I received my 1861 siege howitzer from Ed Hart today. What makes it one-of-a-kind? It's all Stainless Steel.
I have been buying stainless drops on eBay and making small mortars. Sometimes single pieces, sometimes several pieces bought together. Well, in one batch there were two 3+" diameter pieces of stainless with a couple of smaller pieces. I made a couple of thunder mugs out of one piece, but it is such a pain for me to cut I decided I'd not attempt anything myself with the other one. (I have no lathe or mill - all I do is with a drill press, chop saw, sander, and hand tools.)
So I had decided to sell the extra 3" drop piece, but thought I'd ask around what could be done with it at a reasonable cost. Ed took me up on the challenge. I sent him the 3+" round X 10" piece of 430 stainless, plus a short length of 1" 304 to use for trunnions.
About a week later I get it back, looking just a little different then it did when sent to him:
It is 10" OAL, 3" OD at breach, 1" trunnions, a 1" bore (no chamber) as I requested. At a very reasonable cost for his labor. Sorry, I forgot the powder can. I will include after I smooth the welds with the Dremel and finish putting the 220 matt finish all over.
Thanks Ed!!!