Author Topic: Just finished my new mortar (Read 1404 times)

rifleshooter2 · « **on:** January 03, 2010, 01:18:51 PM »

Ok here she is. A Soda Can mortar loosely based on a 12 pound confederate mortar. It's my christmas present to myself. bored out of 1018 steel the bed is made from Ash. Just have to let the paint dry a bit and wait for the weather to warm up a bit. Then time for smoke.

Andy

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2010, 01:27:25 PM »

Will you have to shovel snow to get us the pictures of smoke and fire?

rifleshooter2 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2010, 01:29:38 PM »

Not much snow here, but a bit nippy 17 deg right now.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:09:33 AM »

That's a good looking mortar and bed, Rifleshooter2. A lot of people like the Federal coehorn, (I do too) but its the CSA model in pop-can bore size that I've been giving some serious thought to lately.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2010, 08:37:04 AM »

Andy, once again you have crafted a strikingly beautiful artillery piece. You have proven, beyond any doubt, that great looking mortars do not have to be complicated, just carefully crafted with attention to detail. Of course, we didn't exactly expect junk from your shop, having seen some of your previous work like the British Grenade Mortar below:

Great job!

Mike and Tracy

rifleshooter2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2010, 09:14:05 AM »

Thanks guys.

dynomike1x1 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:26:53 PM »

Did the CSA have a standerd bed for there Cohorn? I have beed looking for a true wooden CSA bed design before i build mine, when i find me a pool ball size tube. I also see that it is going to be hard to get a mortar on the calender after looking at these two, lot of good work there.

dan610324 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:48:39 PM »

the main issue isnt to have the cannon or mortar in the calender

MOST IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE FUN IN A SAFE WAY

Cannoneer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2010, 12:58:01 PM »

Dynomike1x1,
The last photo shown in reply #3 is a period photo of a CSA coehorn mortar bed, its basically just a simple rectangle, the same as Rifleshooter2 made for his.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,179492.msg1098864010/topicseen.html#msg1098864010

dynomike1x1 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2010, 03:17:28 PM »

If i am not mistaken is'nt picture 4 & 5 from the top a Federal and a CSA bed? I was thinking there beds were shaped a little different.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2010, 02:46:07 PM »

Dynomike1x1,
Do you mean the 4th & 5th photo down from the first photo show in the thread, or 4th & 5th down from the photos posted in reply no. 3?

dynomike1x1 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2010, 10:15:23 AM »

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,179492.msg1098864010/topicseen.html#msg1098864010
4th & 5t picture from top to bottom before the red one in the above link.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:31:14 AM »

The bed shown in the fourth pic is definitely a Federal design, the bed in the fifth photo I'm not sure about, in fact I can't remember where that coehorn is on display, nor what the brass plate on it says (maybe someone else knows); but in either case, at least that bed is known to be a valid Civil War model, because it is shown in the C-W period photograph of surrendered CSA ordnance at Appomattox, Virginia. There is also proof in that picture of a bed that holds a Federal type coehorn, and it has smooth curved shoulders on the ends instead of the more complex molding seen on the bed in the fourth photo; this is the only example of this design that I've ever seen.

Double D · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:50:31 AM »

I am a bit confused. BoomJ if you still have those pictures from that old post, could you post them here to clarify?

dynomike1x1 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2010, 02:50:43 PM »

My understandind is that the CSA is cut at a 45 instead of a rounded curve, of course the federal beds could be mixed in after being siezed in battles. Which there were probably mors siezed by CSA than built due to funds.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2010, 04:11:51 PM »

Quote from: Double D on January 08, 2010, 11:50:31 AM

I am a bit confused. BoomJ if you still have those pictures from that old post, could you post them here to clarify?

This is the the 4th pic that Mike mentioned, and this is a U.S. Army designed coehorn bed.

This is the 5th photo he mentioned, and I'm not sure if this is a Federal , or a CSA designed bed, but the period photo proves that it's a bona fide Civil War coehorn bed.

In this detail from a Civil War photograph, the two beds mentioned above are seen on the left, and there is a different design with simple rounded shoulders on its ends shown on the right; it is this last type of bed that I've never seen another example of.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2010, 04:28:53 PM »

Boom J -
Thanks! I thought I was not confused, but had mis-counted. Makes more sense now.

GGaskill · « **Reply #17 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:45:44 PM »

I could see both the chamfered version and the round edge version as war-time expedients to expedite production. The stepped and rounded version of the original design couldn't have really had any practical advantage.

1Southpaw · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:10:24 AM »

and rounded one was more a reflection of craftmanship .
Lots of the old Cannons seemed to reflect the ornate as eye appeal rather than funtion .

Art instructor once said "Form follows function " He was refering to pottery object used for food preparation and or eating vessals. His idea was that funtion was first consideration , then any lovely decorations . All of our first project under his supervision were strictly functional . Learn the basics , move on to the art works .

dynomike1x1 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:38:43 AM »

Looks like the design could go to either side according to Introduction to Civil War Artillary by Dean Thomas i put to articals on here and they show both CSA and Federal used the same bases. The only thing i can figure is the design is for looks or weight. I think i will build mine w/ the angle cut on a 45 on all four sideslike the bottom picture.