A wooden breech for an iron chamber

[fernando]

This XV century rought iron falconet chamber has already been shown here.
It is presently laying on the lower shelf of my TV set stand, so i watch it a good couple hours per day.
As time went on, i wouldn't cease thinking abut its 'naked' situation, standing by its own on a little two forked base.
So i thought i would replicate the breech section of a falconet, in a stylized manner ... made of mahogany wood.
You may find this an awkward solution, but it brings some cosiness to the lonely chamber, anyway :cool: .
Having failed the calculations to allow for reasonable space in the back of the breech, to lodge the chamber flat wedge, i decided to minimize the problem by using a cilindrical device instread ... the front section of an old muzzle loading firearm ramrod :shrug: .

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[Atlantia]

What a clever and creative solution to displaying this rare relic.
Great DIY there, it really provides 'context'.
You are becomming somewhat a specialist in the early firearms field Nando!

[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,

Like Gene I like your presentation a lot. It comes very near the original function and is much better than using modern iron parts. Everybody will grasp the idea that the wood sybolizes the missing iron.

I would only suggest adding one little thing for completeness: a wooden wegde or shim to open or close the rear emptiness - just as would have been the case when the chamber was placed in the original recess of the breech of the barrel for firing. :)

Best,
Michl

[fernando]

Thank you Gene and Michl, for your kind words.
As i said, i should have provided more room in the rear, for the proportional use of a wedge.
But i will give it a second thought and ask the carpenter to help me on a wedge solution, within the available space ... Master Michl ;) .
'Nando

[fernando]

The carpenter is back from holidays.
Here is the new wooden wedge, to go more accordingly with the rest of the setup.
Your suggestion worked perfectly, Michl ? :cool:

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[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,


In studying your images of 'my' long-time breech chamber I cannot but repeat putting the stress on how unbelievably early this tiny piece is: its slender High-Gothic general shape, reflecting the even earlier Romanic style still rounded throughout, are clear indices of a date of origin of ca. 1440! ;) :cool: :eek:

They should in no way be confounded with the much shorter, stouter but also round Early-Renaissance objects of ca. 1540, like the ones salvaged from the Mary Rose, or the 'Portuguese' sample in Marcus' collection.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17547


Best,
Michl