UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2022, minor update DECEMBER 29, 2023
Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》) variant
Drawing of a Zi Mu Chong and its ammunition, from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'. |
Zi Mu Chong's grenade, known as Zi Mu Ping (子母瓶 lit. 'Mother and child bottle'), consists of two primary components: a cast iron casing filled with explosive gunpowder and wrapped in thick paper to reduce windage, as well as a wooden fuse identical to that of Du Huo Fei Pao (毒火飛砲), which is a burning fuse winded along the threads of a screw-threaded wooden rod. The threads on the wooden rod allow a much longer fuse to be packed into a relatively small area, as well as giving some measure of control over time delay before detonation. To prevent the burning fuse from setting off the grenade prematurely, the wooden rod is also sealed inside a thick paper tube.
Zi Mu Chong is a potent ambush and night raid weapon due to its time-delayed grenade (making it difficult to determine the direction the attack is coming from), not to mention the grenade produces very little smoke and is difficult to disarm as most of the fuse is embedded inside the casing.
This weapon should not be confused with another breech-loading matchlock gun of the same name, nor with Qing period name for breech-loading cannon.
Cheng Shu (《城書》) variant
Top left: Pomegranate-shaped grenade. Top right: Standard can-shaped grenade. Mid: Zi Mu Pao with lengthened barrel. Bottom: Zi Mu Pao mounted on a rest. From 'Cheng Shu (《城書》)'. |
Top left: Casing of Zi Mu Ping grenade. Top right: Paper-wrapped wooden rod with fuse, separated from the casing. Bottom: Gun rest for Zi Mu Pao. From 'Cheng Shu (《城書》)'. |
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