French culverin (circa 1520)

French culverin (circa 1520)

Paulo Monteiro

Description of a french bronze culverin presenting the coat-of-arms of Francis the 1st (1515-1547), recovered at Monte Brasil, Terceira Island, Azores, by the Grupo de Arqueologia Subaquática, July 1996, in 130 fsw (40 meters).

1. General characteristics

Lenght from button of cascable to face of muzzle - 302 cm
Lenght from base ring to face of muzzle - 284 cm
Lenght from base ring to axe of trunnions - 123 cm
Trunnions - diameter 8,4 cm
Distance from trunnionface to trunnionface - 34 cm
Lenght of trunnions - 7 cm
Cylinder, bore - diameter 7,5 cm.

2. Cascable

Lenght of button - 9 cm
Button -diameter 9,8 cm
Lenght of button astrogal - 1,2 cm
Button astragal - diameter 11,8 cm
Lenght of cascable neck - 4,2 cm

3. Breech

3.1. Breech mouldings

Lenght of neck fillet - 1,2 cm

3.2. Base mouldings

Lenght of base ring - 1,8 cm
Base ring - diameter 24,4 cm
Lenght of base ring fillet - 0,6 cm
Lenght of base ring ogee - 2,1 cm

3.3. Vent field

Vent - diameter 3,3 cm.
Cross-section of the octogonal faces at the vent field - 10 cm Detail of the coat of arms of Francis I, in the later stages of the conservation of the culverin
Total lenght of the coat of arms - 16,2 cm

4. Muzzle

Muzzle astragal - 1 cm.

4.1. Muzzle neck

Cross-section of the octogonal faces at the muzzle - 6 cm
Muzzle - diameter 15 cm

4.2. Head

Muzzle face - diameter 19 cm.
Mouth - diameter 7,5 cm

4.2.1. Muzzle mouldings

   Muzzle fillet - 0,8 cm                                                                                                                                 Detail of the coat of arms of Francis I,
   Muzzle fillet - diameter 16,1 cm                                                                                                  in the later stages of the conservation of the culverin
   Muzzle ogee - 2,4 cm
   Muzzle ring - 1,5 cm
   Muzzle ring - diameter 19 cm

Monte Brasil. Red dot shows the place of recovery.

Lifting of the culverin into Angra pier.