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Plate 026 · Hand Cannon · Medieval

Heilongjiang Hand Cannon

The oldest surviving confirmed firearm — a bronze hand cannon from 13th-century China.

Heilongjiang Hand Cannon — Photograph from National Museum of China
Photograph from National Museum of China · CC BY-SA 3.0View on Wikimedia Commons →

Historical Record

Provenance & Service

Discovered in Heilongjiang province in 1970, this small bronze hand cannon is the world's oldest surviving firearm whose date is reasonably secure, associated with a battle fought in 1288 during a Yuan-era rebellion. Bronze cast, with a bulbous powder chamber and a narrow muzzle, it represents the moment gunpowder weapons crossed from incendiary devices into true firearms.