The demi-culverin was a medium cannon similar to but slightly larger than a saker and smaller than a regular culverin developed in the late 16th century. Barrels of demi-culverins were typically about long, had a calibre of and could weigh up to . It required of black powder to fire an  round shot (though there were heavier variants firing or round shot). The demi-culverin had an effective range of .