What do I really have here.

[aboatguy]

The story is it is off of a german ship and procured around the turn of the 20th century.   
 
What I know as fact is it sat here starting in 1954 and previously it was at another location in the 1920s. 
 

 
The carriage was redone in 1954 and the wooden wheels were replaced with concrete.  (bugs and ants on the beach were quickly destroying the wheels.
bottom of tube

 

[aboatguy]

bottom of tube
 

 
whats left of the iron.   the concrete wheels were done in the 1950s  due to insects destroying the wooden ones.
 
Most of the iron turned to dust here's what I'm trying to save
 

[Artilleryman]

Welcome to the board.  You need to give us a little more information on this gun.  Some measurements like overall length, bore size, and breech diameter.  Are there any markings on the barrel?  Do you have a photo showing the whole barrel? 

[aboatguy]

[aboatguy]

Only one of two cross pieces were still there.  and IMO this one is to far gone to worry about.  (Its missing 4" or so that turned into powder in the wood.
 
 

 
 
The way the eyebolts and original iron pieces extended all the way through the wood leads me to believe this is real and not a lawn ornament. 

[aboatguy]

 

 
 
 

Approximately 16.5" across at the trunions.

 
Trunions are approximately the same length as diameter  3 1/2" inches

[aboatguy]

Now the interesting side
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

[Artilleryman]

You have a relatively small caliber (possibly a 9 pounder) carronade.  Carronades were used between 1770 to 1850's.  These were short range guns meant to smash large holes in the side of a ship or to sweep a deck with grape shot.

[Cannon Cocker]

Looks like a trunnioned Carronade.  Probably a copy.  Don't know of originals with a  crown like that but I don't know everything. 

[aboatguy]

There may have been some line throwing accoutraments with it that succumbed to the elements around WWII.  However, from the description it could have been a wooden tompion.  (sitting on a beach for almost a century is rough on wood and iron)

[Artilleryman]

You have a relatively small caliber (possibly a 9 pounder) carronade.  Carronades were used between 1770 to 1850's.  These were short range guns meant to smash large holes in the side of a ship or to sweep a deck with grape shot.

I should have said this is a variant of the carronade.  With the trunnions on the sides of the barrel this would make it a gunnade.

[cannonmn]

Also known as an insurance gun.  Looks like two letters under the crown.  Remove paint there and see what they are.  If B P, the tube was cast by Bailey and Pegg, a foundry which ran for a very long time in the London area.

[NinjaToes]

The letters under the crown are indeed BP. I used a special filter in photoshop and the letters popped out.

[cannonmn]

I used a special filter in photoshop and the letters popped out.

Maybe I should let you try that on the hidden marks on a certain 6-pounder Treadwell gun.

[NinjaToes]

Sure can, send me the pic.

I used a special filter in photoshop and the letters popped out.

Maybe I should let you try that on the hidden marks on a certain 6-pounder Treadwell gun.

[Cannoneer]

Aboatguy,
How about filling in some of the blanks: Are you refurbishing the barrel and building a replacement carriage. Is the gun going to be placed back on the beach where it came from? Did you buy this gunade? I could go on and on here, but I think you get the message; or should I say questions?

[aboatguy]

 
 I plan on conserving it...  I believe the axles and other iron pieces are original too.  The real question is how do I conserve the TUBE and recreate the iron .... and the carriage.
 
I'd like to do no harm but thats just the old boatguy in me.   

[Victor3]

 There's a fairly simple electrolytic rust removal setup that just about anyone can build on the cheap. I've used the method successfully for smaller parts. IIRC, cannonmn has used it for large cannons(?)


http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/andyspatch/rust.htm


 With the paint on it though, I think I'd just abrasive blast it off along with the rust. That might be too aggressive for some folks' liking.

[Zulu]

 I plan on conserving it...  I believe the axles and other iron pieces are original too.  The real question is how do I conserve the TUBE and recreate the iron .... and the carriage.
 
I'd like to do no harm but thats just the old boatguy in me.

boatguy,
Why all the mystery here?  Is this your gun?
How did you come by it?
Do you know what type of carriage you want to replicate?  Naval?
Like Cannoneer asked, is it going back on the beach?
The ironwork that has to be made will depend on the carriage you want to build.  Because of the condition of the old hardware, I don't see too much choice in that matter.
It sounds like a fun project.
Please give the curious more details.
Zulu
 

[cannonmn]

(moved by author)

[A.Roads]

I plan on conserving it...  I believe the axles and other iron pieces are original too.  The real question is how do I conserve the TUBE and recreate the iron .... and the carriage
 
A nice barrel & she deserves to be preserved & fitted with a carriage. I agree with other comments that its a British made barrel, commercial not military, called a carronade by British & gunnade by Americans.
 
I have a similar barrel, similar size but without the sight patches & crown or any markings at all. I made a teak carriage for mine. See below...
(apologies to those who have seen these pics before)
Adrian
 
 
 
 

[aboatguy]

For those that provided information thanks so much.
 
For those with questions title said it all...  Its mine and it won't be going back on the beach. 
 
 
The previous owner had possession of it from early 1950s   It was on the beach since 1952.   The story is her father got it from a german ship around 1906.   
 
   
 
I'd like to conserve it.   If the iron is original I'd like to build the correct style carriage.   
 
If I get some time off this weekend, I will attempt to gently remove the wood thats plugging the barrel. 
 
 
 
 
Mike       

[cannonmn]

My method for cast iron guns:  Use Stripeaze (sp?) paste paint stripper per intructions, then wash off any residue.  With suitable clothing all over myself, and protective face shield, mount a properly-rpm rated knotted wire rotary brush to an aprox. 11K+ rpm angle grinder, with side handle mounted, and take surface down to bare iron.  Wash again,soap and water, towel it dry, let crevices dry, then prime with Rustoleum metal primer.  Then coat with Rustoleum gloss black.  Recoat per instructions if desired, or if any primer shows thru.
A 24 pdr. M1819 seacoast gun in the front yard that had this treatment still looks like it did about 25 years ago when I last painted it.

[aboatguy]

I know for sure that the 1906 carriage had wooden wheels.  The previous owner describes them a little wooden wheels.  So my question is are the iron axles I have original or would wooden axles have been used with wooden wheels?   I'll post some more pics of the iron that I have. 
 
If there is a specific pic someone wants of the tube or Iron let me know. (time limit for requests of pics is  Dec 2012)
 
 

[aboatguy]

Some pictures of the surviving iron. 
 
 
bottom of front axle
 
 
 

 
 
Rear attachments for trunion caps
 

 
 
trunion cap
 
 

 
 
front of cap  with remaining front attachment piece
 

 
 
the other trunion cap with front axle.  (still attached.  piece may be further damaged if I try to remove it from axle.  I'll need to try heat, kroil and time to separate them
 

 

[aboatguy]

I was able to remove the wooden plug without much difficulty. 
 
 
 
pulling crap out
 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 used the shop vac and heres the result....   IMO  it still
 looks ugly in there.
 


 

 

[aboatguy]

I have two questions:
 
1, Is the iron original
2. How should I preserve the bore
 
 
 
Thanks in advance
 
Mike
 
i