Author Topic: A shiny naval gun arrived at my house yesterday (Read 2557 times)

Cannoneer · « **on:** October 07, 2009, 09:33:21 AM »

I won this on eBay Sunday before last, and it finally came yesterday. The barrel is 16.5'' long, bore is a hair over .91 caliber, and the tube weighs in at 16 lbs. The carriage is 9 3/4'' long, the axles 7 1/4'' wide, front trucks are 2 7/8'', rear trucks 2 1/2'' diam., and the wood is white oak. All the pieces of hardware (except the cap square key chains) are made of steel, and they're browned. Unfortunately there was some damage in transit, and the front right axle tree was cracked in half (no big deal, it'll be repaired, and I'll make a new axle sometime in the future). The main thing is the barrel, and I can't find so much as a scratch on this tube, I don't think its ever been fired. Anyway, I'm happy with it, even though my plans called for the next purchase to be a CSA type coehorn with a beer can sized bore that would have probably been made by a board sponsor (that plan will now have to be put on hold for a while). This is the naval gun that Forward Observer remarked upon a few weeks ago, as being up for auction by the same seller that he bought his Colonial period miniature field cannon from. My wife had left the camera at school yesterday, so these are pics from the auction, I'll post some new pics when she brings the camera home.

thelionspaw · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:54:07 AM »

Thank God you told us that they are auction images. The diet soda can had me worried.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2009, 11:24:16 AM »

Quote from: thelionspaw on October 07, 2009, 09:54:07 AM

Thank God you told us that they are auction images. The diet soda can had me worried.

What are you implying, that you were worried that I might be a big fat tub of lard? Well, I may be getting a little plump, but I'm not that bad yet. Even if I were a blimp, I can't drink diet pop nor light beer, its got to be the real deal, or nothing.

RocklockI · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2009, 02:05:03 PM »

nice score !

1Southpaw · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2009, 02:19:26 PM »

Who is discribing me ? Shame on you , I only drink diet beer .

RocklockI · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2009, 03:46:31 PM »

BoomJ what does the trunion say ?

BoomLover · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:05:12 PM »

Nice piece! Bronze? Good find! You will enjoy shooting that one, looks nice and stable, a good boomer! BoomLover

Forward Observer · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:21:35 PM »

Boomj

Congratulations on the new piece.

After getting the one he had listed earlier, my cannon budget was blown for a while, so I'm glad you got it--and for a pretty good price too. You probably couldn't find another like it for less that twice what you paid.

I bet it'll be a good shooter too.

Cheers

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:29:00 PM »

Never have understood how being willing to pay more than anyone else is willing to for an item at an auction is considered to be "winning it".

GGaskill · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:46:45 PM »

Never have understood how being willing to pay more than anyone else is willing to for an item at an auction is considered to be "winning it".

I see your point, but what else would you call it?

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:48:00 PM »

Congratulations Boom J. That's a really nice gun! Please post some pics. Those aren't too bad for an auction site, but you can certainly do better.

Quote from: RocklockI on October 07, 2009, 03:46:31 PM

BoomJ what does the trunion say ?

Gary, the trunnion isn't talking, but it would be nice if Boom J. could let us know what words are spelled by those clusters of stamped or rolled character impressions on the trunnion's face.

Mike and Tracy

Graybeard · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2009, 06:03:19 PM »

Quote from: GGaskill on October 07, 2009, 05:46:45 PM

Never have understood how being willing to pay more than anyone else is willing to for an item at an auction is considered to be "winning it".

I see your point, but what else would you call it?

I would call it what it is. Buying an item at an auction.

Double D · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2009, 06:47:05 PM »

Just about every auction I have been involved in has nothing to do with buying, it's a competition.....

I wanna know whats onthe trunnion also, is that another one of those Tigard guns?

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2009, 06:55:52 PM »

As I see it the only competition is to see who is willing to pay the most money for an item and quite often it seems to turn out that common sense and value of the item have little to do with it. If your pockets are deep enough and you're willing to part with that money you can buy everything that comes up on most any auction.

Victor3 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2009, 08:44:23 PM »

Glad you got it, BoomJ.

I was looking at it right when it closed, with my fingers itching to bid. Glad I didn't since you wanted it. Looks like you got a great deal. Ones that big don't often come up for reasonable prices.

How is the piece on the vent attached? Soldered?

carronader · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:18:08 PM »

it maybe impolite..............but you got me curious..................How much was it ?

dan610324 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:04:26 AM »

my guess is that the barrel is cast

Cannoneer · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:14:52 AM »

I'll start with the last, and go backward.

Carronader - Just to please Graybeard; I "bought" it for $445.00.

Victor3 - Thanks. I'm glad you didn't bid too.

From the pics, I thought the barrel was probably cast then turned, but its machined from solid stock. The vent piece is fitted between the reinforce ring astragals so well that I couldn't tell until I got the ole jeweler's loupe out, but it is soldered in place, and the (mounted below the centerline of the bore) trunnions were machined, then attached to the tube. This one also answers the post Dan just made.

