Nathan Thompson's cannon invention, 1872

[cannonmn]

Have had this for 20 years and was never able to find out anything until I hit Google a little while ago.  Up pops one of those great old Congressional documents with testimony and lots of pictures!!!  The wood part of the carriage is recent, nicely done by the former owner who faithfully copied a Strong breechloading salute gun carriage, oak axle and all.  Sorry there's no powder can in this one, but there is a ruler.  The barral is about a foot long and has a 0.61 inch bore.

Everything on this still works perfectly.  It has an eccentric sear so you move the striker lever to the left and it stays cocked until pushed slightly to the to the right.  The knob on left of breech operates the extractor.  It looks like it would take about a 20-gauge shotgun shell and as soon as I find mine I'll try fitting one in (not firing it of course!)

The story and drawings:  http://tinyurl.com/7a8prr