Author Topic: What is that thing? (Read 1718 times)

subdjoe · « **on:** April 15, 2009, 03:55:06 PM »

Something goes flying off the back of the gun at about the 53 second mark. Can someone tell me what it is, please?

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Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:04:40 PM »

Vent blast shield?

subdjoe · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:20:14 PM »

Quote from: Double D on April 15, 2009, 04:04:40 PM

Vent blast shield?

If you go frame by frame you see one hell of a flash at the breech, and whatever it is goes flying. If I knew better how to do things, I'd try to capture and post some of the stills. To me it looks like an OOPS or Kaboom, not something that should happen.

intoodeep · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:40:04 PM »

I agree with DD. It appears that it's a blast shield. Looks to be breechloader.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:47:57 PM »

Perhaps leather?

DoktorD · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:49:42 PM »

Hmmm... can't tell the material. I would hope leather for the sake of anyone standing around!

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:03:09 PM »

Whatever it was, it didn't go very far. Looked like a piece of leather laying on the back of the cannon. Didn't see anything
else like on it any of the other cannons.

leesecw · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:49:58 PM »

That's at Grayling on the old 1000 yard range. That looks to be the guys that shoot the Span-am war breechloader. You can see those guys at the start of artillery games. I dont ever recall seeing that come off like that. Its on a hinge and is a shield. artilleryman could probably tell you more than I could or guardsgunner if he's on the board

Artilleryman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:21:35 PM »

Quote from: leesecw on April 15, 2009, 05:49:58 PM

That's at Grayling on the old 1000 yard range. That looks to be the guys that shoot the Span-am war breechloader. You can see those guys at the start of artillery games. I dont ever recall seeing that come off like that. Its on a hinge and is a shield. artilleryman could probably tell you more than I could or guardsgunner if he's on the board

I can't add anything else to this. The device seems to come off with every shot. I have mean't to take a look at it, but have never gotten around to it. There is always something going on to grab your attention at Grayling. The recoil brakes on this gun are very interestiong.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:37:48 PM »

There is another good shot of them moving the gun you can see it is a steel carriage with seats on either side
of the tube between the wheels, Sea coast has posted some good photos of this type of cannon in the past.

I believe a 3.2" model 1890 or there abouts...........

RocklockI · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:39:50 PM »

Intodeep in the pic. you showed that trail is torquing crazy bad

. Plus the great flash at the rear shot I think something broke !

Quote from: intoodeep on April 15, 2009, 04:40:04 PM

I agree with DD. It appears that it's a blast shield. Looks to be breechloader.

leesecw · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:48:27 PM »

Artilleryman. I see the Bluewater sportsmens has a shoot on their calendar for saturday the 18th. Is this open to the public?

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2009, 08:32:24 PM »

After finding one of these 3.2" field artillery rifles at Ft. Washington on the Potomac River last fall, Mike and I posted the following. I believe you will understand WHY they needed a "Flash Shield" after reading about the construction details of the Model 1890.

Re: Cannons, Like Gold, Are where You Find them
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2008, 06:26:52 PM »

Thanks Allen, we have always like the lines on this gun as well. We suspect that the purpose of the plastic clad small dia, steel cable was to keep people from opening the breech block while the gun was on display in lieu of welding it closed. A little peek at that real short chamber was what we needed and we left the breech block Exactly the way we found it. All three of these US 3.2-INCH FIELD GUNS, the MODELS 1885, 1890, and the 1897 were designed before the real designers retired and the "add-a-gadget" boys took over as they certainly did in WWI.

Interesting features on the gun we discovered were the axial vent on this Model 1890 and the smaller chamber of the 1897 which was designed for smokeless powder. Almost all Model 1890 guns had a liner installed which reduced their chamber size by over one-half to upgrade them for use with smokeless. Only the Model 1885 has the radially placed vent like an Ordnance Rifle does. The axial vent, like a 12 pdr. Whitworth, puts the vent bushing right in the center of the obturator spindle and is held in place by threads fore and aft. The obturator is an asbestos pad soaked completely in beef tallow and covered with canvas. Almost a duplicate of the De Bange Obturator used in many WWI guns. De Bange's had a piece of tin over the canvas for durability, but functioned similarly.

An axial vent, like the 1890's, with an attitude similar to a mortar vent, needs a Hot Gas and Friction Primer Deflector to protect the artillerymen serving the piece.

Quote from: Artilleryman on April 15, 2009, 06:21:35 PM

The recoil brakes on this gun are very interesting.

A photo showing the recoil brakes in the disengaged position. We could guess, but we really don't know how they function. Maybe Artilleryman can tell us how they work?

Regards,

Tracy and Mike

subdjoe · « **Reply #13 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:20:46 AM »

WOW! So, that flash is SUPPOSED to be there. And that is the flash shield, just not secured well. Thank you everyone for all the great info.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:14:26 AM »

Quote from: leesecw on April 15, 2009, 06:48:27 PM

Artilleryman. I see the Bluewater sportsmens has a shoot on their calendar for saturday the 18th. Is this open to the public?

Lake Shore High School's Civil War class has a field trip that day. They will be taking part in a number of activities such as cooking civil war rations, have the artillery explained and demonstrated with projectiles, and a chance to actually fire civil war small arms. We don't mind having the public in as long as they don't interfere with the educational process of the class. So if you would like to come that's ok.

Artilleryman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 16, 2009, 11:19:49 AM »

Quote from: Artilleryman on April 15, 2009, 06:21:35 PM

The recoil brakes on this gun are very interesting.

A photo showing the recoil brakes in the disengaged position. We could guess, but we really don't know how they function. Maybe Artilleryman can tell us how they work?

Regards,
Tracy and Mike
[/quote]

I wish I could tell you, but like I said before I get distracted by all the other things going on. You always think that you will have time to come back and check things out.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:57:56 PM »

M&T in your more recent photo it shows the breaks in the traveling position (UP)
I may be wrong but I believe they have an oblong camming surface so as they are brought down & outward position
more pressure is brought to bear on the tire iron. I admit this is an educated guess.

Allen <><

Red Leg · « **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2009, 04:56:49 PM »

The later model 3.2 breech-loading gun was axial vented. In other words the vent was in the center of the breech block. When fired the primer tends to blow out the back towards the limber or at anyone directly behind the gun. So smart gunners in this video set-up up some type of temporary "fence" or catcher to keep the hot fired primer from flying back. In this case I think the fence was a piece of leather and that is what you see in the video. The primer hits the fence and the fence goes flying. Original primers used with the 3.2 had a piece of wire attached as a tether that served this purpose.

RocklockI · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2009, 09:25:12 PM »

Welcome aboard Red Leg .

rocklockI ...gary

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:02:57 AM »

Redleg -

WELCOME to the board!

What do you shoot?

Red Leg · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:37:01 PM »

RocklockI & Catwhisperer
Thanks for the welcome. I'm not shooting any cannon at the present time but have in the past. I built and shot a Rev. War light 6 pdr., full scale, during the Bi-centennial. I also crewed on a friends original C.W. 3-inch ordinance rifle. I enjoy very much keeping up on the free exchange of ideas, skills, and information on this forum.