The arquebus is a firearm with a limited effective range (less than 50 meters), quite heavy and bulky, but the latest versions of it could be supported.
“Arquebuse” comes from the German Hakenbüchse. The matchlock arquebus, which appeared around 1450, weighs 5 to 9 kilograms and requires support on a fork (fourquin). The fuse is lit and brought back to the basin where the powder is packed for the explosion. It succeeds the hand culverin from which it differs by the addition of the basin (containing the priming powder) and the serpentine which, holding the lit fuse, pivots to fire the weapon.
The first spinning wheel arquebuses seem to have been invented at the very beginning of the 16th century in northern Germany. Their manufacture developed in Europe from 1515. This arquebus, more manageable, measured 0.80 to 1.30 meters, weighed 4 to 7 kilograms and fired a bullet of barely 25 g. This version can be shouldered, in earlier versions the butt was blocked by the chest.
Corporation des arquebuziers de Reims, 1707. Offensive weapons workers are included under the grouped names of archers, gunners, crossbowmen, harquebusiers to which must be added swordsmiths and cutlers. These trade names are borrowed from the instruments they made
The arquebus has a low rate of fire (one shot per minute) and its barrel heats up quickly. We then distinguish the smooth-bore arquebus, used for hunting and intended to shoot shot, very heavy and often fixed on a cart to facilitate its transport along the ponds for hunting waterfowl and waterfowl. rifled arquebus, shorter and more manageable, intended for bullet shooting.
It is contemporary with the first muskets, which eventually replaced it; these weapons are much heavier, and still require the support fork (“fourquine”), but of larger caliber, launch projectiles able to penetrate all armor.
Arquebuses quickly became the basis for the finest ornamentation of gunsmiths of the time:gilding, engravings, carved horn or ivory inserts, sometimes even precious stones. They serve as decorative objects in the homes of the richest lords to show visitors the skill of the craftsmen they employ.