Medieval Handgonnes The First Black Powder Infantry Weapons

In the early 14th century, a new weapon entered the arsenals of European
armies. This first generation of black powder weapons put fear into the
heart of the enemy and in 1453 Ottoman cannon succeeded in pummelling
the once-impregnable walls of Constantinople. But cannons, which are
both slow and cumbersome, were difficult to use and often proved
inaccurate. The first handgonnes were the answer. Easily dismissed by
later historians as nothing more than crude tubes that shot wildly
inaccurate lead balls, more recent research has revealed the true
accuracy of the medieval handgonne together with its penetrative power.
This volume, complete with detailed illustrations and colour photographs
of reconstructed handgonnes, reveals the true history of what could
easily have been the most revolutionary weapon in history.This book will
be a must for medieval enthusiasts and re-enactors.