WW1 Trench Art Cannon OPERATIONAL!

This is a fully functional trench art cannon! The barrel is from a .30 caliber WW1 machine gun, note the thickness of the barrel. This is a large piece, measuring over 14” long & weighing over 5lbs. The quality of the workmanship is of the highest standard as it would need to be. There is evidence of it being fired numerous times! The wheels are made out of mortar shells.
The reputable collector/dealer I bought it from has had it in his collection for over 20 years, having bought it from the family that has owned it for most of it’s life. They provided the photo of the alleged maker. He is going to try to contact the family for me if they are still around so I can get as much history as available. The mounted information plate is questionable to me & was probably added after this piece was made. An internet search shows a Corporal Albert Batten that was in the Canadian Military but was killed in action in the year 1915. Note the spelling of piece(peice). Also, the quality of the engraving is far from the quality standard of the rest of the piece.
I would like to fire it & might just do so if a qualified gunsmith assures me that it would be safe. I have to admit that the thought of firing a .30 caliber machine gun round out of this thing is more than slightly intimating!