DD - "Tigard Guns." Right , now you're either Sherlock Holmes, or you're clairvoyant.

M&T - Thanks. I'll post some more pics either tonight or tomorrow. I think I know what you mean by rolled, because the letters are all perfectly even.

Forward Observer - Thanks. Yes indeedy, now its time to start throwing the loose change, and singles into the warchest jar till its filled again, and then its definitely going to be the Confederate coehorn.

BoomLover - Thanks. On the "is it brass or bronze question," I'm not one that claims to be able to make that determination by sight. If I had to, I'd guess brass, but for all I know it could also be a 90-10 alloy of copper and tin.

RocklockI - Thanks. The left trunnion is marked: 1982 Right trunnion marked: 15
Valley Cannon Works
Tigard, Oregon

1Southpaw - Taking into consideration the girth of some of the other cannoneers featured in the famous (infamous) Montana Shoot photograph; if you consider yourself chubby, what possible word could we come up with to describe them? Maybe, GARGANTUAN!

carronader · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2009, 11:05:07 AM »

IT'S the first question a Scotsman asks..

surprised Greybeard didn't come straight out with it......no Scots blood I suppose.

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2009, 12:23:09 PM »

Yes actually Scot and Irish plus American Indian. I really couldn't have cared less what he paid tho that doesn't seem a too high price for such a large piece to me. Were I "into cannons" which I definitely am not I'd not think it excessive. If it won't fit on a shelf I have no use for a cannon.

gulfcoastblackpowder · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2009, 12:55:44 PM »

Quote from: Graybeard on October 08, 2009, 12:23:09 PM

Yes actually Scot and Irish plus American Indian. I really couldn't have cared less what he paid tho that doesn't seem a too high price for such a large piece to me. Were I "into cannons" which I definitely am not I'd not think it excessive. If it won't fit on a shelf I have no use for a cannon.

Anything can sit on a shelf...you just need bigger shelves.

Nice little gun you got there, BTW! I've always wanted something brass or bronze (ideally a bronze handgonne), but the logistics of having one made for me has kept me without.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:32:14 PM »

BoomJ,

That is a fine piece of artillery, I saw that on evilbay and am glad to see it get a good home!

Victor3 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2009, 10:11:55 PM »

Quote from: carronader on October 08, 2009, 11:05:07 AM

IT'S the first question a Scotsman asks..

LOL! How tempted I was to say that after you posted last night

Even with your obviously healthy sense of humor, I was afraid you might be offended...

carronader · « **Reply #23 on:** October 08, 2009, 10:45:34 PM »

Asking the question to some maybe seem a wee bit impolite,but certainly not insulting. Sounding off on whether the price was good or not...........that can be insulting. It's what it's worth to you that matters.
My sincere apologies Greybeard,I should have caught the whiff of haggis in the air around your posts.

CaptTHighbiter · « **Reply #24 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:41:11 AM »

Boom, I too was checking that cannon out. You got a great price on it, most brass/bronze cannon on e-bay are either crap from Borneo, or dinky little things. Nice tube. I'd hate to tell ya what my 30" , 1-1/2" bore bronze gun cost me on E-bay 6 years ago! But then again, its one of the nicest barrels I have ever seen. Yours is close!

Good luck with her.

Victor3 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:17:14 PM »

Quote from: carronader on October 08, 2009, 10:45:34 PM

Asking the question to some maybe seem a wee bit impolite,but certainly not insulting.

I wasn't referring to asking about the price...... I was thinking about the (ahem) 'thrifty' nature some ascribe to Scots

Cannoneer · « **Reply #26 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:56:50 AM »

Thanks Allen, Gulfcoastblackpowder, and CaptTHighbiter. Here are some pics I took last night, and you can see the film residue from the polish that the seller evidently used on the barrel, I wish he wouldn't have done this, but time and nature will take care of that. In the meantime, Victor knows I'm going to have to break out the Flitz, and polish the heck out of this thing, in order to get everything nice and uniform.

Doh, I hate when that happens!

thelionspaw · « **Reply #27 on:** October 10, 2009, 03:04:17 AM »

John,
I believe that you can save all of the original pieces and keep the integrity with a blind addition, while maintaining it in perfect working condition if you haven't done anything to it yet. I've done similar restorations.

Richard The Wood-Butcher

Cannoneer · « **Reply #28 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:25:40 AM »

Rich,

I was thinking about you when I opened the box and saw the axle; I also think it can be repaired without anybody being able to notice it unless they really knew where to look. I've got "Titebond II," and "Gorilla Glue;" which do you think would be better? I was going to glue the pieces on the axle bed first, then let that cure, drill out the piece of oak dowel rod thats still in the axle tree part, and then just reglue the right size dowel rod into both the bed & tree, the way that it was originally consrtructed; no problemo!

What I don't get is; why did they make it this way in the first place, why not fashion the axle the way in which the real period carriage's axles would have been (that is cut & carved out of a sinle solid piece) constucted?

Ex 49'er · « **Reply #29 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:35:34 AM »

That there is one sweeeeeeeeeeet looking cannon. Congrats.