LION'S PAW vs LION'S CLAW

[thelionspaw]

I figured that if I sell the Lion's Paw, he will be more practical/attractive if he was reduced from tennis ball size, to golf ball size; hence: Lion's Paw vs Lion's claw  

I have a pair of .410 inserts for my double 12 ga., so I figured why not  do a DOM like that for "The Beast"?

Richard "The Lion Tamer"

[KABAR2]

So your going to trim it's main and make it into a cub.......... 

Sorry to hear you are going to sell it I wish I had the money for it,

are you going to make the insert removable? or welded in?

[thelionspaw]

Removeable.

[Cannoneer]

Rich,
I'm also sorry to hear that your prized breech loader is going to go, but in a way it's probably a good thing, because if its not there, you will not be able to be tempted to play with it, and possibly reinjure (or make a lot worse) your spine. Please don't misread this as if I'm harping on the fact that you're 71, (because there are 30 year olds that have serious back problems) but maybe its time to avoid the full scale stuff.
I think that removable insert is a great idea, it has to be considered an asset to have multiple options instead of only one.
I've never seen the crest on top of the barrel before; what's inside the wreath?

[thelionspaw]

Well I'm not dead yet (close(!) though).

I can easily roll him out of the garage behind the 26 HP lawn tractor and around the acreage here too. If I trailer him off site, he takes no muscle power or the use of my back because the trailer has a winch. Easy on and off.  It's a piece of cake. When I get to where I am going, there's always help to roll him. He is well balanced and the wheels are large, so there is very little lift weight involved, eventhough he weighs a heck of alot.

The fly in the ointment, can be the 30 lb. breechblock. I can half pull it and half roll it onto the stock for servicing and reverse the process to seat it.  So far so good but I can't do that all day. There's always a volunteer crew, willing to take part.

Both Aberdeen Proving Ground's museum and Watervliet Arsenal's museum tried to con me out of him years ago.  I was even presented three special  medallions for service rendered. The General commanding the Army Ordnance Corp and the Colonel, as the Commanding Officer the Arsenal gave them to me. Sorry! No Kewpies.

When I decide to offer the beast , it will be through here first. My wife has been given instruction too.

John, here's the wreath you asked about.

[thelionspaw]

For the new kids on the block; here's the Lion's Paw. A 15th century wrought iron breechblock. Fairly faultlessly replicated from published drawings, done from period art works.

[thelionspaw]

I still don't know how to upload more than one at a time. Working with iron is easier than working a computer.

[Zulu]

Did you build the wheels?
Zulu

[thelionspaw]

Zulu:  Oddly enough; no I didn't. 

You see, I had a friend from Scotland who had apprenticed as a wheel wright. That was his trade before coming to America.  What he did for me was this: He felled the trees, sawed it into lumber and air dried it. Then with hand tools, he fashioned the wood for the carriage from my drawings. However; oddly enough, he didn't make the wheels.

The iron work was done by me with the help of a friend who had a blacksmith shop and forge. He was a 2nd generation full time blacksmith. His family was from Germany. I used to work for him.

rc

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

I've always liked it.  Just make sure whoever gets it actually puts it to use!

So if you didn't make them and your wheelwright friend didn't, who did?

[thelionspaw]

gcbp,
I honestly don't remember where I got them. It was almost 30 years ago. I've always been a bit of a "Horse Trader" and I have CRS. I had to dress them up though. I do have an alternate second pair of ancient heavy but smaller fancy iron wheels that would have been fortification wheels and not field wheels.
They are a pair of beauties.
rc

[Ex 49'er]

I've always been a bit of a "Horse Trader" and I have CRS. rc

Yeah, That CRS can be a real booger at times.

[Cannoneer]

Oh, my goodness gracious, oh, may the Saints preserve me, a conspirator, and right under my very nose, I should have sensed it. Oh well, live and let live, but for once in my life I can honestly say that I am truly verklempt.
Hey, Rich, if I come and visit you would you teach me a few secret handshakes. I'm sorry, I couldn't resist that one.
Seriously though, if the Lions Paw is that easy to move around with the equipment you have, then I'm glad you were speaking of something in the future, because your opening post made me think that you were considering selling it right now.

[thelionspaw]

"The Lion's Paw" is a replication of 1460 period artillery piece, according to the published work it was copied from. The publication illustrated the cannons used during the Hussite Wars in Bohemia/Moravia.

Also in the year 1460, James II of Scotland, was at the siege of Roxburgh. It was the last English stronghold in Scotland. The King was standing next to his favourite cannon, which he named "The Lion", when it exploded. Among the several dead, was the King himself. It has been written, that the Earl of Angus had his leg torn off by the breechblock.

Since I am "kilted" and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland at the Royal Museum of Scotland, I decided to name my smaller cannon, "The Lion's Paw".

Scotland and her Operative Lodges of Masons, were the first to admit non-operative members. Among the first, were Robert Moray, Quarter-Master General of the Covenenter Army of Scotland and Alexander Hamilton, General of Artillery while occupying Newcastle in the north of England. They were admitted to the Lodge of Edinburgh by members who were serving in the army in 1641.

I myself, was inducted into The Royal Order of Scotland in Edinburgh by the Chief of Clan Bruce, direct in line from Robert The Bruce.

My two companions, the blacksmith and the wheelwright, are Freemasons. Hence the emblem. In early times, cannon were generally owned by individuals who brought them to the army as contractors or in later times, were afixed with the symbol, arms or device of the Guild, League or individual that had them made for the Royal House.

The history of "The Lion's Paw" goes deeper than what has herein preceeded but that's another story.

Pop quiz on Friday!

Sir Richard