What Type of Cannon is this?

[presb4]

I have seen this for sale and it looks pretty old, 1700's to 1800's I am told. I have very little info other than it was found near the great lakes of Michigan. Any info would be much appreciated.

[KABAR2]

presb4,

First welcome to the forum,

The cannon you have pictured I would say is from the late 1800's
by the size of the trunnions it was designed for salutes more than shooting
ball, it follows the design of some of the Civil War cannon but is more a stylized
representation made in the 1880's or 90's, hope this helps.

One question are there any markings?


Allen <><

[Cat Whisperer]

Presb4 -

WELCOME to the board!
What do you like to shoot?

Harrisonburg eh?  I'm in Pulaski.  Come down here in July for the 3rd Almost Annual New River Valley Mortar and Cannon Shoot, near Floyd/Willis.

[presb4]

Thanks for the info guys. The shoot sounds like a lot of fun too, Ill have to take a look at my calender and see if I'm off work then, I work out of state. Back to the cannon, I was looking at buying this cannon mainly for display but would like to throw some powder in it for fun on the 4th of July also. Do any of you think that due to the age and that it is made out of cast iron that it would be unsafe to shoot? All I have seen are pictures and from them I haven't seen any foundry mark. The bore is almost a perfect 2" and that was throwing me off because I know that most 2lb cannons have a 2.6" bore. This would be my first cannon purchase, what do you all think the cannon would be worth?

[GGaskill]

The collecting of old artillery is something by itself; you need to be concerned about provenance and other things to keep from being robbed.  I really am not qualified to speak much on the subject.

As far as a shooter is concerned, I think you would be much better served to make or buy a modern repro piece made of steel, or at least a piece made by a reputable maker.  At least you know what its history and condition are.

[Double D]

  Back to the cannon, I was looking at buying this cannon mainly for display

but would like to throw some powder in it for fun on the 4th of July also. Do any of you think that due to the age and that it is made out of cast iron that it would be unsafe to shoot?

I wouldn't call  it unsafe.  I also would not call it safe.

It is a collectors piece and that is it.

[Cannoneer]

Presb4,

I agree with KABAR'S description of this gun, a signal/salute gun manufactured somewhere in the late 1800's early 1900's.
In my opinion a cast iron gun like this is always unsafe to fire without a proper steel liner installed in the bore.
Many hardware store owners in the U.S. in the latter 1800's into the 1900's used to have foundries make these types of cannon for sale in their stores. The practice stopped in the early 1900's because of deaths, and serious injuries caused by these guns exploding.

[KABAR2]

Presb4,

I agree with KABAR'S description of this gun, a signal/salute gun manufactured somewhere in the late 1800's early 1900's.
In my opinion a cast iron gun like this is always unsafe to fire without a proper steel liner installed in the bore.
Many hardware store owners in the U.S. in the latter 1800's into the 1900's used to have foundries make these types of cannon for sale in their stores. The practice stopped in the early 1900's because of deaths, and serious injuries caused by these guns exploding.

I would not consider firing it with out installing a proper liner I think part of the issue in the early 1900's and guns exploding was
education...... I have heard of original Bronze guns loaded with blasting powder and probably more than one of the hardware cannon
were loaded with the "new" smokeless powder that was becoming available at the time, I have a friend who owns one of a set of English
flintlock pistols they had been in the family since the American Revolution the brass butt is engraved with a family name and a 1770's date,
the mainspring is broken which saved it from the fate of it's mate......... his Grandfather a WWI vet had loaded it with smokeless powder on
4th of July with disastrous results........   

[presb4]

Once again to all, Thankyou for your input.

OK, agree with the cannon needing a steel liner. In my day job, I work for a Non-Destructive Testing & Engineering company and have provided many metallurgical tests on casting of all sorts. This is why I was worried about the cast iron in the first place but here is the deal. The guy who is selling this cannon is asking 400 bucks for it. I my searches on the internet 400 bucks will not get you anything that even looks as good as this old cannon does nor its size. I am proficient at welding and fabrication so I can create the liner at my home, but to install it properly I would have to bore out the original cannon a little bit to fit the steel liner. I was worried that I would be destroying or at the least modifying an a cannon that had intrinsic value, but from what you guys are telling me I shouldn't worry about it because it was a rather common cannon sold as a novelty in the late 1800's.
So it sounds like to me that if I bought it and modified it with a steel liner I would have a very nice, very shootable, unique cannon, unless you guys thing it is a waste of time.

[Double D]

I'm not one to collect hanger queens...this thing has such a classy look, I would be tempted to buy it.  If i bought it, I would do a bunch of research before i converted it.  Ask cannonmn about it.  He hasn't been lurking here much lately. 

Click on the member tab in the banner at top of this board and search for cannonmn.  When you find him open his profile by clicking on his user name and then send him a PM. 

[RocklockI]

If it is reasonable I would buy it . But why ? it does have nice lines to it .

I think you shouild grab it then tell us all about it .....

[KABAR2]

For the price I would say go for it, if you can't bore it out yourself, build your liner and take both
to a competent machine shop, this way they can make sure everything goes together, if you line it
you will also need to put in a vent liner this should be threaded into the liner through the cast iron,
this way you won't get water causing corrosion developing between the liner and the iron.

[presb4]

Well off to the bank to withdraw some funds. Ill post some pictures after I do the liner work.
Happy shooting.

[RocklockI]

    good call .