A hand cannon ... or not ?

[fernando]

Thank you so much Ed, for the excelent observations. I must say i am very pleased with your precious input.
Yes, the absence of a lip on the fire hole also drove me to realize this piece wasn't a signal mortar or some sort of upright thunder mug ... together with the fact that it doesn't widen at the basis.
So a shooter (hand canon) it will be, given that no compelling evidence proves otherwise .
Thanks again
Fernando

[Ed]

I got to thinking and remembered that massive wall thickness is not always a sign of authenticity.



With a relatively slow burning powder and a relatively light (stone) ball it is rather amazing how thin barrel walls can be.

Of course, Megs powder chamber was rather thick.

Hey ... why not get some liquid latex and make a casting of the inside?

[fernando]

Well, you had them for all tastes

.

[Ed]

That the Artillery Museum?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Ed

That the Artillery Museum?

Yes. Eventually it was called Artillery Museum till 1926 ... now called Military
Museu.

[Ed]

Originally Posted by fernando

Yes. Eventually it was called Artillery Museum till 1926 ... now called Military
Museu.

They have any interesting publications? Sometimes museums will have printed material that you can't really find elsewhere.

Also... Tom Hoving (ex director of the Met in NY) made the point that one is well served to buy a collection of postcards from museums that you visit since they 1) are probably the best pieces and 2) are photographed better than you could hope to yourself.

RE: Latex. You can get a 2 part kit where you mix the gook together and then you can coat whatever it is. In the case of a barrel, I'd swsh around some oil in it first and then build up a few coats inside. It you don't make a plug you should be able to ease it out.

[fernando]

Hi Ed,

Originally Posted by Ed

They have any interesting publications?

The picture i posted was scanned from the Museum book, an introductory work with the Museum history, the rooms decoration and exhibiting items, supported by a quantity of pictures; but no way it can be considered a catalogue ... and the pictures are a bit vague; more panoramic than intrinsec to the objects.

Originally Posted by Ed

Also... Tom Hoving (ex director of the Met in NY) made the point that one is well served to buy a collection of postcards from museums that you visit since they 1) are probably the best pieces and 2) are photographed better than you could hope to yourself.

Well, Mr. Hoving is obviously right. Many a times you struggle to take pictures of the places you visit ( even often clandestine pictures ) and, when you enter the Museum shop you see the main thing splashed in postcards ... and indeed more accurate, as you get home and check the quality of the pictures you have achieved.This has even a double invoice as, with the alienation in concentrating to create an angle and conditions to take photos, one doesn't propperly apreciate the exhibits.

Assuming you already visited this Museum, but might have forgotten most of its contents, i attach here a view scanned from the book, showing one of the four angles of the artillery patio, where they claim to have the greatest bronze cannon collection.

Fernando

[katana]

Originally Posted by Ed

Hey ... why not get some liquid latex and make a casting of the inside?

That, would be an interesting 'experiment' ...I remember reading somewhere that some had a larger diameter chamber where the charge was situated ....this was to allow the explosive gasses to expand more rapidly which imparted a greater kinetic force to the projectile. It would make sense to me that minature 'mock-ups' would be used to test modifications .... I assume that the bore would be coated rather than filled (producing a 'plug') ...so that the hardened latex is easier to remove.

Fernando, as you already know I have always seen your cannon as a weapon ...it certainly looks the part fixed to the stock ...but there again ...some 'weapons' I have bought turned out to be gardening implements ...so what do I know

Kind Regards David

[fernando]

Hi David,

Originally Posted by katana

... some 'weapons' I have bought turned out to be gardening implements ...

What an amazing coincidence. I have come to know through a third party that, the guy who sold me this piece has bought it in a gardening articles shop that he visited by the road, not far from my place. Not knowing what the thing was, the shop keeper had it serving as a decoration item. .

All the best
Fernando