Ever seen one of these, blackpowder b/l line thrower?

[cannonmn]

I've never ever seen one, wonder if they were really manufactured?  Note it is rifled too, must not have been cheap!

http://books.google.com/books?id=T0swAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA549&lpg=PA549&dq=breechloading+line+throwing+gun&source=web&ots=YfBxFt1J6u&sig=6x4oGxKfamzOT2TgJCqg4eUQ0_0#PPA549,M1

[intoodeep]

Interesting.... I have never seen anything like it. It doesn't seem to practical. I wonder how it was actually loaded. Plus, I guess you who have to be real careful where to stand when firing it......

[cannonmn]

I wonder how it was actually loaded

vewwy cawefuwwy


As for the lines, that's what the faking box was for on these old guns.  That was a wood box with a grid of vertical posts arranged in it.  The line was carefully "faked" around the posts in a special path so it would pay out neatly when the gun was fired.

[intoodeep]

As for the lines, that's what the faking box was for on these old guns.  That was a wood box with a grid of vertical posts arranged in it.  The line was carefully "faked" around the posts in a special path so it would pay out neatly when the gun was fired.

 This is true. But, the faking box must have been place to the rear since the line runs through the breech area. Unlike traditional line throwers. Thus making it a bit hazardous standing in the rear area of this.

 Atleast, this is how it looks to me from the photo.

 

[Cat Whisperer]

Wonder if any more info could be found by doing a patent search.

[lance]

 What gets me is the coil spring between the line and projectile. that would try my patience trying to figure out a proper spring. i'm sure the inventor got it just right on the first shot!

[Cat Whisperer]

Wouldn't have to be a spring - could be though - just a coil that would allow the projo to clear the barrel and let the pressure off so the cable could be pulled through.

[intoodeep]

Here's some more details on this piece. Starting page 185.

 http://books.google.com/books?id=yZsFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=spencer's+line+throwing+gun&source=web&ots=rdAB6g1kpK&sig=Yxg5Orf9nSaakYBz2BUz7u6VvdQ#PPA194-IA7,M1

 It seems that there was a powder bag placed within the spring.

[GGaskill]

I think the friction of pulling the rope through the breech would significantly lessen the range.  Burning powder might burn the rope, too.

[KABAR2]

There would be allot of dynamics going on within the chamber upon firing, I think the idea of the spring served three functions:

1) Attached the rope to the shell the knob at the end upon firing formed a gas seal
    where the rope attached.

2) the spring allowed expansion of gases while gas seal was formed, keeping the
    rope from being torn from the end of the shell

3) Last but not least created a buffer that kept the rope from being torn off by the rapid
    expansion of the gases.

Allen <><

[Cat Whisperer]

Obviously IF it were a GOOD design it would be much copied.

[KABAR2]

Obviously IF it were a GOOD design it would be much copied.

Or resistance to change by the service that used Lyle guns, and manufacturing costs left it to history,
Wouldn't be the first time or the last someone created a better mouse trap and had it ignored.

I see a good concept in this,
he had to come up with the engineering to overcome the destruction of the attachment of the line on firing.
with his coil and gas check he appears to have accomplished this.

 

[cannonmn]

I think the friction of pulling the rope through the breech would significantly lessen the range.  Burning powder might burn the rope, too.

I agree, maybe limit it to near zero.  I'd be very surprised if any rope got out before it whipped a little before going into the breech and broke.  Than's probably why you don't see any of these around.

Just llike they told us in school, you can't push a rope (F=ma) you can't pull it but so fast when it is touching something that doesn't give.

[montveil]

Such cannons were used by the life saving services a long time ago. One is used in demonstrations on the outer banks of NC.
It was used to fire a line to grounded ships to attach a breeches bouy to remove crew and passangers

[KABAR2]

Such cannons were used by the life saving services a long time ago. One is used in demonstrations on the outer banks of NC.
It was used to fire a line to grounded ships to attach a breeches bouy to remove crew and passangers

Is the one used in the demonstrations a breech loader like this one? Or a muzzle loader as in a Lyle gun?

[cannonmn]

The USLSS and then the USCG only had muzzle-loading lifesaving cannons.  The official model for both services was the bronze gun "C" with two-diameter bronze barrel, 2.5 inch bore, and approx. 17 lb. shot.  The barrel sat on a steel-bound oak carriage.  There were probably over 100 different "commercial" models of line throwing cannons carried by merchant ships.  They had to be USCG-approved, and I'm not sure if any breechloading line cannons were approved.  Paul Barnett's book on thiis topic is excellent, well-illustrated and well-written (Paul used to be an English teacher before he took up cannon making.)

[intoodeep]

cannonmn,

 Since the "Bronze C" was brought up. I just thought I'd toss this out. If, you come across an original projectile in 2.5" diameter for a reasonable price. Please let me know as I am looking for one. They don't seem to turn up in the desert to often.....    




 

[Jack Tar]

If you do a search under Lyle Gun you will find line guns/cannons. I have a friend that has a Lyle gun. Mostly collector items now. You can find them for about $2500.  They are very impressive to see when fired. Big problem is if they are not anchored properly they can jump/ recoil about 7 or 8 feet. I beleve the bore is 3".