Talk:Pot-de-fer

A fact from Pot-de-fer appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 1 March 2008, and was viewed approximately 774 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the pot-de-fer (pictured) was the first metal cannon?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2008/March.

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"first metal cannon"[edit]

"first metal cannon, used by the French". This signifies that it was the first metal cannon, and that it was used by the French.
"first metal cannon used by the French". This signifies that this was the first cannon that the French used.

I can't tell which is intended. --Wetman (talk) 23:24, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I cleared up this issue. Thanks! bibliomaniac 1 5 23:53, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Now I'm noting that Wikipedia has an article Bombard (weapon). The Milamete manuscript's depiction of a "bombard" is discussed in Lu Gwei-Djen, Joseph Needham, Phan Chi-Hsing, "The Oldest Representation of a Bombard", Technology and Culture 29.3 (July 1988), pp. 594-605. The article discusses a representation of a bombard (being fired by a demon, by the way) in a high-relief cave sculpture that can be dated as early as 1128. Should this article be merged with Bombard (weapon), a more familiar name? --Wetman (talk) 00:29, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The Pot-de-fer is a specific type of cannon, and isn't really a bombard. Besides, the representation you mentioned comes from China, not Europe. bibliomaniac 1 5 00:31, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Then the distinction that was missed by Joseph Needham and co-writers should be made explicit in the article, with a link to Bombard (weapon).--Wetman (talk) 19:50, 28 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Image[edit]

Is the picture at right a pot-de-fer? I thought that it was, in which case it ought to be on this article. Srnec (talk) 03:09, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Why, that's the Milamete image! Thank you so much! bibliomaniac 1 5 05:18, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Your welcome. I could have figured it out myself I now realise, but I didn't take the time to read the whole title of the image. I have seen that image in books many times. Srnec (talk) 05:45, 27 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Expansion etc[edit]

I noticed your nom. at WP:DYK and was quite interested, since I had just nominated Early thermal weapons, which overlaps a little. Anyway, I have added in some information about recent research from one of my sources; it's now over the 1500 characters required for DYK, and I have made a note to that effect there. Gwinva (talk) 06:44, 28 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Wow! Thanks! I never expected I would get this much help. bibliomaniac 1 5 06:54, 28 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]