15th century A.D. Eachprising a touch hole to base. See Funcken, L.& Funcken F., Le costume, l'armure et les armes au temps de la chevalerie, de huitieme au quinzieme siecle, Tournai,1977, pp.66-69, for reconstruction of how such hand cannons were used.5.6 kg total. 9.5-12 cm (3 3/4 - 4 3/4 in.). Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. At the beginning of the 14th century, among the infantry troops of the Western Middle Ages, developed the use of manual cannons (such as the Italian schioppetti, spingarde, and the German Fusstbusse). The new weapon had,pared to the bow and the crossbow, the advantage of not needing any particular care, of being manufactured more quickly and of being cheaper. [3]