Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have some really cool 1600s-1700s firepower. This is a Flintlock Hand Mortar. These bad boys were notoriously loaded with whatever was found on hand much like a blunderbuss would be. their primary usage as far as defense/offense was propelling cast iron grenades. A fuze would be lit, placed in the tube and fired (ideally before it went off). Most people do not know that “at home” their primary usages were firing flares and…FIREWORKS! That’s right, they shot fireworks. The queen of England herself had someone employed to coordinate her fireworks since she enjoyed them so much.
“These weapons are very scarce and rarely scene outside of museum collections. Comparatively little was written about them in their era or has been written about them since. They are known to have been used for throwing grenades as well as weighted lines and grappling hooks. Others are believed to have been actually used for fireworks. The exact origin and overall age of this piece are not known. The only identifying marking is “D. DERNIERE” on the lower edge of the lock. Derniere from French translates to “Last,” and no gunmaker by that name could be identified. The lock, barrel, and furniture also have scrollwork and border engraving of somewhat differing quality and styles. The stock has raised flats and fleur-de-lis style carved accents.”
Lot 362: Flintlock Hand Mortar – Scarce Flintlock Hand Mortar with Relief Carved Stock. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/76/362/flintlock-hand-mortar.
