The Armour Archive

I may have posted similar in the past. I'd like to buy a handgonne, specifically a pole mounted 14th cen type. With or without pole. Used and worn is fine. My preference is a brass or bronze, but steel is okay.
I'd also be interested in the casting mold for the ammo as well.

I know that The Rifle Shoppe markets handgonnes, but their communication is horrible (it took them 3 months to reply to an email about dimensions and construction), and I'd prefer to not have an indeterminate delivery date measured in seasons rather than weeks.

So, if anyone has one sitting around gathering dust, I'd be sure to give it a good home, or if you have a lead on a machinist that makes barrels, I'd be interested.
-Cian

Geotz Barrels in Beaver springs Pa Should be able to hook you up. They do nothing but blackpowder barrels.

If not them, then Dixon's Muzzleloading Shop (also in PA) may have something.

http://dixonmuzzleloading.com/

I tried calling several barrel makers, including the two you've suggested, but evidently there is a common theme that 1) they don't have or like email and 2) they don't like answering their telephones, or returning voice mail messages. A couple of them just go directly to VM without ringing and/or have voice mails with a 10 second record time.

The one I did finally talk to did reply via email, but only wanted to talk on the phone (though he didn't answer any of my phone calls). And he seemed a bit paranoid when he finally did call me. He asked a bunch questions unrelated to the commission (wanted to know where I was, and what I wanted it for). But he seemed to get more centered on where the conversation needed to be when I made the statement "I really don't care how much it costs, so long as it's done right." Then he opened up and talked about what he could and couldn't do.
I will tell you, I used to work for a general contractor, and used to have to find specialists with all kinds of crazy skill sets (underwater welding, water tower engineering, fire hydrant replacements etc.). But trying to find a machinist that will make a friggin tube of metal with a breech plug and touch hole, has been one of the most exhausting 2 weeks of my life. And technically I haven't even solidified the commission yet.
-Cian

A buddy of mine has a handgonne mounted on a pole.. If ya like, I can visit geotz personally with this in hand so he can see what you're looking for and give him your contact information.. You can send it via PM and I'll run over. He's about 25 minutes from me so it's no big deal.

Is it Getz, or Goetz? I couldn't find a place called Goetz, but did find a place called "Getz Barrel Co." in Beavertown, PA. I tried calling Getz 5 times throughout the day, and had no answer or call back.

I'll let you know if the machinist I'm talking to from the mountains of Virginia goes sour. I appreciate the help. But no need to make a hike anywhere just yet while I've got someone looking into it. He said He's done several bronze guns and he'll have a solid price and turn around by next week after he checks out the cost of the billet.
-Cian

Getz is the correct spelling.. I looked it up after I posted

I have a spare here in the shop. email me

Pictures sent.

Have you tried http://www.handgonne.com/arsenal.html
I have never dealt with them personally... but I have heard good things about them. I shot one of there guns once and it seemed quite nice. My only complaint really was that you could see machine marks from turning it on a lathe... but you could remove them with sandpaper.

Cheers!