Author Topic: My first brass cannon (Read 3450 times)

carmy53 · « **on:** November 29, 2011, 12:15:54 PM »

I have several small cannons. Some steel and some stainless steel. I finally bought my first brass cannon. It only shoots 10 gauge shotgun blanks but I figure it qualifies for this forum since they are black powder blanks. Including the stand the cannon is 29 pounds of brass.

Zulu · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2011, 12:26:50 PM »

29 lbs.!

Zulu

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2011, 12:42:26 PM »

Cool !

Now, pix of smoke and flame? (Outside of course.)

buzz36 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2011, 01:13:24 PM »

NICE

carmy53 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2011, 01:15:38 PM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on November 29, 2011, 12:42:26 PM

Cool !

Now, pix of smoke and flame? (Outside of course.)

Pix will require a two man crew. One to fire and one to shoot pix. I've been trying to get someone to go to the range with me but haven't been able to arrange it yet. Don't know how much flame is involved but I do know there is a fair amount of smoke.
The one time I fired this beast I wasn't wearing ear protection. That was a mistake. I had no idea a 10 gauge blank was so loud!

Cannoneer · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2011, 01:34:48 PM »

That's a handsome and solid looking salute gun, congratulations. Does the pin on top secure the breech in place, and how does the firing mechanism operate? How about posting some more pics?

carmy53 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2011, 02:23:01 PM »

Quote from: Cannoneer on November 29, 2011, 01:34:48 PM

That's a handsome and solid looking salute gun, congratulations. Does the pin on top secure the breech in place, and how does the firing mechanism operate? How about posting some more pics?

Since you asked for pics, here is how the cannon works.
After removing the pin on the top you remove the breech assembly which has a spring loaded firing pin.

Then you remove part of the barrel to expose the chamber where you load the shell.

After reassembly, you pull back the spring loaded firing pin and hold it back with the brass piece that can be yanked out with a lanyard.

Then it is just yank the lanyard and kaboom!!!

Double D · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2011, 02:25:32 PM »

Quote from: carmy53 on November 29, 2011, 12:15:54 PM

I have several small cannons. Some steel and some stainless steel. I finally bought my first brass cannon. It only shoots 10 gauge shotgun blanks but I figure it qualifies for this forum since they are black powder blanks. Including the stand the cannon is 29 pounds of brass.

Signal Guns have long been a part of this board.

carmy53 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2011, 02:30:07 PM »

Quote from: Double D on November 29, 2011, 02:25:32 PM

Quote from: carmy53 on November 29, 2011, 12:15:54 PM
I have several small cannons. Some steel and some stainless steel. I finally bought my first brass cannon. It only shoots 10 gauge shotgun blanks but I figure it qualifies for this forum since they are black powder blanks. Including the stand the cannon is 29 pounds of brass.

Signal Guns have long been a part of this board.

Thanks for the confirmation. I just wanted to be sure since most cannons posted here are shooters rather than just boomers.

Double D · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2011, 04:02:06 PM »

We also allow toy cannons and punt guns...although we haven't we haven't any posted for a while.

intoodeep · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2011, 05:48:42 PM »

Quote from: carmy53 on November 29, 2011, 12:15:54 PM

Thanks for the confirmation. I just wanted to be sure since most cannons posted here are shooters rather than just boomers.

carmy53,

Congrats on the new toy. I've seen those and thought about them myself. As, for the Boomer part. Yeah, there are a few of us here. Below is a photo of a 3 ga. shell I just had made. There is a 10 ga. next to it for size perspective.

BoomLover · « **Reply #11 on:** November 29, 2011, 08:30:54 PM »

...That is one nice "Boomer"! I like the way it operates, how easy to shoot! Thanks for posting! BoomLover

carmy53 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 29, 2011, 11:53:25 PM »

Quote from: intoodeep on November 29, 2011, 05:48:42 PM

Quote from: carmy53 on November 29, 2011, 12:15:54 PM
Thanks for the confirmation. I just wanted to be sure since most cannons posted here are shooters rather than just boomers.

carmy53,

Congrats on the new toy. I've seen those and thought about them myself. As, for the Boomer part. Yeah, there are a few of us here. Below is a photo of a 3 ga. shell I just had made. There is a 10 ga. next to it for size perspective.

Yikes! What do you shoot that in?

jamesfrom180 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2011, 03:15:55 AM »

After we met down there in Hernando they guy with me has become hooked on the mortars. I laugh every time I think about the fact you were the only one to get on target out there. The new piece is nice.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2011, 03:11:47 AM »

Quote from: carmy53 on November 29, 2011, 02:23:01 PM

...

Then it is just yank the lanyard and kaboom!!!

