Author Topic: Seacoast Artillery to Re-Create Krupp Seacoast Gun (Read 93699 times)

dan610324 · « **Reply #330 on:** September 30, 2010, 02:31:54 PM »

WOW thats a magnificent photo

Spuddy · « **Reply #331 on:** September 30, 2010, 03:02:22 PM »

Consider the creator that can make something so beautiful out of something so ordinary.

RocklockI · « **Reply #332 on:** October 01, 2010, 05:30:25 PM »

Quote from: Double D on September 30, 2010, 09:18:43 AM

I am doing my annual part to assist in the grain harvest so you guys can have grain for your micro brew beer and designer whole wheat bran muffins. It also replenishes my gun buying fund and lets me buy the wife a nice gift for Christmas. So a Krupp is in my future.

I am learning how to drive a swather. That's a machine the cut the grain down and lays it rows to dry so it can be pickeed up by the combine to remove the grain from the stalk. Monday for the first time I swath for 5 hours. I only left about pick up load of grain still standing out in the field….Tuesday I swathed for 11 hours left and only leftr half pick up load of grain still standing…It rained Tuesday night, so we go a late start and only 8 swathing hours Wednesday. Late start gave me time to change a broken cutter tooth. Took me about an hour, and a pint of blood. Those teeth are sharp. This morning I changed a broken cutter tooth and spilled no blood was done in 20 minutes. Turned on the machine and blew a hydraulic seal for the header. So I have some time off for repairs today….Also following the advice given by southpaw last year and still haven’t figure out how grease the machine.

Back to the fields this after noon.

Doug that is a nice photo !

eta i have swarthed abit too

.......no machine ....just me . say 'swarthing down the sidewalk' after a few cold ones at my buddies on the south end of the block.

i prefer my swarthing due to a pint and not involving losing one ....of blood . but thats just me

. still it's an awsome picture .

Double D · « **Reply #333 on:** October 01, 2010, 06:20:32 PM »

Well home for the weekend . Finished my first week and by myself, I swathed about 65 miles of wheat. M&T I bet you guys never thought any one would go to such extremes to get one of your cannons.

Here is the view out my window this afternoon.

Those sunset pictures were incredible and the clouds were constantly changing. If it weren't for Mike and Tracy offering up the Krupp gun I probably would have never seen this sunset. Thanks M&T.

Here's some more.

Can you see a face in this one.

More faces

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #334 on:** October 02, 2010, 01:52:21 AM »

Those are pix that would be published instantly on weatherunderground.com .

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #335 on:** October 02, 2010, 10:04:24 AM »

   Gulfcoastblackpowder and Cat Whisperer, Thanks for those comments!

   Teddy Roosevelt, while riding the little train from Colorado Springs to Victor, Colorado around the turn of the last century remarked, "Gentlemen, these vistas and this scenery bankrupts the English language". Double D., your sunset photo is in that same category. Although we did have a few spectacular ones as the fires raged west of Boulder last month, none were quite as unusual and unique. I'm glad they gave you the opportunity to leave the rocking chair behind for a few days. Sorry, just couldn't resist! Sounds like you have excellent motivation for swathing 65 miles so far. I'm referring to the nice Christmas gift for your wife, of course. If you have a few dollars left over for other purposes, that would be nice too. Honestly DD, we really appreciate the blood, sweat and extra effort you have made to advance toward your worthy goals.

   We are holding up our end too. Update photos below:

Tracy and Mike

While I drilled more holes in the cheeks (boring but necessary), Mike made 25 'Cans' which contain the Striker Mechanism. You can see how the new one is quite a bit larger than the old one, (blued one). Although the final boring of the sliding breech block hole and simultaneous shaping of the can's crescent end is not done yet, you can see the extra length on both diameters. More room for easier cracker or crayon loading!

He slid each one into the breech-end, Can-Counterbore to make sure they fit (running fit). Mike has one more to make in the 9mm batch and then 7 more in the Firecracker Only batch.

KABAR2 · « **Reply #336 on:** October 06, 2010, 06:08:36 PM »

M&T as always these are looking better & better, always nice to see the progression photo's.

