Posted 8 years ago
geosheets
(1 item)
Trying to identify maker and use of this cannon. It is non magnetic and appears to be cast aluminum. My scale says that the cannon and the carriage are abut 14 pounds. The Cannon itself is 6.5 lbs and the carriage around 7.3. The length of the cannon is 16 inches. About 3 and 1/2 inches wide at it's widest point with a 1 inch bore. The Carriage is 10 inches long, 5 inches high. 8 Inches wide. Wheels are 2 inches round. The breech plug has 6 holes for charges. There is a small 1/8 inch or so hole in each chamber for a fuse. The fuse holes come out the back side of the breech plug. I wish I could post more pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I know muzzle loading artillery, but have never seen this configuration. Does the breech block just slid in or screws in ? It appears that you load each chamber and put green firecracker fuses in the 1/8th " holes . If you decide to try it, put Crisco or some kind of grease over the top of your wadding or you may get a chain-fire. If there are corrosion holes between chambers, you might get one anyway. (*Nothing but BLACK POWDER !). You can get green fuse in rolls from Dixie Gun Works. Start with 10-12 grs. (Grains is a weight). Looks pretty corroded but you have it & can inspect it, where I can't. Little late for zinc chromate. Cut long fuses & run ! Bon chance !
The breech block screws in. I've got plenty of fuse and black powder (and several other cannons). Not sure I would trust this to fire since it is aluminum though. Corrosion is mostly on the untreated surfaces... it's actually in decent shape structurally.
Blunderbuss, I can email you more pics if you'd like to see them...
My email address in in my profile here. What other cannons do you have ? If you go back a few yrs. on my posts, you will see my 1863 3" Ord. Rifle.