Very small cannon, age/purpose?
 

Hi All
Got option on the following from a contact
I just have mobile pictures but enough to see what it is I hope
looks to have a good bit of age to it
length 275mm
and weight of 3138 g

I was wondering if it was a signal gun or something similar any ideas
also
what age period would you put it at?
regards
Ken

Hi Ken,

this is the shape of a typical muzzle loader canon from 15th to 18th century. But the pommel (?) at the end of the canon is lost, is there a hole in the bottom of the canon?

This could an antique fully functionable decoration object, for playing war games or maybe a small canon for firing blind loadings for ceremonial acts like Kermesse, Twelfth Night, Christmas Eve, New Year or Solstice in the past for example.


Regards,
Roland

If i had to put a date to it i would say late 18th century. Might be a board cannon for a ship.

:o

Hi Guys
thanks for your posts
I will try and get some extra information and pictures, the missing piece, (if it is missing) off the pommel is something which would deter me from spending too much on the item.
Regards
Ken

Most likely a signal cannon or possibly a small model. The touch hole looks to be tiny considering the overall small size of the piece. The trunnions also look very thin. It may or may not have had a cascabel but it does look like maybe there is a hole in the base? Considering the size and heavily pitted condition, I wouldn't put much value on it.

The size of this relict of 275mm is about a fifth of an original sixpounder canon of this type made in the second half of the 18th century.
I think this is a model made by a gunfactory to demonstrate their constructions to different war ministries. In many European Museums you can find good, sometimes very great collections of such models as in the Arsenal Museum of Kopenhagen, the Military Museum of Rastatt Castle/Germany and the Bavarian Army Museum.
corrado26

I agree that we are looking at an early 18th century canon. It could be a saluting canon for the table, to salute the guest's. The size is just right. Unfortunately I am traveling at the moment but I do have pictures of a pair of very similar canons that belonged to the Danish/Norwegian Admiral Tordenskiold that he used for "saluting the guests at the table". The canons has mounts for the table as well.