Antique Cannon (Estate Sale find)

[BookZach]

Found this old cannon at an estate sale this week and I'm trying to find out just about anything about it - its age, possible value, etc. Any help would be appreciated - thanks!

 

[Mackaydon]

BZ,.
Welcome to Treasurenet !!

Letting us know the length of the 'chase', first and second reinforcements, the overall length and the diameter of the bore, will facilitate ID-ing your gun. Also note if there are any markings on the gun, including at the ends of each trunnion.
Don.......

 

[Force_of_Iron]

Looks like its about 2 feet long w a 1 inch bore. Signal cannon missing its base and trunnions. Looks like early 19th century

 

[ARC]

Looks like its about 2 feet long w a 1 inch bore. Signal cannon missing its base and trunnions. Looks like early 19th century

? ? ?

Looks like you are unfamiliar with cannon.

 

[ARC]

This IMO is an English swivel gun.

Great find BTW.

 

[ARC]

 

[ARC]

Can you please more pictures... a close up of bore... sides... particularly the trunion ends... Also... seems I see a "seem" down sides... picture of this as well.

Please measure the bore size and one more thing... while staring down bore place a flashlight on the touch hole and see if light passes into bore... IF it is blocked this will not be possible.

IF it seems blocked... clean the touch hole with something to see IF you see any shiny metal sealing bore.

IF you see shiny metal... do not remove it... it was deliberately put there.

 

[Mackaydon]

Did I forget.....what is its weight?
Don.....

 

[Force_of_Iron]

This IMO is an English swivel gun.

Great find BTW.

You may have a point

 

[Force_of_Iron]

? ? ?

Looks like you are unfamiliar with cannon.

Really? If those boards are 6 inches wide which is the most common size. That puts the length at 2 feet+ a few inches. The bore based on the same would be about an inch. The base is obviously missing of the swivel gun and its locking collar trunnions as well. A bit quick with the blade I think.

It was just guesses on the size, calm down

 

[BookZach]

Thanks all for your very helpful inputs so far.

AARC - I've attached some more pictures. I stared down the bore and do not think I see blockage or shiny metal. I believe I'm seeing through to the other end, but can't quite tell what is down there...hard to tell if it's cobwebs and other random debris or something else entirely that has aged or been obscured beyond the point of my amateur recognition.

It is a little over 33.5 pounds.

More pictures coming...


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[smokeythecat]

Here's a test. Pour a small amount of water down the barrell and see if any comes out the touch hole. I like your find!

 

[Hawks88]

Nice find. Congrats

 

[BookZach]

No such luck. The touch hole is impenetrable:

 

[Mackaydon]

With those dimensions and weight, I'm thinking its a signal cannon.
Don....

 

[releventchair]

At the risk of going off topic...Bannerman's sold cannons. Not so far from you that it is not possible to have been a source , though not saying it was either..
Would have been a fun place to shop /visit!

[ "50 percent of the commemorative cannons placed in public areas were purchased through Bannerman's." ]

Bannerman Island: A Mystery Island on the Hudson | Historic Sites | Historic Hudson River Towns

 

[Al D]

Thanks all for your very helpful inputs so far.

AARC - I've attached some more pictures. I stared down the bore and do not think I see blockage or shiny metal. I believe I'm seeing through to the other end, but can't quite tell what is down there...hard to tell if it's cobwebs and other random debris or something else entirely that has aged or been obscured beyond the point of my amateur recognition.

It is a little over 33.5 pounds.

More pictures coming...


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I see cast marks on your piece, indicating that it was never intended to be fired, the touch hole is likely blocked because it never went through, a decoration piece only, nice find though

 

[Force_of_Iron]

If it weren't corroded you could drill it out and use it if you wanted to. Just don't use anything but a low powder charge and a packed newspaper wad. It will make a good boom but not enough backpressure to burst. My dad used to fire stuff like this in our yard in better days.

As for the rest of it I feel fully vindicated.

 

[ARC]

Really? If those boards are 6 inches wide which is the most common size. That puts the length at 2 feet+ a few inches. The bore based on the same would be about an inch. The base is obviously missing of the swivel gun and its locking collar trunnions as well. A bit quick with the blade I think.

It was just guesses on the size, calm down

I am calm... response was to the trunnions comment...

Not only are they intact... but the piece your referring to as a "locking collar" is called a "cap square".

 

[Al D]

If it weren't corroded you could drill it out and use it if you wanted to. Just don't use anything but a low powder charge and a packed newspaper wad. It will make a good boom but not enough backpressure to burst. My dad used to fire stuff like this in our yard in better days.

As for the rest of it I feel fully vindicated.

This is a cast iron cannon, I would not fire anything out of it