect racism against the Miao people.

[waitcu]

Umm... I think that I speak for everyone when I say that that sword is ceremonial. I don't think that the average Miao PERSON even weights that much.

it is said that it use by a strong brave king of Miao long time ago . if you travel in YunNan china , you will find that Big sword . i will try find some photos .

[Wild Bill Kelso]

it is said that it use by a strong brave king of Miao long time ago . if you travel in YunNan china , you will find that Big sword . i will try find some photos .

Well I guess if you could wield a 40kg sword you wouldnt even have to worry about the guys armour. If you actually hit him he would be floored and severly stunned. Might as well just use a tree trunk .

@Seph-I hope you are joking, why not post something more about the topic rather than simply taking shots at people?

[ChineseManchurian]

Well I guess if you could wield a 40kg sword you wouldnt even have to worry about the guys armour. If you actually hit him he would be floored and severly stunned. Might as well just use a tree trunk .

@Seph-I hope you are joking, why not post something more about the topic rather than simply taking shots at people?

Japanese does not use Conon, it is too expensive for Japanese to recruint them, but I think in the battle 1600, there's 3 conons used in the battle field.
Btw Wild Bill, how come I never see you reply anything to ecthlion?

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Japanese does not use Conon, it is too expensive for Japanese to recruint them, but I think in the battle 1600, there's 3 conons used in the battle field.
Btw Wild Bill, how come I never see you reply anything to ecthlion?

I too tend to think that this pitcure is a romanticised verion of things. In regards to your last comment, you guys are doing a good job of replying already so why do I need to as well?

[fallingstar]

In regards to your last comment, you guys are doing a good job of replying already so why do I need to as well?

Communicate with the public what else?

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Communicate with the public what else?

huh? I don`t really want to go into why there is a certain level of hostility between Etchelion and some of the other members here as it has nothing to do with this topic. In fact most of the last few exchanges in a number of topics in the mod forum have gone astray and no longer have any relevance to the mod.

[fallingstar]

huh? I don`t really want to go into why there is a certain level of hostility between Etchelion and some of the other members here as it has nothing to do with this topic. In fact most of the last few exchanges in a number of topics in the mod forum have gone astray and no longer have any relevance to the mod.

Hmm I see your point..........

[waitcu]

Well I guess if you could wield a 40kg sword you wouldnt even have to worry about the guys armour. If you actually hit him he would be floored and severly stunned. Might as well just use a tree trunk

man i am not kidding . it's real .
well today still have such strong man . like some super muscle man ,especially you westener , they always join in some giant competition . their arm muscle even bigger than my leg muscle !!!!

[Wild Bill Kelso]

man i am not kidding . it's real .
well today still have such strong man . like some super muscle man ,especially you westener , they always join in some giant competition . their arm muscle even bigger than my leg muscle !!!!

I don't doubt it is real. However, I feel that to actually swing such a weapon effectively would be near to impossible, even by Conan himself! If your opponent avoided the attack(parrying is not an option!) the sheer momentum generated by the swing would be liable to turn the wielder right around.


It's too heavy for even me!

[Kagemusha]

Here is a picture of a few handcannons:



And couple pictures,how those might have been fired: