Anyone made a 10 inch mortar lately?

[entsminger]

   I don't post much on here anymore because the cost of making a full size 10 inch 1861 style siege mortar is way out of line with my budget but I keep hoping to see that someone out there with more cash flow who has made one recently. Anybody making the big guns? Dominik??

  Scott

[Double D]

Scott,

I still say you could make a mortar out of that old propane tank you had.

[entsminger]

  Not that I really know anything about how to build a big mortar but I'm sure I'd have to almost fill this tank with iron to make it actually shootable? That would cost a fortune. I thought by now someone other than Paulson Brothers or Freddy Frederickson would have made a 10 inch 1861 siege mortar by now? I guess not? I have partially cut the trunions  for this 13 inch mortar/tank but have been too distracted with family, work and other issues to work on it in quite a while. It's become one of those, one of these days projects,ha ha .

  Scott

[GGaskill]

Besides the issue of moving the thing, finding shot for it would be a problem.  Having them made would cost more than many smaller guns, so most people will stay at bowling ball dimensions (8.59".)

[entsminger]

Besides the issue of moving the thing, finding shot for it would be a problem.  Having them made would cost more than many smaller guns, so most people will stay at bowling ball dimensions (8.59".)
  ==Scott==
  I look at it as an 8 inch siege mortar might weigh around 2000 pounds and a 10 incher around 4000 pounds. They both weigh so much you can't just pick them up and cart them around like a Cohorn, you almost have to use a crane to move them, ha ha, so why not go as big as possible?

[Cannoneer]

They both weigh so much you can't just pick them up and cart them around like a Cohorn, you almost have to use a crane to move them, ha ha, so why not go as big as possible?

Well, if that's the case then you should put the 10'' on hold, and start right in on the 13-incher.

[entsminger]

==Scott==
  Believe me, if I ever inherit a million bucks or win the lottery I'll be trying to get Paulson Brothers to make me one like they made them selves. Imagine bringing it to Ft. Shenandoah in Va. and shooting that baby off!! That would really be something!!

[Cannoneer]

Scott,
I wonder what they would charge to make one today? You'd have to get a custom trailer made to haul it around in.
You know something, that could be a good money maker; get the trailer all decked out with some fancy artwork, and go tooling around to all the state fairs across the country to demonstrate the mighty power of the "Magnificent and Awesome Dictator II".

[Double D]

  Not that I really know anything about how to build a big mortar but I'm sure I'd have to almost fill this tank with iron to make it actually shootable? That would cost a fortune. I thought by now someone other than Paulson Brothers or Freddy Frederickson would have made a 10 inch 1861 siege mortar by now? I guess not? I have partially cut the trunions  for this 13 inch mortar/tank but have been too distracted with family, work and other issues to work on it in quite a while. It's become one of those, one of these days projects,ha ha .

  Scott

Build the inner bore and chamber to safety specs.  Weld this innner bore and chamber suspended inside the propane tank.  Fill the air space with concrete.

[GGaskill]

They both weigh so much you can't just pick them up and cart them around like a Cohorn, you almost have to use a crane to move them, ha ha, so why not go as big as possible?

You still have the shot problem and bowling balls are cheap and they whistle while flying through the air.   

[dominick]

The largest mortar I built weighs 350 lbs and I needed a portable crane to move it.  Not to mention the crate and shipping charges.

[entsminger]

  I went and visited Paulson Brothers in Wisconsin a few years ago and they have a collection of cannons better than Aberdeen Proving Grounds. I saw pictures how they had their two full size 13 inch mortars poured and milled on giant vertical lathes and it was amazing. Just the cost of the barrel ( 17,000 pounds) in iron is a killer. I'm guessing at least $50,000 each??
  It would be interesting to see if such a liner could be made for mine so it could safely shoot?  Who would know how to do that?? Even if it was filled with concrete it would have to be one dang strong liner to throw a 13 inch iron or zinc ball??

  Scott

[GGaskill]

Steel is much stronger than cast iron in tension so a 13" mortar with the same capability in steel would probably weigh no more than half of a cast iron one.  As far as making a safe one, you have to decide what the powder charge and shot weight are going to be.  Most people don't have a range 5000 yards long so making it strong enough for a full 20 lb service charge would be overkill.

One must also consider the cost of firing.  A 220 lb shot isn't going to be cheap (at least $250 just for metal) and 20 lb of Cannon powder will run $300.  Kind of like owning a boat; if you have to ask how much, it is too much for you.