Allen <><

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #337 on:** October 06, 2010, 08:41:48 PM »

I wish I had a Stalhime, Allen, the U.S., WWII, 8 Lb., steel pot is so plain looking. Good to keep things oiled! You just never know when you will need them.

Tracy

Double D · « **Reply #338 on:** October 09, 2010, 05:08:27 PM »

Quote from: seacoastartillery on October 02, 2010, 10:04:24 AM

I'm glad they gave you the opportunity to leave the rocking chair behind for a few days. Sorry, just couldn't resist!

When I saw those words, I was reminded of some of the descriptive technological vocabulary I learned in the Marines...then I remembered this a family board and such language is not allowed here...

Besides I am kinder gentler person since those days... I leave you with this view from my tractor this week.

If you really want to experience the vastness of that photo click on this link. http://www.fototime.com/A04FC56396AD8CE/orig.jpg

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #339 on:** October 10, 2010, 04:43:59 AM »

Thanks DD, for helping make the brew which I need after my last several days of painting the trim. That's a 32' ladder - puts me just in reach at the top. I WISH I was out there, but some things NEEDED to be done.

Cannons are next.

(edit: had to add a pix of Darlene)

Double D · « **Reply #340 on:** October 10, 2010, 08:17:02 AM »

Hi Darlene!

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #341 on:** October 10, 2010, 09:05:20 AM »

Quote from: Double D on October 10, 2010, 08:17:02 AM

Hi Darlene!

Hi. How are things in the BIG SKY COUNTRY? Your pirctures are great, makes want to be there. I have aiways wanted to visit, Hope all is well with you both. Darlene

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #342 on:** October 14, 2010, 09:20:00 PM »

Since the production of the Krupp Seacoast Howitzers has entered a fairly mundane phase right now, we decided to post these movies we took at 'Bombardment Meadows', Gary's backyard about 6 weeks ago. Prototype #3 is being tested here. Thorough testing was done that afternoon and evening, but some of the reactions of the testers is amusing. Gary's antics as he acts out the famous line-gun rescue at the edge of Niagara Falls is notable. A tight fitting cork flew out quite reliably to about 10 or 12 feet. I built the line dispenser out of a block of walnut and some 1/8" Dia. maple dowels. This is featured on the #1 or top video clip. There is one instance of Salty language on this clip. If this offends you, avoid the #1 clip. The other 3 are G-Rated.

5 grains of FFFg BP was used for each shot. Some went 20 yards and some went 20 feet. If you kept the gun clean, it worked more reliably. No surprise there! In one of these short 20-30 sec. clips Mike really jumps nervously. That's a good one!

Enjoy the clips,

Mike and Tracy

RocklockI · « **Reply #343 on:** October 14, 2010, 09:57:13 PM »

Those are somewhat disturbing ......

For the record that PBR can was a prop that we were paid to show on film .

Noone on set would even look at a can of powder and say "let's have another one !" ........... but

it only takes one bad apple ..... and my wife was home

, she insisted we taste what we were paid for endorsing .

So that is why Tracy was a drinkin . The End

No questions allowed .

Thanks for posting those are fun to watch .

OK so maybe we have a few beers . Not recomended ,but we are talking 5 grain loads surounded by by 2" of steel , it could be called over built . Oh and a firecracker !

I will say that the Krupp likes to be clean to operate properly , if any of you's who ordered one have ever shot a BP cap and ball revolver (please dont move my post DD

) you will know what I'm talking about .

Things get gummy and fouled fairly quick ,so it is important to rember this because it will cause stuck shells in the bore like on the movie "run away" and eratic flights .

Gary

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #344 on:** October 15, 2010, 01:22:16 AM »

So, what do the Krupp vintage cleaning and worming tools look like?

Hmm. Problably isn't a worming/de-worming tool, consigering the original likely used a bolt; but would be handy just in case.

Beer? Firing cannons? WE need adult supervision.

seacoastartillery · « **Reply #345 on:** October 16, 2010, 07:32:13 AM »

The loading was very efficient and the camera was completely steady and always in focus and nobody dropped the tube onto the flag stones. What more do you want? The 82nd Airborne guy, who never touched the gun, consumed all the beer. Heck, it was dark before I could figure out where he was getting it!