I LIKE the lanyard 'key'. Simple, easy to machine, looks good.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2011, 07:11:27 AM »

Thanks for posting additional pics, carmy53, now I recognize the maker. I've seen this machinist's guns before, it appears like he turns out a quality product.

carmy53 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2011, 09:11:36 AM »

Wow, I can't believe I got a Kewpie Doll

I finally got to shoot the cannon today. Here is the vid.
WARNING - Vulgar language in the video. My brother has a filthy mouth.

keith44 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2011, 05:23:09 PM »

NICE BOOMER!!

Mike H. · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2011, 12:47:00 AM »

That is crazy! They must just fill the whole 10ga shell up with black powder to get that much result. Are you going to mount that on a nice hardwood flat base to keep it from tipping?

DaveSB · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2011, 02:49:08 AM »

beautiful piece, nice work!

carmy53 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2011, 10:59:59 AM »

Quote from: Mike H. on December 05, 2011, 12:47:00 AM

That is crazy! They must just fill the whole 10ga shell up with black powder to get that much result. Are you going to mount that on a nice hardwood flat base to keep it from tipping?

Mike, a factory load 10 gauge blank has 218 grains of black powder. That's about a third more powder than a standard 12 gauge shell.
As far as a base is concerned, since the brass base weighs 12 pounds I can't figure out how big and heavy a wood base would have to be to keep it from tipping. I assume a wider base would help but I don't know how wide to go. Any thoughts on the matter?

Zulu · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2011, 11:09:46 AM »

carmy53,
A fairly heavy base, say 24" long, with the gun mounted toward the front of the base would go a long way toward stabilizing the piece.
Zulu

carmy53 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 05, 2011, 11:42:22 AM »

Quote from: Zulu on December 05, 2011, 11:09:46 AM

carmy53,
A fairly heavy base, say 24" long, with the gun mounted toward the front of the base would go a long way toward stabilizing the piece.
Zulu

Zulu, the cannon has a 3 1/4" post that comes down out of the yoke in to the brass base so a wooden base would have to be at least that thick in order to accommodate the post. Can you estimate how much a 24" base that thick would weigh?

Zulu · « **Reply #23 on:** December 05, 2011, 11:53:57 AM »

Quote from: carmy53 on December 05, 2011, 11:42:22 AM

Quote from: Zulu on December 05, 2011, 11:09:46 AM
carmy53,
A fairly heavy base, say 24" long, with the gun mounted toward the front of the base would go a long way toward stabilizing the piece.
Zulu
Zulu, the cannon has a 3 1/4" post that comes down out of the yoke in to the brass base so a wooden base would have to be at least that thick in order to accommodate the post. Can you estimate how much a 24" base that thick would weigh?

I don't know if I can guess the weight.
Say 24" long X 12" wide X 4" thick.
10 or 12 lbs.

That would roughly be the weight of a 2" X 12" X 6' board (1 1/2" X 11 1/4" X 6')
Zulu

carmy53 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 05, 2011, 12:33:11 PM »

And where would I get a piece of wood that size? Even putting 2 2x12's together isn't thick enough.

IvarForkbeard · « **Reply #25 on:** December 05, 2011, 12:35:42 PM »

If you can find some 4/4 oak a 12" disk with the gun centered will make it fairly stable, and a nice display.

Zulu · « **Reply #26 on:** December 05, 2011, 12:47:49 PM »

Quote from: IvarForkbeard on December 05, 2011, 12:35:42 PM

If you can find some 4/4 oak a 12" disk with the gun centered will make it fairly stable, and a nice display.

A 12" disk can still turn over.
A 24" long piece won't.
I would mount the gun toward the front to increase the fulcrum effect.
The wood probably would have to be glued. That's easy.
Zulu

IvarForkbeard · « **Reply #27 on:** December 05, 2011, 12:51:58 PM »

Quote from: Zulu on December 05, 2011, 12:47:49 PM

Quote from: IvarForkbeard on December 05, 2011, 12:35:42 PM
If you can find some 4/4 oak a 12" disk with the gun centered will make it fairly stable, and a nice display.

A 12" disk can still turn over.
A 24" long piece won't.
I would mount the gun toward the front to increase the fulcrum effect.
The wood probably would have to be glued. That's easy.
Zulu

Looking at the video of it firing, quadrupling the footprint of the existing base will more than suffice.

carmy53 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 05, 2011, 01:06:48 PM »

Zulu,
PM sent

GGaskill · « **Reply #29 on:** December 05, 2011, 02:25:39 PM »

Say 24" long X 12" wide X 4" thick.

Since wood floats, its density is less than that of water which is 62.5 lbs per ft³. So the piece described is 2' by 1' by 1/3' = 2/3 of a cubic foot or less than 40 lbs depending on what wood is used. I would guess 20-30 lbs.