Not a reproduction, but maybe something similar. Not sure. It sure is hard to reproduce something in cast iron. It melts at too high a temperature and if were a repro, with all the inquiries I have made somebody would have come up with a notation citing a bunch of these currently for sale. Repros made in brass would be more likely as there is a lower melting temperature. I have a friend who is one of the foremost 18th century militaria collectors in the US, and he thinks it's probably 18th century. Could also be a high end model for a larger gun (also quite old, but again where's the percentage in making it as a model?) They wouldn't have wasted the man hours on it. But it doesn't make sense they would totally bore out the thing and put a touch hole thru to the bore, therefore making it fireable. (No, not going to fire it, I collect antiques and other "fun" pieces of stuff I don't need.) I've wanted a "real" cannon for years, but they are too blasted expensive, and if you got it home, then what would you do with it? Besides mount it on my boat. Put it in place of the front swivel chair. That would work well until you ran into a Coast Guard boat or other marine police.....or a nuclear attack submarine which I shared the bay with last summer. It was just visiting, apparently.
ld is a row of dots right next to the inner shield outline and inside is an oval crest. I think it's Spanish. Any help would be appreciated.
