All of these guns are Armstrong or Old Pattern Guns, so called to distinguish them from the Bloomfield or New Pattern Guns that were coming into service by 1790.
There are 16 of these British guns in the collection in calibres ranging from 12pdr to 32pdr and from 7ft 71/2 inches to 9ft 6 inches in length. Guns of this shape and form were produced from the 1720's to the 1790, although redesigned from time to time. They are believed to have been first designed by Major General Borgard, a Dane in the British service and the design was later modified by Major General Armstrong and others.
Over the years a number of changes were made to the design, often to try to make them lighter or stronger. It is thought that Armstrong introduced the raised Vent Patch by 1724. This became a very useful change as it allowed flintlocks to be easily fitted during the mid 18th Century. The French for example had to remove iron from the breech area to fit them to their guns, potentially weakening the weapon.
Some details of the guns in the collection,
IV 18pdr 8'11 1/4'' Founder unknown
VIII 24pdr 9'6 1/4'' Founder Gordon & Stanley
IX 24pdr 9'6 1/2'' founder Gordon & Stanley
X 24pdr 9'6 1/2'' as above
XI 24 pdr 9' 6 3/4'' Founder Wilkinson & Bersham
XII 24pdr 9' 6 3/4'' as above
XIII 24pdr 9' 5 1/2'' Founder Walker &co
XIV 24pdr 9'6 1/2'' Founder John Todd
XV 24pdr 9'5 1/2'' Founder John Cookson
XVIII 24pdr 9' 6 1/4'' Founder Wilkinson & Bersham
XX 24pdr 9'6'' founder Walker &co
XXXIII 24pdr 9'6'' founder John Todd
LII 12pdr 7'71/2'' Unknown founder
LIII 32pdr 9'6'' Founder unknown
Most of these guns were cast between 1780 and 1790, however gun number LII seems to be earlier, it would appear to be one of the 7ft 8'' guns of 24cwt which many authorities give as going out of production about 1760. This weapon with its George III cipher then seems to have been produced very early in the reign of George III (1760 to 1820).
Production of the pattern officially ceased in 1794 as the last were accepted for proof then. However Gordon & Stanley were given permission to deliver a small batch of Armstrong 24pdrs in 1796. The three guns we have here from this founder are among the best in the collection and seem to be late production examples of this pattern.
These guns were produced by a variety of founders including Walker & Company of Rotherham, Gordon & Stanley, John Wilkinson, John Cookson and John Todd. This selection includes some of the most famous British gunfounders.
The carriages we have made for these are again in English oak but these have been treated with Linseed oil which is done every year, A real messy job, we should have painted these!!!!!
