HIST4702 (2023-24) Digital History Project: 火攻挈要
Cannon Inspection and Maintenance Tools
銃炤 Cannon Zhao
Description:
The Cannon Zhao (銃炤) was made of rod-shaped iron and a long wooden handle that had been used to check the internal smoothness of the cannon’s barrel. Red-burn the iron part before using it. Then, insert it into the barrel of the gun, and utilise it as a searchlight. The smoothness of the barrel was readily apparent.
銃探 Cannon Tan
Description:
The Cannon Tan (銃探) was in a screw shape that had been used to check the internal smoothness of the barrel, too. It could detect tiny irregularities inside the cannon.
銃箒 Cannon Besom
Description:
The Cannon Besom (銃箒) consisted of a broom and a wooden handle. The wood handle was made of dry Nanmu or fir, while the broom was made of yellow mud mixed with wool that was mounted above the wooden handle. Its function was to clean the cannon before loading the powder. This reduces damage to the cannon.
鏇刀 Rotational Knife
Description:
The rotational knife (鏇刀) included a wood handle and rotator. The upper side had been embedded with a rotated cover (鏇套) that contained seven blades. The rotated knife would be embedded into the rotation wheel. (鏇輪) It was made in contact with the inner wall of the barrel and scraped.
鏇輪 Rotation Wheel
Description:
The rotational Wheel (鏇輪) was made up of a rotational rack (鏇架) and a rotation pole (鏇桿) with a rotational knife inserted into the barrel, which allowed the rotational knife to scrape the inner barrel.
