GRAYBEARDS CANNON BOOK

[SLEEPY BEEPER]

I love the posts where someone posts an original cannon picture. Then people add more information about it. Like it's location, design features and history. Someone should take these and condense them to one page. Add the pages up and publish a book. Call it Graybeards Cannon Book. Two examples that are quickly getting forgotten are the great picture and discussion of a strap gun. Also a railroad axle gun that was made by a boat company? There must be others. 

[Cannoneer]

Sleepy Beeper,

 I'm not sure if you're just talking about pieces that have been discussed on the board or you would include other unusual or odd and rare American black powder artillery, but, yes, I think your idea would make an interesting book. I can bring up a couple that have interested me; other than Wiard's successful rifle he had some strange ideas about ordnance, I remember reading about some nutty ideas he had concerning hollow air pockets that would be manufactured in barrels. There are also famous examples like the Confederate double barrel cannon that was a bust and some less well know CSA guns like the cannon that had a thin rectangular bore like those Russian guns in the St. Petersburg museum. I think the major drawback here might be in getting a publisher interested.

[Double D]

Since I am in the early stages of writing a book I can offer some basic insight on this...Self publish or find a niche publisher.

Becareful however using the stuff from this board with out permission of the writer...I believe the copyright protection extends to the writer.

[Cannoneer]

Since I am in the early stages of writing a book I can offer some basic insight on this...Self publish or find a niche publisher.

I didn't ask before because there are some people that are superstitious about discussing things that haven't come to fruition yet, but curiosity got the better of my reticence, so if you're not keeping the subject of your book close to the vest; what is it going to be about? 

[Double D]

Well the working title is Shooting the Martini and othere weekend projects.  That pretty much tells it all.  I have done a preliminary outline and am doing some research and gathering and organizing research material right now.  No deadline as I am self publishing. It will get written, but may never get published and that is okay.

[Ex 49'er]

Dagnabit!! If it doesn't get published, I'll never be able to increase my knowledge of Martini rifles or
get to meet the author & get an autographed copy.   

[Double D]

I can just see the out of print book listing  for the book.  New condition, deduct 25% for authors signature.

[BoomLover]

DD...Don't sell yourself short! With your well-known K.I.S.S. Mortar and your signing the book, that increases the value considerably, like at least 50 cents! Just kidding, but in all reality, you have a pretty good storehouse of knowledge regarding Cannons, Howitzers, and Mortars, so I think it would be of wide spread interest! Good luck and have fun doing it! Maybe Gray Beard and company would consider helping in getting it published! Remember the old saying, "It doesn't hurt to ask!" BoomLover

[Double D]

Thank you for the compliment, but but you give me more credit than I deserve.  The wealth and depth knowledge on this board come from its members, not me.. My knowledge is limited.

Here's list of the things I do know.

I know where my copy of The More Complete Cannoneer is.

I know where my copy of Round Shoot and Rammers is.

I know where to find the N-SSA rules on Cannons.

I know how to look for things on the internet, I helped Algore invent it.

I know how to aim a cannon without sights and keep it on paper.

Everything else on this board comes from you guys!

[Cat Whisperer]

Then the key phrase is:

DoubleD, EDITOR.



Thanks,
Tim K

[Double D]

Right, me Editor, I had to fix that post above right now  for it to even make sense.

My plate is full.  Besides I wouldn't want to try and edit this forum into a book. We have 2763 post with 29,813 responses.  10 3/4 replies per post. I pulled down a post from the first page with 11 responses and it only contained 945 words.  A book chapter of this sort need needs to be no less than 2500 words usually more, closer to 5000 words.  I would have to copy each of the topics, find those that were related and combine them. Then I would have to meticulously research everything in the topic to verify the data.  I would also need to contact every copyright holder to get permission to reprint illustrations.   


The Martini book is now in outline form and has 17 chapters. I am predicting it will take 4 years to write this book. Right now I am in the research stage.  What is tough is I am going too have to go out and buy a lot of material.  I jump on the band wagon when it comes to speaking out about the proliferation of counterfeit Martini's on the market.  I know in  my mind why they are a waste of money and hazardous, but in a book I have to articulate what.  That means I have to buy a sample of each of the two fakes.  I have to photograph, analyze and test both rifles. I also have to buy samples of the two real Martini's and I have to photograph, analyze and test both of these two rifles also.  If I can get all these rifles gathered up this winter I hope to conduct the test the spring.  The testing should take about three months.  Writing up each of the test will take a month or two...On top of this once a month I have to travel to Washington State where I do some consulting work....well you get the idea I have my hands full. 

[Ex 49'er]

DD! If you need help with the testing and evaluating all of those martinis I would be right proud to help in any way possible. Just ship them out here to the Republic of Kalifornia. My testing will be very thorough and probably take at least 10 or 15 years. Since you aren't going to publish anyway; that shouldn't be a problem. I would be right proud to be able to help in any way possible. You wouldn't even have to acknowledge my small contribution  if the book was published. This way you could concentrate on your consulting work and cannon stuph. Shucks, this would be better than an autographed copy of the book any which way. Oh yeah; don't forget to send lots of ammunition.   

