Author Topic: Is this a morwitzer, or what?  (Read 985 times)

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Offline cannonmn

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Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« on: January 12, 2008, 07:06:46 AM »
What is this please. 

Bore 4.2 inches
Length over trunnions 16 inches
Trunnion Diameter 3 inches
Length, nominal, without knob 18.5 inches

I haven't weighed it but it must weigh close to 200 lbs, I really don't relish the thought of trying to pick it up.

There is a small chamber at the rear of the bore that would not hold more than a few ounces of powder.  The rear of the bore is hemispherical, so it must have used some type of ball projectile.

The outside is as-cast and has not been lathe turned.  The vent field is shaped as if the piece is designed to fire at some elevation, and probably never at a negative angle and perhaps never horizontally either.

The bore is very smooth but has a lot of grease in it.

The best thing I could come with was that it might be some unknown type of line-throwing mortar.  Alright I made up the name "morwitzer" but I didn't know what else to call it.

What is it really?







Offline Terry C.

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2008, 07:30:22 AM »
How may calibers do you estimate the bore depth to be?


Whatever it is, it's COOL!

Offline phalanx

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2008, 07:35:45 AM »
 I don't know what it is, but i want one.
In this time i Command ,That you take the Secular to Jerusalem .
There you rid the Holy City of the Scourge of Islam , Make the streets run red with the Blood of those who wish to wash Israel and Christianity from the face of the Earth.
Constantine III

Offline Ex 49'er

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2008, 07:52:56 AM »
Maybe it is for grenades. :-\
When you're walking on eggs; don't hop!!

Offline lance

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #4 on: January 12, 2008, 09:00:10 AM »
 i don't know what it is either, but looks like someone's streamlined "version" of a King Howitzer.
PALADIN had a gun.....I have guns, mortars, and cannons!

Offline dominick

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #5 on: January 12, 2008, 09:07:14 AM »
I looks more 19th century than from an earlier period.  No markings?

Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #6 on: January 12, 2008, 01:15:15 PM »
Qute on steroids!

I want one too!

Someone ought to do a production run of them!

Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
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N 37.05224  W 80.78133 (front door +/- 15 feet)

Offline cannonmn

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #7 on: January 12, 2008, 01:32:24 PM »
There aren't any obvious marks on it.  I'm going to look at the ends of the trunnions again.  Sometimes its hard to tell if trunnion ends on iron guns have markings, or just rust molecules that are trying to mess with your brain.

Offline intoodeep

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2008, 02:09:43 PM »
cannonmn,

 While I cannot say for certain but, could this have been some sort of proving mortar/cannon? The cascabel really seems strange and would seem to put it more in a cannon than mortar category. You sure seem to find the odd ones.....

 Anyway, I think I'd call it an "ordinmortar" I guess that's what would happen if your Ordinance Rifle got to close to your Mortar....  :D

 Speaking of mortars. I like the patina on the coehorn in the background of the last photo.

If you make it idiot proof, then, someone will make a better idiot.


Offline cannonmn

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2008, 02:52:13 PM »
You have a point, it could have been an eprovette (powder testing mortar.)  The eprouvette and the early line throwing mortars are the only ordnance I've seen with those very small powder chambers.

Offline intoodeep

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2008, 03:02:42 PM »
cannonmn,

 The 4.2" bore leaves me to believe that it was not a line throwing gun. As, their bores were much smaller. However, I could be wrong.
If you make it idiot proof, then, someone will make a better idiot.


Offline Double D

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2008, 05:26:06 PM »
This opne sat in John Appleton's shop in Front Royal for a couple of years.



Seems to me it had Watervliet markings...might be wrong...or is this the same tube John?

Offline cannonmn

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2008, 10:57:08 PM »
Thanks, it sure looks like one of the same pattern.  The one I have has been in my basement for maybe 15 years, I don't know when you saw that one, but I'm guessing mine is not the same exact piece as that. 

Now that you mention "Watervliet" markings, I saw something similar with "Watervliet NY" markings at the Baltimore MD gun show maybe 12 years ago.  The man who had it would not put a price on it, so I left it there, but it could well be the Front Royal VA. piece.  When I looked at the Watervliet NY markings, they appeared to have been markings of a commercial foundry in that town, and not connected with the U.S. Army's Watervliet arsenal.

Offline Double D

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2008, 04:05:23 AM »
John I saw the Mortar more than two years and less the five years ago in the Appletons shop...he waanted to sellit to me,  I bought Martini's instead.

Offline Powder keg

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Re: Is this a morwitzer, or what?
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2008, 07:42:21 PM »
One of these that shoots soda cans would be killer:O) I like the looks. Thanks for sharing.

Wes
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