Possible Oldest Handgun in Europe Found Near Kletzke

A small, decorated bronze fragment discovered in a field in northeastern Germany may be the oldest known handgun in the country, a find that could rewrite the history of medieval firearms in Europe. Archaeologists believe the artifact, known as the "Kletzke Handrohr," dates to around 1390, which would make it older than the current title-holder for Europe's oldest handgun, the Tannenbergbüchse. The discovery has sent ripples through the world of medieval archaeology, raising fresh questions about how quickly gunpowder weapons spread across Europe in the late 14th century.

A Discovery of Great Significance

The artifact, a bronze fragment just six centimeters long, was found in 2023 by volunteer heritage protector Matthias Dasse during a field survey near Kletzke in the Prignitz district of Brandenburg. After initial analysis, Gordon Thalmann, head of the local heritage authority, identified the decorated bronze casting as the front section of an early hand cannon. The discovery was officially presented in February 2026 at the annual conference of Brandenburg’s state archaeology authorities, where it was described as a find that could “rewrite the history of medieval weapon use in Brandenburg.” 

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A Link to a Medieval Siege

Historians and archaeologists believe the handgun fragment is connected to the siege of Kletzke Castle in 1390. During this conflict, the forces of dukes Henry I of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg attacked the influential Quitzow family, who had been granted the Kletzke estate in 1375 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The siege is documented in the chronicles of the Franciscan writer Detmar of Lübeck, and modern analysis of these texts, combined with recent archaeological work, has confirmed the presence of a major military conflict in the area. 

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An illustration of a 14th-century soldier firing a hand cannon. (Viollet-le-Duc/Public domain)

Rewriting the History of Firearms

The discovery of the Kletzke handgun is particularly significant because of its potential age. Currently, the oldest securely dated handgun in Europe is the Tannenbergbüchse, a firearm discovered in the ruins of Tannenberg Castle in Hesse, which was destroyed in 1399. The Tannenbergbüchse, now housed in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, is a bronze, octagonal hand cannon that has long been considered the earliest example of a personal firearm in Europe. If the dating of the Kletzke fragment to 1390 is confirmed, it would predate the Tannenbergbüchse by nearly a decade, pushing back the timeline for the use of hand-held firearms in Germany.

The Tannenbergbüchse, currently considered the oldest handgun in Europe. (Oliver H/Public Domain)

Future Plans for the Site

Archaeologists plan to continue their work at the Kletzke site, with further excavations supervised by the Brandenburg heritage authority. The discovery has been hailed as "spectacular" by medieval archaeologist Christof Krauskopf of the Brandenburg State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeological State Museum.

"If this handgun is indeed connected to the 1390 siege, it would be spectacular for Brandenburg. From this period we previously had no written or archaeological evidence for the use of firearms here - only general assumptions."  Christof Krauskopf 

Krauskopf also noted that the weapon was likely not manufactured locally, and if it originated from the siege camp, it may have been brought to the region by outside forces. Researchers also hope to develop the site into an archaeological and tourism destination, allowing the public to learn more about this important chapter in Brandenburg's medieval history. If future analysis confirms the artifact's age and origin, the Kletzke Handrohr could become one of the most significant early firearm discoveries in Europe, offering new insights into how gunpowder weapons spread across the continent in the late Middle Ages.

Top image: The Kletzke handgun fragment.   Source: Landkreis Prignitz

By Gary Manners

References

Altuntaş, L. 2026. Possible Oldest Handgun in Germany Discovered Near Kletzke. Available at: https://arkeonews.net/possible-oldest-handgun-in-germany-discovered-near-kletzke/ in Germany Discovered Near Kletzke

H., Oliver. 2005. Tannenberg handgonne. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tannenbergb%C3%BCchse.jpg