A .690 round ball fits perfectly in the bore with room for a patch. I would like to shoot this. Any recommendations on type of powder and charge , procedures , etc? Also, does anybody have any idea what this was originally used for, was it a toy, a signal cannon , any ideas?
"The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man -- and give some back."
Al Swearengen, from "Deadwood"
Probably a signal gun, most of the resque guns were bigger.
Best,
Mike
NRA Life Member
Remember Ira Hayes
I have seen this as a toy, during the Civil War period. I believe Jefferson Davis's son had one. I have found it mentioned that the boy would line up toy Federal Soldiers and blow them away with his toy cannon.
I have only seen signal cannons on TV, but they looked a lot bigger. In my trade gun, I am shooting a .670 rb over 60 grains of 3F. Not real hot, but pretty safe. In the sun, you can see the ball going downrange.
I came into this world kicking, screaming, and covered in someone elses blood. I plan to go out the same way.
Before you shoot it think RECOIL. If it's not tied down real good it will become a projectile.
Looks like fun though.
BIG OR SMALL I LIKE THEM ALL, 577 TO 22 HORNET.
Paper weight for your desk
Home Shop Machinist in years past has had plans for similar cannons.
The thing they did not let you do is to make the hole for the fuse.i made a cannon and the teacher told em that if i drill the hole for the fuse it will be a weapon and I would lost it .so years after I drill a hole for the fuse but have not shot it yet .One day i will.I made the plans up myself and all and got the info from that mail order catalog of a cannon and just went form there.Originally Posted by Bill Weddle
Life Member of NRA,NTA,DAV ,ITA. Also member of FTA,CBA
I made a cannon out of steel when I worked as a machinist. It had a 5/8" bore, about 8" deep. I used blackpowder, but can't remember how much. I poured the BP in, and used toilet paper as wadding. No lead balls or ball bearings were ever shot out of it. It was just a noise maker. Started out using about 6" of fuze, till I got used to it, kept shortening it, ended up using a 2" long piece of fuze. Gave it to a friend when I left the Army Guard, he passed it on to another friend when he got out of the Guard.
If or when you decide to shoot it, you might want to consider light load of black powder, wads & and a light load of #7 1/2 or #8 shot. It will have the noise, smoke, and some recoil but limited range for safety. Be sure to secure it against recoil. Have fun.
Getting old is the best you can hope for.
I would shoot it... But make a large heavy platform to install it on... And first time you shoot it, I would shoot it without a RB.... I would ONLY use BP... I have had several of these in the 50 cal range over the years... And they are fun...
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that is way cool. now you have me looking for something else to eat up all my time.
Bobby
Where did you get it?? I want one.......
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