Hand made cannon

[6bg6ga]

First of all I apologize if this in the wrong section.

Years ago my Dad made a cannon and I can remember watching him shoot it but unfortunately I never watched carefully to see how much powder and the proper procedure for loading it. It shot a 1" ball. He also made his own mold for it. He was handy. Unfortunately I cannot ask him how to do it because he passed away over 5 yrs ago and I wish I had spent more time with this remarkable gentleman.

Anyone have any ideas on a load for it?

[LUCKYDAWG13]

go to graybeard outdoors they have a cannon forum just USE BLACK POWDER ONLY
dont ask me how i know this it was a long time ago

[rhbrink]

Something to do with the LUCKY part of your handle?

I did something really stupid with a home made cannon once when I was a youngun' don't want to talk about it either!

[Wots]

KaaaBooom?

[Shooter]

It is hard to suggest loads when we don't know what it is made of, or how it was made.

[6bg6ga]

It was made on a lathe and turned out of one piece of steel. The barrel has thick walls so its not going to blow up. I have personally seen it hit targets accurately at 100 yrds.

[coopieclan]

Can you show a picture (some pictures)?

[6bg6ga]

If I had it with me right now I would. It is at another residence right now and it isn't feasible for me to pick it up now. Will put pictures up as soon as I am able to do so.

[6bg6ga]

Some pictures of the cannon.

As you can see it is made quite well. Now to start the clean up process to restore it the way it was before Dad passed away.

Any ideas as to a load for it would be appreciated. It shoots a ball measuring 1.030 dia The cannon weighs 27Lbs

Thanks,
Joe

[legend]

That does not look safe enough to shoot,be carefull and save yourself,you have my permission to send it to me in wyoming,which is far enough away from you.....


Ok,see you feel better now you are thinking about it?

[6bg6ga]

Do you like it?

Just measured the barrel and it was 2.530 dia at the muzzle.

[FrankG]

Shine a light down bore and see if there is a powder chamber in breech . He may have bored a chamber for powder . If so it doesnt need filled completely with powder but will need topped off with filler so there is no air gap between charge and ball.

[FrankG]

How is it breeched ? Threaded breech ? Welded ? Be safe and check it thoroughly before firing.

[Fredx10sen]

Very nice Cannon.

[405]

It looks extremely well made! But, I have the same questions about the ignition/breech system- can't tell from the photos. No matter the system and even with the quality craftsmanship that is evident, I'd for sure use real blackpowder. BTW, the carriage kind of reminds me of those seen on old 16th-17thC square rigger ships except it's a little higher slung and doesn't have the harness rigging on front of the carriage for return to firing/battery postion after recoil.
I like it!

[JIMinPHX]

just USE BLACK POWDER ONLY
dont ask me how i know this it was a long time ago

I saw a toy cannon pumkin-pussed when I was a kid because nobody in my neighborhood knew the difference between black powder & the other propellants that were available at the time. Fortunately, we were smart enough to stand behind a big rock after the fuse was lit.

[JIMinPHX]

That is a serious looking "toy" cannon you have there. Geeze, a 1" bore. That thing is a little monster.

[JIMinPHX]

I've always wanted to make one, but I never seem to get around to it. I did draw one up though. It's on a little smaller scale than yours is.

[6bg6ga]

Ok,

Looked down the barrel and he bored it straight down. There is no extra chamber if I understand correctly. The other end is thick also as it is 1.9" from the end of the bore to the end of the barrel. The ignition system is a simple fuse, light it and stand back. I don't even know where to get the fuse material. I would assume that black powder would be easy to obtain.

I'm not afraid to shoot it by any means and I know for fact that it is safe. When he was alive I was with him a number of times when he shot it. He always drew a crowd of people when he shot it at some local gun ranges. I generally tried to keep people back a safe distance so I never paid attention to how much black powder went in it or the wad he used because I assumed he would always be around to school me on its operation. Never make that assumption.

[6bg6ga]

Pictures of the Cannon ball mold he made to cast his own.