Author Topic: Cannons at Bents Fort, Colorado (Read 1150 times)

Blaster · « **on:** August 28, 2009, 03:45:22 PM »

Recently took a short drive (about 100 miles) over to Bents Fort, located right close to La Junta, CO. Most of the Fort has been restored and is really quite neat to see how the Fort was constructed and operated. Only had two cannon but a lot of stuff associated with cannon fixtures. Had a neat powder magazine and wood shop to fabricate cannon carriages and wheels. Here are a few pictures and the tour through the Fort was self guided which meant a lot of the items on display were able to be picked up and inspected. No Douglas, I did NOT have an empty powder can along to place next to the artillery. Sorry!
We visited this Fort on a day when the temps were just over 100 degrees so didn't have much interest in getting many details/measurements of these..I'll do better NEXT time I go over there.

This larger one was located on the upper deck.

The big one is located out in front of the main entrance/gate

Elevation wheel is not correct (from what I can see)

Neat powder magazine

Label on one of the wood kegs

I'm thinking that Mike & Tracy have already paid this place a visit since it's located right in So. Colorado.
Anyone out on a vacation trip that takes them even close to this Fort should make it a point to stop in and check it out. It's worth the effort and the National Park "Golden Age Passport" will get you in for FREE.

cannonmn · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2009, 03:50:41 PM »

Thanks for photos. Looks like smallish green one has LP logo on trunnion, for LePan foundry, a repro maker that operated out of Glens Falls ? NY in 1970's Larger tube has no vent bored, iron? may be repro also. whatddya think?

GGaskill · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:10:43 PM »

I'm no authority but the flat bands are suspicious for me.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2009, 05:52:31 PM »

Quote from: cannonmn on August 28, 2009, 03:50:41 PM

Thanks for photos. Looks like smallish green one has LP logo on trunnion, for LePan foundry, a repro maker that operated out of Glens Falls ? NY in 1970's Larger tube has no vent bored, iron? may be repro also. whatddya think?

If I remember right my Iron LaPan's tube had a similar # mark on the trunnion,
being that it was never vented it is probably a display barrel LaPan's foundry made that was half bored.
I doubt they would have bothered finishing the touch hole.

La Pan's Foundry is still in business - Just don't cast cannon anymore....

http://lapansfoundry.com/

GGaskill · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:12:59 PM »

Just don't cast cannon anymore....

Interesting, then, that they would show this page and the following as their history:

dan610324 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:31:43 AM »

at the bronze barrel you can clearly see the remaining grinding marks from the removing of the parting line on top of the barrel , and on the top of the muzzle face
the different color of the bronze patina is because of the different surface structure

if they had sand blasting the cannon after removing the parting line it wouldnt had been that easy to see it today

Blaster · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2009, 12:38:53 PM »

Made still another trip back to Bent's Fort for a few more pictures. These cannon balls were also in the powder magazine - I hadn't noticed them on the first trip.

My question is, were they kept caged like this in the old days or was this "cage" built to display the balls and not allow anyone to walk off with one or two??

Here they were in the process of fabricating a wheel.

And finally, one to two little swivel guns mounted up high to welcome or discourage visitors (back in the old days)

KABAR2 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:37:14 AM »

Quote from: Blaster on September 16, 2009, 12:38:53 PM

Made still another trip back to Bent's Fort for a few more pictures. These cannon balls were also in the powder magazine - I hadn't noticed them on the first trip.

My question is, were they kept caged like this in the old days or was this "cage" built to display the balls and not allow anyone to walk off with one or two??

Left over crochet set........

Quote from: Blaster on September 17, 2009, 04:37:22 AM

Perhaps you "gents" mean CROQUET??

Sometimes spell check sucks......

Double D · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:44:46 AM »

Crochet?

Blaster · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:37:22 AM »

Perhaps you "gents" mean CROQUET??

gary michie · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2009, 08:10:16 AM »

Hi:

Well , did'nt we use to have a spell check for replys and or why can'nt we. I am a very poor speller and don't reply as offen as I want to because I don't wish to look the fool.

Div Arty · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2009, 10:07:35 AM »

Gary, It's not how you say it or how you spell it. It's what you say or the message that counts. You have probably seen the E-mail that has every word in a paragraph misspelled execpt for the first and last letter of each word. You can read it perfectly.

( Caonnns) See!

GGaskill · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2009, 11:55:43 AM »

You can read it perfectly.

You can figure out what was intended. It takes longer than if it were spelled correctly.

Spell checkers aren't always a help. Crochet is spelled correctly.

Double D · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:03:42 PM »

We all knew what he meant, without a doubt. Croquet was funny, crochet funnier...we weren't laughing at him we were laughing with him.....

Blaster · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:00:29 PM »

Quote from: gary michie on September 17, 2009, 08:10:16 AM

Hi:
Well , did'nt we use to have a spell check for replys and or why can'nt we. I am a very poor speller and don't reply as offen as I want to because I don't wish to look the fool.

Gary, don't be concerned about some misspelling which might make the writer "look" like a fool as this is only the internet and I consider all the stuff I read on it as being for entertainment/fun only. We can easily get the "drift" of what is being posted. Spell check is fine but it cannot read our minds on HOW a word is being used. Alrite?

Double D · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:04:03 PM »

Yes don't worry about no spellcheck, it doesn't stop me..ask anyone!

Blaster · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:14:32 PM »

Quote from: Double D on September 17, 2009, 01:04:03 PM

Yes don't worry about no spellcheck, it doesn't stop me..ask anyone!

Presume you meant spellchick.

Now I'm gonna hit the hay/hey.

dan610324 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2009, 09:37:58 PM »

yeah sometimes I also miss the spellcheck as english isnt my native language .
but what the heck , if you dont understand me I hope you all will ask me what I mean .
this days I try to be sober when I write anything here

cannonmn · « **Reply #18 on:** September 19, 2009, 12:28:31 AM »

Quote

this days I try to be sober when I write anything here

No Noooooooo! We want the OLD Dan back-keep the bar open-how are we gonna get a few laughs now and then?

dan610324 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 20, 2009, 09:44:32 AM »

he he he he
noooo , never again

I hope