Author Topic: 18th Century French Cannon (Read 1032 times)

Oceanexploration · « **on:** August 18, 2012, 03:32:41 AM »

Hello all,
I'm new here. I have a small (1-lber?) bronze French cannon circa 1780 recovered from a wreck. I'm having a reconstruction done of the carriage and mounts. Does anyone know where I can find either plans or a good picture of what it looked like accurately? I would like the reconstruction done properly and accurately if at all possible. Thanks!

Zulu · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2012, 03:50:22 AM »

Oceanexploration,
I just sent you a personal message.
Zulu

little seacoast · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2012, 03:57:37 AM »

Possibly a swivel gun? Pics of the cascabel and breech would be helpful. Nice find!

Zulu · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2012, 04:20:25 AM »

Oceanexploration,
Here are a few pictures of a carriage I recently finished for a nice barrel about the same size and age as yours.
Zulu

Oceanexploration · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2012, 04:55:42 AM »

Thank you all for the help and information. Zulu, that is amazing work! I will contact you offline via email. Being that this came off a wreck, the condition is surprisingly excellent compared to others we've recovered. Anyone have an idea what a cannon such as this would go for with the right buyer? Not interested in selling it, at least at this time. Perhaps in a year when I'll need more room

Here are some more detailed pics:

Right trunion:

Left Trunion:

steelcharge · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2012, 05:41:25 AM »

Certainly a swivel gun and yes 1-pdr as I think all of this model of French swivel gun had a ca. 2" bore, which is 1-pdr.
You should contact cannonmn about this piece, I think he has several of this type and knows a whole lot more about them.

Heres link to another one in a museum, and the second one is the info plaque of the gun, showing a drawing of an original (?) mounting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piedmont_fossil/360847259/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piedmont_fossil/360846537/in/photostream/

KABAR2 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2012, 07:12:56 AM »

Quote from: steelcharge on August 18, 2012, 05:41:25 AM

Certainly a swivel gun and yes 1-pdr as I think all of this model of French swivel gun had a ca. 2" bore, which is 1-pdr.
You should contact cannonmn about this piece, I think he has several of this type and knows a whole lot more about them.

Heres link to another one in a museum, and the second one is the info plaque of the gun, showing a drawing of an original (?) mounting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piedmont_fossil/360847259/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piedmont_fossil/360846537/in/photostream/

First.... Welcome to the Forum! you have a very nice original cannon there...... now the question is to have a accurate 18/19th C carraige built for it which will display nice or have a proper blacksmith'd yoke built and a display base and post built for it........
.
taken from bottom link...."How it came to be obtained by Barbary Pirates is unknown" ......... one can sumise that an unfortuneate French ship lost it's fight with the Pirates as the most likely way it was "obtained".......... Looks very much like the same pattern you have in you possession.....

Cannoneer · « **Reply #7 on:** August 18, 2012, 08:25:36 AM »

Hi Oe; that's a sweet recovery you've got there. As has been said, I think that's a French perrier model 1786, and the correct mount would be a swivel yoke with a bed (a flat piece of metal extending from the yoke, that the breech of the gun rests on).
Here is a cannonmn vid that shows some French swivel guns; and I also believe that the cannonmn will be in contact with you soon (just teasing you John).

cannonmn · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2012, 11:32:57 AM »

Yes it is a French M1786. Gilierson's "BOARDERS AWAY II" has info on it, last I checked the entire book was online via "Cheaper than Dirt." Hard to say what one in that condition would bring, best I could advise is to look for something in mid-4 figs somewhere. The French must have cast thousands of those; I've seen probably 50 just in the US, no telling what the total number of survivors is.

Cannoneer · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2012, 11:51:46 AM »

Quote from: cannonmn on August 18, 2012, 11:32:57 AM

Yes it is a French M1786. Gilierson's "BOARDERS AWAY II" has info on it, last I checked the entire book was online via "Cheaper than Dirt."

No, it's been gone for awhile now, someone must have requested that it be removed. I wish I would have known that was there before I bought the book, because all I really wanted was the chapter on swivel guns.

Zulu · « **Reply #10 on:** August 18, 2012, 12:22:56 PM »

Quote from: Cannoneer on August 18, 2012, 11:51:46 AM

Quote from: cannonmn on August 18, 2012, 11:32:57 AM
Yes it is a French M1786. Gilierson's "BOARDERS AWAY II" has info on it, last I checked the entire book was online via "Cheaper than Dirt."

No, it's been gone for awhile now, someone must have requested that it be removed. I wish I would have known that was there before I bought the book, because all I really wanted was the chapter on swivel guns.

I printed the whole book before it was removed.

Zulu

flagman1776 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 18, 2012, 01:11:12 PM »

I consider myself fortunate to have obtained Boarders Away Vol 1 (with steel) & 2 (firearms).
Be watchful if you try to buy... Volume 2 is hard to find (Vol 1 is not). Many sellers show Vol 2 in stock but I caught it magically becoming Vol 1 at checkout. Eventually, I found my copies.