Chinese Ming Dynasty Iron & Wood 9-Shot Hand Cannon

East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A heavy, sizable steel hand cannon mounted on a long wooden pole. The cannon features a cylindrical body with a single flash pan and nine circular barrels set within a wide barrel rim. The design of this cannon is not meant to fire the compacted contents of all the barrels simultaneously, but rather to have each barrel be fired in rapid succession.

The Chinese hand cannon - or "handgonne" - was a shoulder-mounted weapon that was both cumbersome and difficult to aim. However, if the fired projectile found its mark, the inflicted damage would be immense. Typical hand cannons like this example were capable of firing .50 to .70 caliber projectiles and paved the way for modern-day firearms.

The wooden pole in great condition and is likely not original to the steel cannon. The cannon itself has a rich patina that does not obscure its form, despite some small losses around its outer edge.