[Double D]

DD! If you need help with the testing and evaluating all of those martinis I would be right proud to help in any way possible. Just ship them out here to the Republic of Kalifornia. My testing will be very thorough and probably take at least 10 or 15 years. Since you aren't going to publish anyway; that shouldn't be a problem. I would be right proud to be able to help in any way possible. You wouldn't even have to acknowledge my small contribution  if the book was published. This way you could concentrate on your consulting work and cannon stuph. Shucks, this would be better than an autographed copy of the book any which way. Oh yeah; don't forget to send lots of ammunition.   

Ah yes there is no end of volunteer help...untill I tell then what I am going to do.  Find Volume 2 of P.O. Ackley's Handbook for reloaders and read his chapter on action strength. 

Here is the chapter outline for this section.


10.   Action strength
a.   577/450
i.   Pressure test the LoC Load drawn brass.
1.   Original ammo
2.   85 grs FG drawn brass
3.   85 Grs FFg drawn brass
4.   85 grs FFFg drawn brass
5.   85 grs FFFFg drawn brass
ii.   Repeat the test using CBC brass
1.   85 grs FG 
2.   85 Grs FFg 
3.   85 grs FFFg 
4.   85 grs FFFFg  
iii.   LoC with fillers
iv.   Then test substitutes, T7, Pyrodex, etc.
v.   Test Smokeless. 
vi.   40% NfB 
vii.   Shotgun/pistol powders.
viii.   Load from a disk generated loads
ix.   IMR 3031, progressively larger until I get failure
b.   ME action Repeat tests
c.   SOG Counterfeit, repeat test
d.   Khyber Pass copy, repeat test
e.   BSA Francotte, repeat test. thin action, thick action.

I would gladly let some else foot the bill for these test. But I want the fun of conducting them .  Each test will be filmed and I am thinking including video on a DVD to go with the book.

I am letting this discussion drift a bit from cannons so you can get some idea how I approach writing a book.  I am sure that a book could be written from the material posted on this board. Given the way I would approach such a task I am not prepared to devote my time to such a project now.  This Martini book is/has been my goal for some time now and I am only interested working it to its end.  After that then maybe, just maybe the cannon book could be written...if I haven't come to my senses

[Cannoneer]

I know how to aim a cannon without sights and keep it on paper.

DD,

 Wasn't there some past talk about you printing a sneak preview of this chapter here on the forum?

[Double D]

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,123560.0.html

[Cannoneer]

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,123560.0.html

 Yes, I've read this thread, and it's got good info (much of which I've tried to put into practice), but you said you were going to expound on some of these points on a more elaborate tutorial. You're not going to get off that easy, I've got a pretty good memory.

"I guess I am going have to write a complete set of details on how to shot and aim these little guns.  Another project after we close on the house. (August 18 we close. August 19th we move every thing from storage in Great Falls to Cut Bank--110 miles.  Gonna take two trips.  Then 23 or the 24th we drive to Chalis Idaho and pick up the Gunsmithing shop--that's a little over 450  miles)  Might be a month or two before I actually get to start on projects."

One thing I've been meaning to ask you; on a video of one of the S/A matches that you posted, a man walks down the firing line and lights all the guns with a linstock. Did anyone explain why they do it this way, how could it affect anything, after all, the guns have all been aimed and the vents primed so how would it alter the outcome if the gunners just lit their own pieces?

[Double D]

You wanna see my current list of excuses.  Have you ever tried to cram 2800 sq ft of stuff in a 1600 sq ft.

I do want to get out my copy of Mueller and build a gun following his instructions. That sort of thing is something you do in the winter in Montana right after Deer season ends and you wire up the garage for lighting and outlets and set up and wire in the lathe.  But that has to wait untill the Electrician installs a new electrical panel in the garage and house which he did last week.  We also can't start  the gas heater in the shop until it is inpsected. The inspector will be here next week or the week after. 

Cannon shooting here is not a winter activity.  So in the spring maybe I will do that tutorial on shooting the cannon. Spring here of course starts mid May. 

The Range officer fires the cannons because that is a rule established by Range landlord.  Wanna shoot follow his rules

[intoodeep]

Have you ever tried to cram 2800 sq ft of stuff in a 1600 sq ft.

 DD,

 I do that every day.... This is my two car garage. 



 You don't even want to see the house. There are cannons on, under and in things around the house. It's a small home with a postage stamp lot but, I've had to become a "storage master" over the years.....    My life has become a Rubix's cube lifestyle.... 

[Cannoneer]

I do that every day.... This is my two car garage. 

Couldn't you have put the Mini up on a shelf?

[Double D]

Is that a Mini or Fiat.  Gonna use it for parts ro a Cannon Carriage?