"clubbed muskets" Topic

Seeing the number of infantry who are posed holding their arquebus etc in the clubbed position, I'm assuming such a tactic was common in battle? BTW how do you use such poses in your units?

I was also wondering the effect on the weapon, if used to smash a helmeted (?) head etc. What it be still serviceable as a fire arm after such abuse?

I can't recall descriptions of it in the early and mid 16thC, when it's mostly arquebuses and calivers, but it certainly is in full swing (if you'll pardon the pun) by the 17thC.

Bear in mind that the standard side arm for "shot" was a munition grade sword. Almost invariably of indifferent manufacture, it was likely to bend, break, or not quite cut someone when used. Add to that the fact that most musketeers would have been given little training in swordsmanship, and the appeal of swinging a club begins to show.

Yes, it was quite possible to render a firearm unserviceable in this manner, and not only by striking armor. You're likely to damage the lock or break the stock. Wallop someone hard enough and you may even bend the barrel.

FWIW, I used to think the battle paintings of the American Civil War showing men swinging clubbed muskets was artistic romanticism run amok. However, as I read more first hand accounts, I realized that it did happen!

I really dislike those poses……….

They always had them in Airfix sets, so it must be true.

Airfix never made TYW figures.

The locks are very basic and easily repairable. Even with a broken lock the weapon could be fired by what reenactors term "Dotting in"that is putting the match into the pan by hand. A broken stock would render a gun U/S and it could happen I suppose but I don't know how hard a musketeer would have to swing it to do so. Same goes for a bent barrel.

English musketeers were renown for getting into close combat with clubbed muskets. Which suggests the rest of Europe was less prone to doing so.