As for the cleaning and loading tools, we have never seen any pictures, but it was a 14" breechloader so an 8-man rammer and a 12-man sponge most likely did the trick. Since these guns used black powder in 1866, probably a multi-fingered scraper was also used. Captain Quincy Gilmore in charge of the Union camp on Tybee Island insisted on cleaning the big 84-pounder James conversion rifles with one of these scrapers in 1862 during the bombardment of Fort Pulaski. Without groove scraping after each shot, accuracy fell off very quickly.

We learned a lot about shooting the Krupp during that session. That and having a bit of fun was the purpose, and a noble purpose it was.

Tracy & Mike

nematode · « **Reply #346 on:** October 24, 2010, 05:06:16 PM »

hard to believe 8 days of silence have passed in this thread. did i miss something?

Double D · « **Reply #347 on:** October 24, 2010, 05:26:23 PM »

I've been away, taking care of my Dad...tomorrow I am headed back to the wheat fields...so far I 73 hours in...I figure if we can get another two weeks in, I will have my gun paid for...I can probably talk the wife into loaning me postage money.

nematode · « **Reply #348 on:** October 24, 2010, 05:28:19 PM »

DD - are you really a wheat farmer?

Double D · « **Reply #349 on:** October 24, 2010, 05:58:58 PM »

No. I'm not a wheat farmer, but I stayed at a holiday inn....

That's bad. Out here in Montana where I live is in the middle of the wheat field and the Farmers can always use some help during harvest.

I am retired.

nematode · « **Reply #350 on:** October 24, 2010, 06:08:34 PM »

Interesting DD - so you really are helping with the harvest?

Double D · « **Reply #351 on:** October 24, 2010, 06:33:02 PM »

Quote from: nematode on October 24, 2010, 06:08:34 PM

Interesting DD - so you really are helping with the harvest?

Yep sure am. It is the annual replenishing of my gun fund. It gets me out of the house and timing was good for the Krupp Cannon buy.

I am now a highly skilled swather driver with two full weeks of experience...did you see my pictures up thread?

nematode · « **Reply #352 on:** October 24, 2010, 06:44:23 PM »

I did see your pics but wasn't sure if you were teasing or not. Sounds like a perfect arrangement.

Double D · « **Reply #353 on:** October 26, 2010, 08:14:05 PM »

Hauled grain from noon to midnight last night. We were back at it at 9AM this morning but got snowed out at 2 PM. 90 hours harveting now applied to the Krupp gun. Almost enough to pay for it...

robbob · « **Reply #354 on:** October 27, 2010, 04:57:42 PM »

Quote from: Double D on October 26, 2010, 08:14:05 PM

Hauled grain from noon to midnight last night. We were back at it at 9AM this morning but got snowed out at 2 PM. 90 hours harveting now applied to the Krupp gun. Almost enough to pay for it...

I'd be asking for a raise

dan610324 · « **Reply #355 on:** October 27, 2010, 06:28:56 PM »

well if you work for approximately 2 dollars per hour I got plenty of work for you here

GGaskill · « **Reply #356 on:** October 27, 2010, 06:39:54 PM »

Don't forget that he doesn't get to keep all that. He has to support all the government programs (and his retirement pension, also.)

Besides, driving that thing is probably fun.

nematode · « **Reply #357 on:** October 27, 2010, 07:08:52 PM »

I'm not the fastest guy in town but I'm not the dummest either. I am starting to catch on to Mr. DD's story. Guess he's buying a full size Krupp?

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #358 on:** October 28, 2010, 01:41:42 AM »

Quote from: nematode on October 27, 2010, 07:08:52 PM

I'm not the fastest guy in town but I'm not the dummest either. I am starting to catch on to Mr. DD's story. Guess he's buying a full size Krupp?

DANG! DD Your secret's out!

Double D · « **Reply #359 on:** October 28, 2010, 04:09:17 AM »

Did he say I'm full of Krupp...oh no wait he said ful size Krupp.

Understand something guys, when I go out to the farm to work its seasonal work and I have never done it before, I am unskilled labor, like some 15 year old kid who came out from town to learn and work....unlike some teenager who already knows everything, I am 62 and I know that I don't know much, so I get paid unskilled wage...plus meals.