Fragments of a handgun discovered in Brandenburg, Germany, may rewrite the timeline of portable black powder weapons in Europe, new research presented in February at the annual conference of the German State Archaeology Department revealed.
The handgun, nicknamed the "Kletzke Hand Cannon," according to a statement released by the Prignitz District, was first found in 2023 by volunteer archaeological conservator Matthias Dasse while conducting a survey near Kletzke Castle in Brandenburg.
After making the discovery, Dasse brought the artifact to Lower Monument Protection Authority of Prignitz Head Gordon Thalmann for further study.
Thalmann identified the fragment as the barrel of an early firearm, and after consulting with fellow historian Clemens Bergstedt, estimated that it may be from the 1390 siege of Kletzke Castle.
According to a surviving account from the Franciscan monk Detmar of Lübeck, two dukes led an army against the castle, which was at the time held by the von Quitzow family. The seige and surrounding battles were recently confirmed by archaeological excavations in the area led Prof. Dr. Thomas Schenk.
If confirmed, would be considered oldest firearm in Europe
“If this rifle dates back to the siege of 1390, it would be spectacular for Brandenburg,” said Christof Krauskopf of the Brandenburg State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeological State Museum.
“We have no written or archaeological evidence of firearm use from that period,” he went on. “Until now, we could only assume it in general terms.”
If a connection between the "Kletzke Hand Cannon” and the siege is confirmed by archaeologists, this would make it nine years older than the Tannenberg rifle, which is dated to 1399.
However, Krauskopf added, even if the fragment does date to the siege, the firearm was most likely not crafted locally, but was rather brought over by outsiders.