Sánta Ákos: Vadászfegyverek - A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum tárgykatalógusai 4. (Budapest, 2018)
Foreword SOME THOUGHTS ON HUNTING AND WEAPONS In the case of hunting weapons the most important goal has always been the greatest efficiency in taking the game. When hunting weapons are discussed today most of us think of firearms, since those are the most effective. In earlier centuries however bows and crossbows were also significant, not to mention hunting spears, swords, as well as traps, snares and pits. Hunting exists since the dawn of human history, but has gradually lost its primary function of subsistence and became during the Middle Ages the privilege of the social elite. Consequently weapons used for hunting have always been at the forefront of technological development and are very often richly decorated with ivory or precious metal inlay, engravings and carvings. The most popular hunting weapon of the past several centuries is the hunting gun. It appeared in the early 16th century but naturally its effectiveness and accuracy are not to be compared to modern firearms. Until the 1860s muzzle-loading guns with black powder were used that operated with wheellock, flintlock or percussion firing mechanisms. In order to attain greater accuracy gun barrels since the 17th century have been rifled, which in turn increased the time needed for loading. Double-barrelled guns were frequently used, and the 17th century even saw multiple-shot, breech-loading experimental guns. Accessories like powder-horns or bullet containers were also richly decorated. It is a characteristic of hunting guns that their surface is often embellished, apart from the decorative style typical of the period, with hunting scenes and images of game animals. Apart from hunting both big and small game, the popularity of aquatic game and, since the 19th century, African game, had increased significantly. Each of these required different types of gun, as big game hunting needed bullets while small game usually shot. Hunting, apart from requiring physical exertion and a great deal of personal courage, also demands responsibility from the hunter, as the protection of the game stock is paramount. Hunting also plays an important role in pest control and a careful culling of defective specimens, in order to help the healthy development of the stock. Hungary today and in past centuries has pursued up-to-date game management, the main objective of which is the protection of the environment. After these preliminary thoughts we should turn our attention to the fact that we can now peruse the much anticipated specialist firearm catalogue of the Museum and Library of Hungarian Agriculture. It is particularly pleasing that the catalogue presents such a great number of poaching guns and small-bore hunting guns. The latter category, chambered for .22 Long, .22 Short and 6 and 9 mm Flobert ammunition, started to spread in the late 19th century and became general by the early 20th. One of their uses was target practice, but they were also very useful for pest control in closed season. The expert description of the several weapons, actions and bores testifies that the author, Ákos Sánta, commands great knowledge and competence in the study of hunting weapons. I draw attention to the fact with pleasure that apart from the classic rifles used for big game this expert work also includes some of the so-called hammerless firearms mainly used for still hunts and skeet-shooting. The author’s work is therefore groundbreaking and 1 can only hope that this catalogue will not only gain a special place on the shelves of hunters and collectors but also of those interested in military and firearm history. Tibor S. Kovács PhD Firearm historian Acting chief curator Hungarian National Museum 6 &
