Received a one-of-a-kind 1861 siege howitzer from Ed today!

[Mike H.]

I received my 1861 siege howitzer from Ed Hart today.  What makes it one-of-a-kind?  It's all Stainless Steel.

I have been buying stainless drops on eBay and making small mortars.  Sometimes single pieces, sometimes several pieces bought together.  Well, in one batch there were two 3+" diameter pieces of stainless with a couple of smaller pieces.  I made a couple of thunder mugs out of one piece, but it is such a pain for me to cut I decided I'd not attempt anything myself with the other one.  (I have no lathe or mill - all I do is with a drill press, chop saw, sander, and hand tools.)

So I had decided to sell the extra 3" drop piece, but thought I'd ask around what could be done with it at a reasonable cost.  Ed took me up on the challenge.  I sent him the 3+" round X 10" piece of 430 stainless, plus a short length of 1" 304 to use for trunnions.

About a week later I get it back, looking just a little different then it did when sent to him:











It is 10" OAL, 3" OD at breach, 1" trunnions, a 1" bore (no chamber) as I requested.  At a very reasonable cost for his labor.  Sorry, I forgot the powder can.  I will include after I smooth the welds with the Dremel and finish putting the 220 matt finish all over.

Thanks Ed!!!

[Mike H.]

Also, what sort of carriage do these ride in?  Round Shot & Rammers does not show it on a carriage.

Suggestions for carriage?

[Zulu]

Also, what sort of carriage do these ride in?  Round Shot & Rammers does not show it on a carriage.

Suggestions for carriage?

Mike H.
Nice gun!
It would look best on a spoke wheeled, single trail carriage.  The wheels are the hard part but there are several places in the "stickies" to get some.
You would just have to scale it properly.
Zulu

[armorer77]

According to my book . #84 from AOP it looks like a field carriage only a bit beefier . Ed

[RocklockI]

Is that a Broad Arrow on the bottom of the tube ?

[Mike H.]

Is that a Broad Arrow on the bottom of the tube ?

If you are talking about the 3rd pic, that is just the touch hole with photo flash glare in it.

[Cannoneer]

According to my book . #84 from AOP it looks like a field carriage only a bit beefier . Ed

The M1861 siege howitzer was mounted on a U.S. siege carriage; the siege carriage was equipped with an elevation screw, but the howitzer barrel was too short to use the screw, so an adaptation was made to elevate the barrel with a quoin.

I almost forgot to say: Mike and Ed, that's a fine looking barrel.

[Mike H.]

Anybody got a sample picture of one of these siege carriages so I can understand what I am getting into?  Not copyrighted drawings, just a photo or single overall drawing to get ideas.

[Double D]

Here is a  link to a website showing one.

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=38225

Get the AOP plans to help you do it right.

[Mike H.]

That is heavy duty.  I can do that, except the wheels.

Have you started yours?

[Double D]

You can do the wheels! 







The pictures show a lathe as alternate method to the router used in other pictures. 

I think you gun is 1/8 scale so your wheel will be 7.5 inches tall.

If you want a full size copy of these instructions, drop me an email. 

[Mike H.]

According to my book . #84 from AOP it looks like a field carriage only a bit beefier . Ed

Unless I am looking at the wrong site, they don't list #84 anymore? 

http://gunneyg.info/html/AOPCatalog.htm

Where can I get the correct book?

[Double D]

They have a lot of books they don't list.  Just ask for it.   It is 130 pages and worth every penny.

[armorer77]

Current price for #84 is $29 send them a check .

[Microboomer]

What is the title of AOP #84?  What else is covered besides the Howitzer carraige?
thanks,
andy

[armorer77]

1841 & 1861 Seige Howitzers .  Covers barrels and carriages and ammo in great detail .

[Mike H.]

I'll be buying that book.  But I'm not making the wheels. Got to find some close.

This barrel is 1/6 scale, correct?  Weren't the originals 60" long and 18" OD?  Mine is 3" OD by 10" long.

[armorer77]

Pretty cloce .