Cannon help

[leswad]

I just purchased this and was wondering if anyone knows anything about it? I am assuming it is a signal cannon as it is only 20" long and weighs about 60lbs. Since this is my first cannon, how should it be cared for? I have yet to receive it, but understand there are no markings. I hope it is really loud!

 

[kamloops67]

loud shouldnt be an issue ...itll be loud .what is that a 1" bore?
looks like big fun, one of those is on my list too

 

[rburg]

The trick to getting a good/great boom is the gas seal you get with the bore. Yes, measure the bore and tell us what it is. One inch is a common diameter, and I even have a 1" mold to cast them. I haven't fired the cannon in years now. Its on a carriage, like the ones they used on ships. Mine was made in Phoenix and has a plate attesting to it.

A 1" round ball is right at 4 ounces. It makes mine a quarter pounder. Thats a real chunk of lead to be tossing out. If it hits something, it will leave a mark.

Whatever yours turns out to be, for best results look for a wad that diameter. I have an old cannon made from a kit. We never had much fun with it because it was so hard to load. Then one day a buddy was messing with it. And I commented I wish it were a 12 ga. He said that was no problem and took it with him to work. The next evening was a huge difference. We were using power pistons from a bag of reloading stuff and every shot, regardless of how much powder, resulted in a better boom and often if we tamped the charge, we'd get a smoke ring. And that's the sign of a good load. You don't even need something to shoot out of it, just the plastic piston. Better news still, you can reload or reuse the pistons until you destroy them. Find a place where they shoot trap or skeet and just go rake a bunch of them up. Most ranges don't mind if they're not actively shooting. You're cleaning up the grounds!

I went to all that to explain that maybe you can find someone to chuck it in a lathe and clean up the rust and corrosion in the bore. To a diameter that something you can find will fire out of it.

And of course it will test your carpentry skills. You'll need a carriage to hold it and roll it around. Lifting it will be pretty stressful. Only do it when necessary.

 

[fat tom]

Well,now you've gone and done it. Next thing you know,you'll be attending all of the cannon shows,cannon stores everywhere you go,auction sites,you name it. It's a slippery slope,I'll tell you. Consider yourself warned. STOP before it's too late!
f.t.

 

[Cpo1944]

That`s a real neat little number, but what to do about trunions??? I wonder if it had some originally and what you can do to mount it now? Maybe you can make some two piece jobs to encircle the barrel. I would do a lot of research on it just to satisfy my interest. I bet it has a good history.
Let us know how it goes. Jack

 

[vonn]

Very cool! Can't wait to see how your project turns out. Good luck.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You can see a "black stripe" in the middle, there was a mount there of some sort. It may have been a yoke and strap set-up. The machine marks on the breech make me think someone built this for fun as opposed to being a retired weapon. Have fun. Ivan

 

[leswad]

Well,now you've gone and done it. Next thing you know,you'll be attending all of the cannon shows,cannon stores everywhere you go,auction sites,you name it. It's a slippery slope,I'll tell you. Consider yourself warned. STOP before it's too late!
f.t.

Maybe someone should start a cannon forum

 

[leswad]

The trick to getting a good/great boom is the gas seal you get with the bore. Yes, measure the bore and tell us what it is. One inch is a common diameter, and I even have a 1" mold to cast them. I haven't fired the cannon in years now. Its on a carriage, like the ones they used on ships. Mine was made in Phoenix and has a plate attesting to it.

It got here and here are the stats:
Length: 19 1/4"
Barrel Length 15 1/4"
Length to fuse opening 15"
Barrel Diameter 1 1/4"
Smallest Diameter of Cannon is approximately 3 1/4"
Weight: 58lbs

 

[kozmic]

So leswad, you plannin' on hand holding or shoulder firing this puppy????

 

[leswad]

So leswad, you plannin' on hand holding or shoulder firing this puppy????

I was planning on shooting it from the hip

 

[Mike McLellan]

What kind of clips does it take?

 

[Coldshooter]

Maybe someone should start a cannon forum

I've lost the link but there is a cannon forum or at least subgroup who discuss firing safety so forth for reinactors at public demos. They have recommendations for safe loading. Added a link but not to group I was thinking of.

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/blackp...tillery/?PHPSESSID=cf9e8cv4fantm74mebaba8bvj1

 

[4barrel]

Good looking spud launcher.

 

[Bekeart]

Small Potatoes

Good looking spud launcher.

Small Potatoes

Bekeart

 

[Iggy]

You might be able to fire plastic 35mm film cans filled with cement out of it. I did with mine. Also a 1/2 pound lead wadcutter.

Not quite sure how you are gonna break it to lead without trunnions.

 

[mc5aw]

I was planning on shooting it from the hip

Get yourself a nice set of Grashorn grips and a padded shoulder sling.

 

[Laddy Smith]

I could never

I could never decide between a 9mm or .45 caliber cannon. I went back and forth.

The 9 fan boys would claim it was all about ball placement.

The 45 fan boys would say a ball hit to any part of the ship would sink it immediately.

Some would debate the merits of the tactical cannons having a rail on the bottom of the barrel.

Old timers would promote the merits of the revolving hand cannon.

If only someone would come up with a 40 cannon that would be the best of both worlds......

PS: Third gen cannons are becoming harder to find!

Lad

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I'm thinking of a swivel mount in a boat, maybe 6 or 8 oz. of #4 shot with waxed cardboard wadding. Should be able to fill my bag limit of ducks or geese (maybe both) with one or two shots. Maybe I'll check on this with the local fish & game guys.