When was the arquebus invented, a big heavy and primitive rifle?
The arquebus, derived from the German "Hakenbüchse", was a form of long gun that appeared in Europe during the 15th century. Although the term arquebus was applied to many different forms of firearms from the 15th to 17th centuries, it originally referred to "a hand-gun with a hook-like projection or lug on its under surface, useful for steadying it against battlements or other objects when firing."
These "hook guns" were in their earliest forms defensive weapons mounted on German city walls in the early 1400s, but by the late 1400s had become handheld firearms.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
25 Comments
Ken Putnam
A smoothbore, not a rifle
buhlemann
all the other choice were before gunpowder was introduced into Europe.
lls
...the "shot," here, would be smooth bored, as no "rifling" would occur...ergo, not quite a "rifle," as a weapon...
Karin Johansson
Martha McDowell, you are so wrong. It was invented as early as 1411. That was in the 15th century.
Karin Johansson
Teri Gallagan-Horning, yes it was in the 15th century.
Teri Gallagan-Horning
Marianne Frederick Halterman, The blunderbuss came 200 years later, around 1600. The end of the barrel is flared making it easier to load the gun powder down the barrel.
Teri Gallagan-Horning
Terry Masterson, The first arquebuse was used as early as 1445, which would then make it the 15th century.
Marianne Frederick Halterman
And so what is a Blunderbus?
docluci
Easy answer given the choices
Sue Fairweather
Got it
Terry Masterson
It would be the 16th Century if the invention was in 1521.
Martha McDowell
The correct answer is the sixteenth century. Since when are dates like 1520 or 1578 or 1500 called the fifteenth century? Many Canada has a different way of counting centuries?
tbear
larrywagner, she did! Got your back, Larry! 😊 👍
tbear
tesla alset, 👍 😊
Ken Putnam
Bill Arthur, Doesn't matter how common it is, it is meaningless, as a firearm CANNOT be both smoothbore AND rifled
John W Shreve
I remember drawings of Champlain's men using them in Canada.