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Author Topic: Sheepskins for artillery usage.  (Read 1103 times)

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Offline thelionspaw

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Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« on: May 31, 2008, 01:05:38 PM »
I have read about and observed the use of sheepskin to cover a budge barrel as protection from the weather. It would help to shed water and dissipate the effects of sunshine. I would imagine it would also serve quite well as a vent cover to protect a readied piece from wind and rain. 

The 18th c. stores for twenty-four light three pounders, included 6 dozen sheepskins and for two cannon, six sheepskins. I always assumed these were only meant to be used to sponge the piece.  Maybe used as budge barrel protection too.

However, while viewing, "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992 version), I saw full sheepskins being placed over the vent while loading the piece, as one would use a thumb stall.

Has anyone ever seen the like of that before anywhere?

Having known a former Williamsburg gunsmith, I asked him about the use of sheepskins over the barrels of cannon and he speculated that they might have also been used wetted to cool the piece between rounds.

Any comments?

I carry several for my 15th c. breechblock falcon. They make darn good cushions during leasure moments too.

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Offline dan610324

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2008, 09:44:53 PM »
when the guns was frequently fired they was used soaked wet to cool the piece down.
that info I found in old artillery handbooks
and of course the sponge had an outer layer of sheep skin nailed to them .
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Dan Pettersson
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Offline and7barton

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2008, 10:46:21 AM »
I found a great source for sheepskins only a mile away from here.
They are called........wait for it........ "Sheepskins R Us".
I lieth not. I think they have an internet site.
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Offline KABAR2

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2008, 06:33:42 AM »
Quote from: and7barton on October 10, 2008, 10:46:21 AM
I found a great source for sheepskins only a mile away from here.
They are called........wait for it........ "Sheepskins R Us".
I lieth not. I think they have an internet site.


At first I was going to say that was "Baaaaaa-d"  ::)  but then I did a quick search and here's their wbb site!

http://sheepskinsrus.com/
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Offline and7barton

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2008, 07:00:30 AM »
I actually ordered a sheepskin from them (They sell on Ebay), and I'm going to make my barrel sponges using that. It's off a "rare breed" too, though I wouldn't know a rare breed if it "Baaaaaaa" at me.
Only a few pounds too.
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Founder in 1986 of Historical Artillery Corps, later changed to Historical Artillery UK.
Builder of Cannons and models for South-Western Artillery, Fort Amhurst, Coalhouse Fort and private commissions.
Technical Consultant for two episodes of Scrapheap Challenge. Ex Pyrotechnic Safety Officer at Coalhouse Fort. I go trekking and survivalist camping - build experimental tents and survival equipment - caving.

Offline Terry C.

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2008, 09:13:36 AM »
What size did you order?

On their website they have different sizes at different prices. I'd be interested to know how big the 'medium' skin is, as compared to the 'large' size, since it's considerably less expensive.
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Offline dan610324

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2008, 09:30:25 AM »
how did you manage to come somewhere from their opening page ??
whatever I try to do I cant even open to register there
only message I got is that the page cant be found

anyone who can tell me their prices ??
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Dan Pettersson
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Offline Terry C.

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2008, 10:16:03 AM »
I haven't looked at the ones on ewe-bay, just the Sheepskins-R-Us website.

Prices for "soft white natural" sheepskin:

 XL = £34.99
   L = £29.99
  M = £19.99

Plus whatever shipping costs.

-------

Oops!!! I just noticed that the prices are in pounds, not dollars (I have corrected my post).

And they are located in the UK.


Kinda puts a damper on my enthusiasm. Not only are they considerably more expensive than I originally thought, shipping from the UK is probably going to be prohibitive.
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Offline thelionspaw

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2008, 01:58:23 PM »
Like they say, "Love is where you find it". To which I might add, "So are sheep skins". I got one in a local hospital thrift store for $2 and another in Aunt Sally's (Salvation Army) store for $4.  You can see one of them above in this post.  Sure beats retail and importing too.  Not much farming left around here now. Just a couple of dairy, one sheep farmer and 2 beefers. I used to raise polled Herefords. If I manage to get sheep skins now from the one farm, they would be green. Try a taxidermist. They have sources.

Richard "The Rustler"
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Offline accuratemike

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2008, 04:41:25 PM »
Sorry, these guys didn't have the cheap sheep I thought they might, but they have all sorts of critter parts and tons of other fun stuff.
http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=550-100-000
Good hunting, so to speak, MIKE
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Offline and7barton

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2008, 10:30:20 AM »
Quote from: Terry C. on October 12, 2008, 09:13:36 AM
What size did you order?

On their website they have different sizes at different prices. I'd be interested to know how big the 'medium' skin is, as compared to the 'large' size, since it's considerably less expensive.

Just checked. I ordered via Ebay, this one -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200250603250

It's got some bald bids around the edges......... The size in mm is shown on the ad.
At the moment it's laying on the back of my settee. My missus keeps wrapping it around her shoulders to keep warm........ Once I get my barrel, I'll soon stop that nonsense - It'll be cut up and stuck on my poles.




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Founder in 1986 of Historical Artillery Corps, later changed to Historical Artillery UK.
Builder of Cannons and models for South-Western Artillery, Fort Amhurst, Coalhouse Fort and private commissions.
Technical Consultant for two episodes of Scrapheap Challenge. Ex Pyrotechnic Safety Officer at Coalhouse Fort. I go trekking and survivalist camping - build experimental tents and survival equipment - caving.

Offline Cannoneer

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2008, 08:26:37 AM »
Quote
Like they say, "Love is where you find it". To which I might add, "So are sheep skins". I got one in a local hospital thrift store for $2 and another in Aunt Sally's (Salvation Army) store for $4.


Hey Richard, besides relieving stress on a bad back I just thought of another good attribute of miniatures; low cost for accoutrements. I'm making some tools for the cannon that I've been working on and I'll be using the sheeps wool from an old pair of Cabela's shearling lined slippers and I'd guess that there would  be enough material to make five or six sponges from each slipper.
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Offline dan610324

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2008, 08:49:14 AM »
you need to use them very very soon , that they will smell sulphur .
if not I guess they will have an not so nice smell   ;D ;D ;D
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Dan Pettersson
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Offline thelionspaw

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2008, 11:34:05 AM »
Boomer, you are a credit to our ilk. Polish cannon sponges. You know what we say; "Free for nothing? Take! If it don't eat; keep it."  That many sponges from one pair?  Canal boats. Not feet.
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Offline Cannoneer

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Re: Sheepskins for artillery usage.
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2008, 04:43:32 PM »
   Hey, you guys are brutal! All I'm doing is following Al-gore's instructions and recycling to be eco-friendly within my natural environment; Mother Nature knows I've done gone green (and no Dan ' it's not because I sniffed my old rug beaters).
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RIP John. While on vacation July 4th 2013 in northern Wisconsin, he was ATVing with family and pulled ahead of everyone and took off at break-neck speed without a helmet. He lost control.....hit a tree....and the tree won.  He died instantly.

The one thing that you can almost always rely on research leading to, is more research.
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