CANNON with dragon decoration

thinreadline · 29th July 2014, 10:09 AM

A friend sent me these pictures of this small cannon which she has and wondered if any members can help with dating / country of origin etc .I imagine its just a decorative model but it has a bored through touch hole and the barrel is fully bored out . The barrel length is 15" & total length of the piece is approx 17 1/2" . The bore diameter is 0.75'' . I have handled it and it seems very well made and of good quality, it is surprisingly heavy . The cartouche on the barrel depicts 2 men swordfighting.

fernando · 29th July 2014, 01:00 PM

Very interesting. It looks operational, not just decorative. Some kind of signal or cerimonial use, but functional.
Asian ... Chinese ?
If only you could discern what kind of swords the men are bearing

... Surely other members will know better.

Gavin Nugent · 29th July 2014, 01:42 PM

Is it one of these pair auctioned today a couple of hours ago?

If it is not, I think it is safe to say it might be a common thing seeing as though there are a pair here.

if it is, perhaps, if he now won them, more detailed images may help the discussion?

thinreadline · 29th July 2014, 04:10 PM

Well these look the same type , however my friend has owned hers for many years .

thinreadline · 29th July 2014, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Very interesting. It looks operational, not just decorative. Some kind of signal or cerimonial use, but functional.
Asian ... Chinese ?
If only you could discern what kind of swords the men are bearing

... Surely other members will know better.

I cant tell any detail on the cartouche it is so worn and polished.

thinreadline · 29th July 2014, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

Is it one of these pair auctioned today a couple of hours ago?

If it is not, I think it is safe to say it might be a common thing seeing as though there are a pair here.

if it is, perhaps, if he now won them, more detailed images may help the discussion?

Interesting though .. in what country did these come up for sale ?

Gavin Nugent · 29th July 2014, 09:08 PM

Close to you Rich.

thinreadline · 29th July 2014, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

Close to you Rich.

Ha ! How close ?

Shakethetrees · 30th July 2014, 04:10 AM

Great looking cannon. I believe they are saluting/yachting guns. A friend of mine bought one that is identical to yours when he was a youngster living with his parents in Scotland and still has it. And, just by pure coincidence, I saw another one, again, identical to it at a gunshow within the last two months for sale in the southern US. Unfortunately, I just spent my allotted limit at another table, so I was not able to grab it.

I believe they are old (late 19th century) and all came from the same shop.

I still think about it!

thinreadline · 30th July 2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakethetrees

Great looking cannon. I believe they are saluting/yachting guns. A friend of mine bought one that is identical to yours when he was a youngster living with his parents in Scotland and still has it. And, just by pure coincidence, I saw another one, again, identical to it at a gunshow within the last two months for sale in the southern US. Unfortunately, I just spent my allotted limit at another table, so I was not able to grab it.

I believe they are old (late 19th century) and all came from the same shop.

I still think about it!

OK , that's interesting , thanks .

29th July 2014, 10:09 AM	#1
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	CANNON with dragon decoration A friend sent me these pictures of this small cannon which she has and wondered if any members can help with dating / country of origin etc .I imagine its just a decorative model but it has a bored through touch hole and the barrel is fully bored out . The barrel length is 15" & total length of the piece is approx 17 1/2" . The bore diameter is 0.75'' . I have handled it and it seems very well made and of good quality, it is surprisingly heavy . The cartouche on the barrel depicts 2 men swordfighting. Attached Images

29th July 2014, 01:42 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Is it one of these pair auctioned today a couple of hours ago? If it is not, I think it is safe to say it might be a common thing seeing as though there are a pair here. if it is, perhaps, if he now won them, more detailed images may help the discussion? Attached Images

29th July 2014, 01:00 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,638	Very interesting. It looks operational, not just decorative. Some kind of signal or cerimonial use, but functional. Asian ... Chinese ? If only you could discern what kind of swords the men are bearing ... Surely other members will know better.

29th July 2014, 04:10 PM	#4
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Well these look the same type , however my friend has owned hers for many years .

29th July 2014, 09:08 PM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Close to you Rich.

30th July 2014, 04:10 AM	#9
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Great looking cannon. I believe they are saluting/yachting guns. A friend of mine bought one that is identical to yours when he was a youngster living with his parents in Scotland and still has it. And, just by pure coincidence, I saw another one, again, identical to it at a gunshow within the last two months for sale in the southern US. Unfortunately, I just spent my allotted limit at another table, so I was not able to grab it. I believe they are old (late 19th century) and all came from the same shop. I still think about it!