Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
OK, this isn't exactly WWI - but it is my new "gun." It is 1 1/2 pound galloper cannon!
My New "Gun"
- Thread starter Peter_Suciu
- Start date
joerookery
Well-known member
Holy cow! Everyone should have one! What else can you tell us about it? :thumb up:
V/R
Joe
V/R
Joe
Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
Well, from the research I have done it is the type of cannon that the British and Americans used in the late 18th century. It is 1 1/2 pounder so not a big round/ball by any means. But it was designed so a single horse could carry it, and the gun could be fired by two soldiers or in a pinch by one man. It didn't pack a big punch but had greater range than a musket or the early rifles and it still threw a nice sized ball into a mass of men.
My wife found it at an estate sale. Basically she woke up early, was first in line and said "I'll take it." Sadly the wheels had been sold at an earlier sale as this cannon had belonged to an old antique shop. The shop owners didn't know where the cannon was and sold the wheels. So we bought the gun carriage and cannon, but my wife also met the man who had bought the wheels! He didn't know what they were for when he bought them, but when he heard there was a cannon he realized they must be for that.
So we went to his place with the axle, which is about 150 pounds and determined the wheels did fit. So we came to a deal and I have all the surviving parts. Over the winter I may try to restore the gun carriage. I'm not sure if this will stay in my bunker, or if in the summer I'll put the cannon in the back yard. I'd want to stain the wood to help preserve it, and probably put some kind of clear coat to stop any further rusting from the barrel.
My wife found it at an estate sale. Basically she woke up early, was first in line and said "I'll take it." Sadly the wheels had been sold at an earlier sale as this cannon had belonged to an old antique shop. The shop owners didn't know where the cannon was and sold the wheels. So we bought the gun carriage and cannon, but my wife also met the man who had bought the wheels! He didn't know what they were for when he bought them, but when he heard there was a cannon he realized they must be for that.
So we went to his place with the axle, which is about 150 pounds and determined the wheels did fit. So we came to a deal and I have all the surviving parts. Over the winter I may try to restore the gun carriage. I'm not sure if this will stay in my bunker, or if in the summer I'll put the cannon in the back yard. I'd want to stain the wood to help preserve it, and probably put some kind of clear coat to stop any further rusting from the barrel.
Peter, what you have there appears to be an original cannon. If you stain it or apply a clear coat to it, you will have a restored cannon, never quite as good as an original. The same discussion has been made for Pickelhauben, and the general consensus has been if restoration needs to be done because of appearance or preservation, then it should be done, but this looks great as it is and I think it should be kept under a roof, so preservation is not a factor either.
that is so cool, what a find, your wife did very well!!
james
james
Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
stuka f said:
It is already here! It took two trips to get it home and I needed a friend to get it in my "bunker." It is now displayed with my American uniforms and helmets!
joerookery
Well-known member
I would not have the space for it however, there is nothing like coveting your neighbors canon! This is really really really cool, 1781 in the USA that is so much older than 1781 in Europe. Great snag! :bravo: =D> =D> =D>
Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
Well, my research has determined that my cannon is probably a replica made to commemorate the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. It might have been made for a town square or a historical society. It probably was made to fire and could have been made anywhere between 1871 (the 100th anniversary) to as late as the 1950s. Either way it is still older than me.
The good news is that it is still worth more than I paid for it. I may decide to sell it, but I may restore the carriage and clear coat it and put it in the backyard for three seasons. I guess I'd bring it from November to April. Nothing like wheeling a cannon to the garage I suppose at the end of the season. I'm almost happy it is a replica piece as now I don't feel about wanting to either sell it or put it outside. Having a cannon is really cool but it takes up a ton of room.
The good news is that it is still worth more than I paid for it. I may decide to sell it, but I may restore the carriage and clear coat it and put it in the backyard for three seasons. I guess I'd bring it from November to April. Nothing like wheeling a cannon to the garage I suppose at the end of the season. I'm almost happy it is a replica piece as now I don't feel about wanting to either sell it or put it outside. Having a cannon is really cool but it takes up a ton of room.
joerookery
Well-known member
We don't have the room for it either Peter but it sure does look cool!