Hand gonne and small cannon barrel

archer · 27th March 2018, 10:54 PM

Hi can anyone help shed light on these two oddities? First the small 58 cal barrel with out trunnions there are two tiny punched holes 90 degrees from touch hole. nothing to explain how it was retained in a carriage as a model toy or a stock for firing?

Next is the larger rust one with a 30-40 cal hole when rust is removed/ Was this ever an early Indian weapon? Or perhaps a recycled matchlock barrel with trunnions forged on for useful stability? Lets hear your thoughts. I'll try and clear the rusty bore a bit its not loaded. Thanks Steve

BBJW · 28th March 2018, 04:35 AM

Judging by the size I believe they are old toys. Also there would be no reason for a cascable knob on a matchlock barrel.-- bbjw

archer · 28th March 2018, 05:59 PM

My mention of a recycled gun barrel was from these photos where the opened end of a damaged section could be reworked and sealed, perhaps. I think the larger barrel is much older. The trunnions almost an after thought. I think BBJW that your right the first is a toy or model, Thanks steve

Paddy T. · 29th March 2018, 11:40 AM

If you search for "toy cannon" In the London Portable Antiques Scheme for example you will find very similar 18th and 19th century toys from different locations in England. Like this one: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefa...cord/id/848407 , but there are a more small cannons in the database.

But there are also small cannons which haven´t been used as toys, but as funny jokes for banquets to fire salute shots. Sometimes they have added a sundial with a magniffying glass to fire the cannon at a certain hour.

rickystl · 31st March 2018, 05:23 PM

The last photo does indeed look like a cut off piece of Torador barrel made into a small salute type hand gonne.

Rick

27th March 2018, 10:54 PM	#1
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Hand gonne and small cannon barrel Hi can anyone help shed light on these two oddities? First the small 58 cal barrel with out trunnions there are two tiny punched holes 90 degrees from touch hole. nothing to explain how it was retained in a carriage as a model toy or a stock for firing? Next is the larger rust one with a 30-40 cal hole when rust is removed/ Was this ever an early Indian weapon? Or perhaps a recycled matchlock barrel with trunnions forged on for useful stability? Lets hear your thoughts. I'll try and clear the rusty bore a bit its not loaded. Thanks Steve Attached Images

28th March 2018, 05:59 PM	#3
archer Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 373	Recycled Torador barrel My mention of a recycled gun barrel was from these photos where the opened end of a damaged section could be reworked and sealed, perhaps. I think the larger barrel is much older. The trunnions almost an after thought. I think BBJW that your right the first is a toy or model, Thanks steve Attached Images

28th March 2018, 04:35 AM	#2
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	Judging by the size I believe they are old toys. Also there would be no reason for a cascable knob on a matchlock barrel.-- bbjw

29th March 2018, 11:40 AM	#4
Paddy T. Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Germany Posts: 13	If you search for "toy cannon" In the London Portable Antiques Scheme for example you will find very similar 18th and 19th century toys from different locations in England. Like this one: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefa...cord/id/848407 , but there are a more small cannons in the database. But there are also small cannons which haven´t been used as toys, but as funny jokes for banquets to fire salute shots. Sometimes they have added a sundial with a magniffying glass to fire the cannon at a certain hour.

31st March 2018, 05:23 PM	#5
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,623	The last photo does indeed look like a cut off piece of Torador barrel made into a small salute type hand gonne. Rick