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We know that the earliest guns were cast from non-ferrous alloys, and the colour (gilt) of the piece in the original of the illustration above indicates it was made of a metal resembling brass, possibly bell metal. Extensive building of churches in Europe during the Middle Ages led to a steady demand for bells - and for bell-founders to switch to gun-founding would not have proved a difficult exercise.
During the 14th and 15th centuries England bought most if not all her cast brass or bronze guns fdrom makers in Europe. When Henry VIII ascended the throne in 1509 the country had only one expert gun founder, a state of affairs he soon rectified by importing German, Italian and French gun founders not only to cast his ordnance but also to teach Englishmen how to do it.
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WL Ruffell Issue 76 December 1992 |
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