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Author Topic: what the heck is this?  (Read 854 times)

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Offline Rickk

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what the heck is this?
« on: December 29, 2011, 05:40:01 AM »
A collector on a facebook forum I frequent got this from his father.

What the heck it is exactly?

Yeah, I know it's a mortar, but can't quite figure out it's intended use.

It bolts down, so it's not really aim-able (even though it has a rear sight cast into it).  I guess it could bolt to a movable bed though.

It could be a signal gun, but in my experience if you want to make a "boom", then long and skinny bores outweight short and fat bores.

I don't see a fuse hole.

I asked him for more info, like, is there a fuse hole someplace, is there a sub-chamber, and is what is the bore diameter... waiting for a reply on those.

The owner was lead to believe it has a nautical origin, but is not sure exactly what that means.

Does anyone have any ideas what this thing is?

Rick



 


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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2011, 05:53:00 AM »
If it is a mortar it might be an Eprouvette.  They were used to test powder strength.  It doesn't look like any Eprouvette that I have seen.
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Offline Rayfan87

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2011, 06:08:06 AM »
I think someone has posted similar pictures before. Its like a mortar version of a Lyle gun.
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Offline Cat Whisperer

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2011, 07:20:21 AM »
Quote from: Rayfan87 on December 29, 2011, 06:08:06 AM
I think someone has posted similar pictures before. Its like a mortar version of a Lyle gun.

That would fit - the 4 holes to bolt it to a deck.  Bracket at breech end could be for a line guide.

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Offline intoodeep

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2011, 09:38:31 AM »
That is a Manby mortar. They were used as a lifesaving device like the Lyles. The breech area is a bit different from the ones I have seen.
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Offline Cannoneer

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2011, 05:31:22 AM »
It's certainly a Manby lifesaving mortar, but I've never seen one with that piece attached to the breech before; I also wonder what purpose it served?
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Offline rmagill

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2011, 08:58:37 AM »
Is it sitting on the base upside down ?  It looks more like a mounting point to me than a sight.
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Offline Artilleryman

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2011, 09:32:08 AM »
Quote from: ClassicCannons on December 29, 2011, 05:14:10 PM
Also i beleive the vent could be that ting you think is a site but its just rusted in it could of had some type of hamer system maybe is the any hole in that part you called a site ?
Thanks Austin

I agree, a bracket for a hammer type ignition system makes the most sense.
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Offline Rayfan87

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Re: what the heck is this?
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2011, 10:18:49 AM »
That's what I'm thinking too. If you look, there looks to be a pin where a hammer or something similar rotates.
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