New project: "Handgonne"

[Cat Whisperer]

Got to reading about medievel firarms.

(for example:  http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dispater/handgonnes.htm )

In about the 1400's some of the first shootin' irons were the "handgonne" a small cannon on a pole.  Smaller one's shot lead shot larger ones stones.  Bore was about an inch, more or less.

SO, the next project has been started.  1-1/2" diameter CRS.  Haven't figured how long nor bore diameter yet.  But I do have an oak 5' long pole.  I have 2 pieces of round stock that are both 22" long.  So I'll probably use 10 to 12" of one.  I've trued up 12" so far and need a #2 to #3 morse taper attachment for my drill bit to fit the tailstock.  Time to take a break.

Right now I'm leaning towards 20ga or 12ga since round balls can easily be cast in those diameters.

[CAV Trooper]

Cat,

Sounds cool. I made one a while back out of a 2" x 12" round. It has a 1 1/16th inch bore that's 8" deep and is mounted on a 1 1/8" x 4' dowel. I also lathe turned a neat profile on it.

I put about 25 blank shots through it during the Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Boat Parade. 400 grains of 2f (no wad) is DAMN LOUD and throws a lot of flame. The thing actually has some recoil to it. The crowd really loved the old "cannon on a stick".  :grin:  

I haven't shot anything but blanks out of it yet but a local craft shop has some 1" round wooden balls that look tempting.

As soon as the carriage for my King howitzer is done next week, I'll post pictures of both of them.

I vote for a 12 ga bore for your project. Maybe it's just me but if I have a choice, I always go for bigger rather than smaller.

Keep us updated on your progress.

[Cat Whisperer]

Cav T.

I'd love to see some pictures of  your shootin' iron!
Do you have a powder chamber in yours?

Here's the start.  Turned section is 10" long.




First time I've needed to use a steady rest.

[CAV Trooper]

Cat,

No powder chamber.  I had it bored by a guy I know who has a machine that drills gun barrels so it's full dimension all the way to the flat bottom. Not having a powder chamber makes it lots easier to slide in foil wrapped charges that are just a bit undersized.

The thinnest wall section of the barrel is 1/2" and it's right at 1" in the area where the powder charge sits. I'll try to get some pics up soon.

Looks like you have a good start on yours.

[Will Bison]

My old friend Mark Twain once made a comment about steam locomotives, "They are noisey, they are expensive, they are dirty and they are wonderful". I think he was really talking about cannons.

[Cat Whisperer]

Cav T.  - Thanks for the details.  Drilling a gun barrel is a very interesting challange.  And then the issue of reaming.  

Will - I get lot's of enjoyment from Mr. Twain.  I would add smelly to the list.

[Cat Whisperer]

OK. Progress.  Only have one bit that will fit the #3 Morse taper of the tail stock.  That determined the caliber.  The hole it cut is about 0.82" in diameter, which says if I bore it I can open to about 0.88 which will fit (with a little windage) the 0.875" diameter OD of 3/4" copper tubing.

Two pictures:

First chips:





Depth of bore:





I'll probalby leave it at 6" length of bore and cut the overall length to 10" (turned portion in previous post).
That will leave 2" inbetween and 2" hole depth for the staff.

One fun thing that happened in the process of drilling the bore:  the tailstock will extend a little over 4".  With no warning, it locked extened at just over 4".  A quick switch to the other tail stock and continued work.

Ok, the tail stock now only cranks out 4".  So to drill 6" deep I had to shorten it, slide the tailstock forward and drill inside the existing hole, lock it in place, drill a little.  Unlock it, slide it back to clear chips, repeat.

Hmmmm.  New tools are made on old tools.  I guess that's life.

[Cat Whisperer]

A little more work done.

Bore is still rough and outside not yet profiled.

1-1/2" diameter on 1-1/8" oak pole.  I'll never look at a broomstick again in the same way.

[Cat Whisperer]

And this evening's update of the cannon-on-a-stick:

a little contouring of the outside:




Have to take time out for work this week and have to build a boring bar - the two that I have are 1" and 1-1/2" in diameter - don't have anything for small-bore work.

[Cat Whisperer]

Boring bar done.  3/4" diameter with Microbore head (got it scrap in an auction) adapted a piece of CRS to make the bar.

I enlarged the bore from just over 3/4 to .905 for the 3/4" copper tubing (which is right at .875" OD).  That give me roughly .030 on the diameter or .015 "windage" on each side.  We'll see if that's going to be enough with fowling.

Don't have the powder chamber cut yet, nor the fuse hole.  After that just a little polish.

[Cat Whisperer]

Finished it, made some ammo and FIRED IT!

Powder chamber of about 1/2 or 5/8 in diameter and about 1" deep.

Bullets - made of 3/4" copper tubing filled with a potting compound (for electronic circuit boards to prevent vibration damage).  Tubing sections of a little over 1" long.  Weight

Charge - fired it twice (it was raining - at the 2nd annual moderators convention and coehorn invitational shoot).

First shot was with about 3/4 of a lid (from goex can) of FFFg - a little recoil good noise, some smoke & high velocity.

Second shot with full lid fo FFFg.  Held tighter, sharp recoil, but not bad.  Less smoke higher velocity.  Folks next to me watched it; but when you fire one of these it's almost impossible to see the bullet fly for the smoke.

Easy cleanup - 5" bore burned powder efficiently.

CRS (1018) rusts less quickly than 4140.

[Double D]

This project didn't light my fire until I saw Tim's yesterday...now I gotta make one of these!