Cannons at Maryland Arms Collectors Show, March 2009

[cannonmn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spqTmSwM56g

[Cannoneer]

Fine vid, Cannonmn! Every time I lay eyes on a 'James Type II Rifle' my heart skips a beat (maybe, one day, with a lottery win, or some other type of fat chance...........).

What type of cannon is that small gray breechloader (not the Hotchkiss M 1879) with the wooden artillery wheels, that comes right before the still pics start?

 

[cannonmn]

That's a WWII Japanese 37MM infantry gun, or so says the owner.  It is certainly Japanese and WWII from the marks etc.  It is a very interesting design, with the reverse of a lot of such guns, as this one has barrel and breech way low, and elevation gear on top!  It is 100% operational as was demonstrated to me, save a bore-sized hole cut in side of the chamber to meet BATF regs for the required destruction of an unregistered DD.

[DoktorD]

EXCELLENT video! Very interesting pieces. 

[Blaster]

I'd sure like to see that video.  Don't know if a problem exists with my computer or if the blizzard outside is causing the problem.  The first 26 seconds of the video shows just fine and after that, I get that circle of lights (like it's loading) for many minutes and I finally just give up.  I'm on satellite and normally ALL videos come through almost lightning fast. Had the very same problem this morning PRIOR to the start of the current blizzard. 

[cannonmn]

Notice I lingered while camera was aimed at the Wiard wheel, since the "field repairable" wheels were one of Wiard's big selling points.  Look at how they are constructed, if a spoke or felloe is damaged in action, you can take it out with just a wrench, and put new parts in. 

I doubt if the Army was as interested in that as mega-pamphleteer Wiard was.  If you have never read any of the totally bombastic stuff he wrote during the War, you should.  He was a real PITA for both the Army and Navy, and was a major instigator of the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, which "put down" Dahlgren, Rodman, and many others.  William Wheeler Hubbell was the other major instigator.  You could spend more than a lifetime studying all the drama and legal actions that took place on account of ordnance development and procurement during the Civil War.

[Cannoneer]

I did notice the narrow brackets (reminiscent of the wooden straked wheel, except these don't go around, and secure the tyre to the sole of the felly) around the joins of the fellies, but didn't know what they were for, thanks for the info.

I have read passages of the weird Norman Wiard's literary gift to the nation, "Memorial of Norman Wiard to the Senate and House of Representatives"; he was definitely an odd character.

[Cannoneer]

Cannonmn, I think I can tell by just eyeballing it how the front sight is attached to the Wiard gun, but in case I'm wrong; how is it secured to the barrel?

[Double D]

Cannonmn, I think I can tell by just eyeballing it how the front sight is attached to the Wiard gun, but in case I'm wrong; how is it secured to the barrel?

If I saw what I think I saw it's attached with a nut and bolt through the bottom flang holding the split ring.  John is that correct?

[cannonmn]

Sorry I didn't study the gun and don't have any pix except what's in the video.  You might ask the owner, Denny Pizzini, he'd be happy to discuss I'm sure, very friendly sort.  he lives on Staten Island, NY, number may be in the online "white pages" finder.

[Cannoneer]

From what I can see in your vid of the Wiard rifle's front sight, I'd have to agree with DD's description of the method of its attachment to the barrel. Another thing I've been wondering is; why are these tall front sights missing in so many period photos of the Wiard gun? Was it because of the ineffective way the sight was attached, or were they purposely removed because the gunners found their use ineffectual? It would probably be very interesting to have a conversation with Mr. Pizzini.