Fire lance

The fire lance (simplified Chinese: 火枪; traditional Chinese: 火槍; pinyin: huǒqiāng; lit. 'fire spear') was an early weapon that used gunpowder. It first appeared in China between the 10th and 12th centuries and was used in battles, especially during the Jin-Song Wars. At first, it was a small pyrotechnic device attached to a long weapon, used to surprise enemies at the start of a fight.

As gunpowder became better, the fire lance could shoot out debris or small pellets, working like a mix between a modern flamethrower and shotgun. However, it had a very short range—only about 3 meters or 10 feet—and could usually fire just one shot, though some could fire two. By the late 13th century, the fire lance’s barrel was made of metal to handle the strong explosions, and it no longer needed the sharp point on the end. These changes led to the development of the first hand cannons.

Design

The first fire lances were made of a tube, often from bamboo, filled with gunpowder and a slow match. They were attached to a spear or similar weapon. When lit, the gunpowder would shoot out a stream of flames in the direction the spear was pointing. Later, small projectiles like iron pellets or pottery shards were added to the gunpowder so they would fly out with the flames.

Around the middle of the 13th century, metal barrels for fire lances were developed. These metal barrels were used on their own and were called "eruptors." They were the early version of the hand cannon. In Europe, some fire lances used wooden tubes instead.

See also: Fire arrow

History

The earliest fire lances appeared in China in the year 950. They became important in battles, especially in 1132 during a fight in modern-day Anlu, Hubei. By the late 1100s, these weapons included pieces like porcelain shards and small iron pellets in their gunpowder.

By 1232, other groups like the Jin also used fire lances with better, reusable barrels. These weapons could shoot flames more than ten feet. Fire lances continued to evolve, and by the late 1200s, they were made with metal barrels and used by soldiers on horseback. They were also used in other places, such as the Middle East, Europe, and by samurai in Japan.

See also: History of gunpowder and Timeline of the Gunpowder Age