Conical shields to deflect gunfire and a bombard
Sloped conical guards that turn a musket ball and a cannon shot, among wheeled mechanical devices
The sheet is filled with rapid mechanical sketches — wheeled carriages, geared and barrelled apparatus, and crossbow-like frames. Two captions identify defensive devices: a conical guard set to deflect a musket ball fired from a small firearm, and a second, larger guard meant to turn the shot of a bombard. The conical, sloped form is intended to make projectiles glance off rather than strike square. The remaining devices are drawn without accompanying transcribed text.
On this page
Conical guard against a handgun
One sketch shows a bullet from a small firearm being deflected by a conical guard, captioned 'against a handgun'. The sloped cone is set to make the ball glance aside rather than penetrate. It is a defensive counter to gunfire.
Larger guard against a bombard
A second, larger guard is captioned 'against a bombard', intended to turn the heavier shot of a cannon. Like the first, it relies on a sloped form to deflect the projectile. The two captions pair a light and a heavy case of the same defensive idea.
Wheeled and geared mechanical sketches
Around the captioned guards the sheet carries numerous mechanical studies: wheeled carriages, a crossbow-like frame, barrelled and geared assemblies, and axled wheels. These devices are drawn rapidly and are not described in the transcribed text.
