Breech-Loading Swivel Gun / Cannon For Comment

[cornelistromp]

It's a 15th/16thC portuguese or spanish breechloading swivel cannon.
those 15th and 16th century breechloading cannons look all alike , like peas in a pot.

This type of gun is thought to have been cast in Goa, Portuguese India however they were also produced in Macao during this period.
they were made for the spanish and portuguese.



there are a lot of fakes on the market, whether yours is real unfortunately I can not tell from the pictures.
The core was held in the middle by thin iron wires, during the casting.
perhaps there are still traces of these wires showing on the skin. (small rust spots).


best,

[dana_w]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

The core was held in the middle by thin iron wires, during the casting.
perhaps there are still traces of these wires showing on the skin. (small rust spots).

Thanks for you comments Cornelistromp.

Here is a closeup which shows a few previously inexplicable spots of rust.

[fernando]

Hoi Jasper,
I assume you have a lot more 'mileage' than me in these things; this is the first time i see a typical breech loading chamber combined with a lantaka cannon. Maybe this is common to your eyes, but certainly new to me.
Breech loading 'berços' of various sizes were made by Portuguese (and Spanish) for their ships and auxiliary rowing boats, whereas lantakas were made for trade in Asia.
I would always realize that this atypical device was made to please somebody or anybody, rather than for crude battle
... one of the peas in a pot

[cornelistromp]

Hi Fernando,

Here is a nice article that you're sure to love.

http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/history.htm

for a similar cannon as above in #1 please google cannonsuperstore >>>> Spanish cannons

best
jasper

[fernando]

Thsnk you so much for the link and for being so thoughtful, Jasper .
As a matter of fact i know Rainer Daehnhardt, with whom i have a fair relation. A lot of knowledge that i transmit here in the forum comes from his books and 'lectures' i receive when i periodicaly visit his shop in Cascais ... as also (a couple times) in his house, where he has an imense (i mean imense) collection.
I am also aware of the article you linked and i also met its author Antonio Cejunior when he came (from Macau) to Portugal to visit his family.

I visited the cannon site you suggested and i saw the cannon you refer; not so 'lantaka style' as the one posted here, i would say ... don't you agree? .

Not pointing at any source in particular, i don't feel safe with determined attributions like antiquity and provenance, specialy when it comes to 'Portuguese' or 'Spanish' cannons conotations ... discoveries period and all that. Indeed cannon foundries were settled in Macau (the famous Bocarro family) but i don't know if the typology produced there is connected with lantakas ... or even 16th century breech loading berços.

Dank u once again

[fernando]

A couple (forbidden) pictures connected with the discussed topic in the Daehnhardt farm.

.

[cornelistromp]

very nice pictures, thanks, I would love to have garden like this.

the local foundries in SE Asia used local bronze patterns for the cannon decorations.
I believe this deep relief breech decoration points more into the direction of GOA I/o brunei , Malacca, Pahang or European foundries.

a specialist in these eastern patterns might be able to give definite outcome here!

best,