But you could probably make an insert for your propane tank that would shoot 13" aluminum shot with a pound of powder.  Question is, is that satisfying enough?

[dominick]

If I was building a Dictator mortar that size, I would make it the same in construction as M & T's Paixhans mortar.  No need to fill the barrel with concrete.  The outer portion of the barrel is just window dressing. 

[GGaskill]

I certainly wouldn't fill the whole thing with concrete as the concrete surrounding the barrel would add no strength and a lot of weight.  But filling the breech area with concrete would couple the firing portion to the shell and, since it would be in compression, it would prevent distortion of the suspending parts inside.  Still, it would add a lot of weight, too, but at least it would be doing something useful.

[Double D]

Building the Paixhans Monster Mortar & Water Cooler Jug w/Concrete Projos
Fabrication du Mortier de Monstre de Paixhans avec des Photos
What Color Should the Big French Mortar Bed be?

[entsminger]

So it might be possible to make a liner that would allow my propane tank mortar to fire a aluminum ball with a pound of powder?? That sounds cool? Would that be enough, I don't know? Maybe?? Thanks for the stuff on the Paixhans mortar but that stuff is way over my head. I'll have to re read it a zillion times to understand it. In a nut shell what was the point of it? That a big mortar doesn't necessarily need a really thick barrel?
  I had a big power boat once and loved it for a while but it was a very expensive toy that ate money like it came off trees. Best day of my life was getting it ,,,,,and selling it, ha ha..

  Scott

[little seacoast]

Yes. As regards the big toy issue anyway.  It's way more fun to know somebody with one than to own it yourself.

[entsminger]

  Paluson Brothers are the only private citizens in the world who own a 13 inch mortar that I know of and knowing them doesn't help. I gotta have one someday, somehow, ha ha. Somehow I have deluded myself into thinking that a 10 mortar would do but I know deep down that I have to have a 13. It's on my short list of things to have before I die.

  Scott

[Zulu]

Scott,
Do you own a flatbed railcar?
Zulu

[entsminger]

  Funny thing is I have looked for old rail cars and old train track or wheels at junk yards to make a Dictator rail car to put my propane tank mortar on. No luck finding anything yet in my area.

  Scott

[entsminger]

  I can't remember how to post a picture on here??

  Scott

[Cannoneer]

  I can't remember how to post a picture on here??

  Scott

I hate when that happens!   You know, if you dropped a line every couple of months or so, instead of every other year, I bet you woudn't forget.

Scott - This question is posed seriously, I'm not trying to be funny: There's no question that you're into the large Civil War era mortars; but are you interested in any other forms of black powder artillery?

[entsminger]

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I hate when that happens! Sad  You know, if you dropped a line every couple of months or so, instead of every other year, I bet you woudn't forget.Cheesy

Scott - This question is posed seriously, I'm not trying to be funny: There's no question that you're into the large Civil War era mortars; but are you interested in any other forms of black powder artillery?

  ==Scott==
 You bet I'd remember??  You would lose your money. I can't remember jack anymore. If you told me yesterday how to do it I probably would have forgot it by now. Am I interested in any other form of black powder artillery? Yea, I like 15 inch Rodmans..!!  Sorry, but I like the big guns, I'll probably never get one but that's what interests me.

[entsminger]

  Now I think I remember, I have to put my picture on my photobucket page..We'll see if I can remember how to do that??

  Scott

[entsminger]

    Ok,  if I did this right here's a picture of me standing next to Paulsons 13 inch mortar.

[GGaskill]

I haven't been in the DC area for many years but when I was, there was a rip track in Alexandria between Duke Street and the beltway where you might have been able to get some scrap railroad equipment.  Last time I was there, I think this area had been converted to housing but I am not sure.  I know the RF&P yard south of Crystal City was gone and made into a shopping center.

However, if you think 13" mortars are heavy, wait til you start messing with railroad equipment.   The trucks individually weigh 9000 lbs and then you need the flat car body. 

[Cannoneer]

Scott,

I'm glad you remembered how to do it, that's a good picture.   Did the brothers ever tell you why they made two 13-inch seacoast mortars, I could see the one just to have it and experience firing it, but why the two?

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

My guess is to split the cost of making one, but then they decided they couldn't part with the other.

Nice picture!

[Cat Whisperer]

...
, but why the two?

one for each side?