Curious stone cannon

CutlassCollector · 2nd December 2013, 12:18 PM

I think Marcus may be on the right track. Look at all the lugs on the bronze example. Attachments would have been needed for ropes or bars to locate, aim and absorb recoil on the stone cannon as well.
The breech touch hole makes sense also, instead of having a larger amount of powder which may explode as well as ignite the main charge.

I am sure I have seen pictures of an experimental double firing flintlock somewhere, with two inline locks one in front of the other - hence two in line touch holes - carrying two loads. Really advisable to fire the front one first! Not enough room in this cannon though.

CC

Matchlock · 2nd December 2013, 12:42 PM

Of course it is clear what Marcus has tried to show.

Please see my comprehensive thread on the subject:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...h+loading+1440

In my eyes, none of the hole problem is solved though ...

Best,
m

broadaxe · 6th December 2013, 11:03 PM

Reading this interesting thread I'm seriously doubting this is actually a cannon.
A stone soft enough to be drilled with a simple bow drill and such a small diameter hole, would likely be prone to explode with the smallest amount of gunpowder. On the other hand, a very hard stone such as granite or basalt, was almost impossible to be drilled like that.
This 'cannon' appears to be made of upper crust of limestone (Narry), which is a crunchy substance. The 'breech' area is narrower than the 'barrel', it should have been exactly the opposite. I believe it may be some kind of windlass or mechanical part from an antique industrial facility.

2nd December 2013, 12:18 PM	#1
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 369	I think Marcus may be on the right track. Look at all the lugs on the bronze example. Attachments would have been needed for ropes or bars to locate, aim and absorb recoil on the stone cannon as well. The breech touch hole makes sense also, instead of having a larger amount of powder which may explode as well as ignite the main charge. I am sure I have seen pictures of an experimental double firing flintlock somewhere, with two inline locks one in front of the other - hence two in line touch holes - carrying two loads. Really advisable to fire the front one first! Not enough room in this cannon though. CC

2nd December 2013, 12:42 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Of course it is clear what Marcus has tried to show. Please see my comprehensive thread on the subject: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...h+loading+1440 In my eyes, none of the hole problem is solved though ... Best, m

6th December 2013, 11:03 PM	#3
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	Reading this interesting thread I'm seriously doubting this is actually a cannon. A stone soft enough to be drilled with a simple bow drill and such a small diameter hole, would likely be prone to explode with the smallest amount of gunpowder. On the other hand, a very hard stone such as granite or basalt, was almost impossible to be drilled like that. This 'cannon' appears to be made of upper crust of limestone (Narry), which is a crunchy substance. The 'breech' area is narrower than the 'barrel', it should have been exactly the opposite. I believe it may be some kind of windlass or mechanical part from an antique industrial facility.