The never ending project- my cannon

[MoRedMan]

I own/operate a CSA Artillery unit (reenacting), and maintaining the gun and associated equipment is an ongoing project. Over the last 10 years, we've slowly replaced all the timber of the gun carriage, primarily with white oak and some hedge (Osage Orange) thrown in for grins. The limber is currently in the shop for a new set of wheels and some more ironwork, etc. I know better than to try to draw a line as to where a project will cease, as it never happens!
If I can decipher the plans for WBTS artillery, a '48 Cub ought to be a slam dunk- HA More pics as I round them up...

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[dgrapes59]

That is pretty neat, I got a BANG out of it!

Thanks for sharing,

[RaymondDurban]

Very cool! Thanks for posting!

[VinceD]

I would love to see you shoot that. Very cool!!!

[Buzzard Wing]

Very cool. Seems like a whole bunch of artillery guys spent time here in Newport at Ft Adams. But I am still pretty ignorant about the whole thing.

[Yogie]

Very cool. Seems like a whole bunch of artillery guys spent time here in Newport at Ft Adams. But I am still pretty ignorant about the whole thing.

Larry, we need to talk a little at the Va fest coming up soon.

That's a very nice Gun you have there Mr. Moredman and great pictures too, thanks so much for sharing. I love the night firings with the steel wool added for sparks.
I was into reenacting ( CSA ) for about 12 years spending some of it running the bigger guns like yours. Spent some time taking artillery classes at Jackson's Mill ( Home of Stonewall ) learning to be on the safe side at all positions of the gun.

Here's a picture of an original 6 lb Nepoleon bronze that we used many times during events. One of my biggest thrills was pulling the lanyard on a cannon that was used during the war. It still has many markings on the hard barrel from incoming shots.

Last edited by Yogie on Tue Feb 21, 2012 10:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Yogie]

It's hard to imagine the power behind these big guns back during the war. The cannon in my picture is using 1/2 lb of black powder with a little steel wool added.
This same gun during battle would be using 1 1/2 lbs sending a 6 pound shot of different types up to a mile and a half away.

Mr Moredman, you done got me cranked up now.

[coppersmythe]

THAT is impressive coppersmythe...........................................................

[Yogie]

Mr. Moredman,
Here's a few pictures of a mountain howitzer I built several years ago I thought you might enjoy.
I've used it at several Memorial events and monument dedications in our area working with WWII veterans/ friends.

I hope to see more of your project as the limber starts coming together.
Thanks again for your photos !

[Joe Malinowski]

Those are all great I love cannons. Yogie I hope that isn't going to be sending rounds at our camp at Boss's fest.

[Gary Dotson]

Man, you guys play with neat toys! great photos, thanks for sharing!

[Boss Hog]

Man, you guys play with neat toys! great photos, thanks for sharing!

Big difference in value cub vrs original cannon I guess thats where the saying the only difference between men and boys the price of their toys

[Yogie]

Man, you guys play with neat toys! great photos, thanks for sharing!

Big difference in value cub vrs original cannon I guess thats where the saying the only difference between men and boys the price of their toys

Not so much $$$ in mine Boss, built at the shop from odds and ends on nights when as usual, I can't sleep. Lot of time put into it but I enjoyed it.

Now the gun that Moredman has is a different story, that's a beautiful cannon, replica barrel and carrage will cost around $20,000+, plus with a nice caisson for ammo I'm probably shooting way to low.
Maybe I'd better add a little more powder to my guessing.

[Virginia Mike]

One must honor the courge of the men who charged these guns.

I got out of the big guns when powder got high priced.

I still have a Spanish swivel gun. My neighbors know when it is New Years.

[MoRedMan]

Wow, guys! Good to know there's some more arty guys here, especially those of the southern bias!
I've owned the gun for about 10 years now, and we replaced the stock of the gun quite a while ago, and have strived to work on it each year since, coming closer to making it 'correct' as to the WBTS time frame. Anyone who has had the opportunity to look over the plans for field artillery during the war knows it's a challenge deciphering the diagrams and measurements, and duplicating them. Quite a challenge, even with the tools that are available today! Makes you appreciate the level of craftsmanship and dedication of the carpenters and blacksmiths of the time, sure enough.
I have documented photographically every step of every workday, and have hundreds of photo's, so with much difficulty, I will streamline what I post here to the essentials.
2 years ago, we decided to replace the axle/wheel assembly on the gun, and was lucky enough to become acquainted with Mr. Ben Miller (Miller Wagon and Cannon), of Parrotsville, Tennessee, who build extraordinary wheels using the same methods of wheelwrights of the 1860's. We ran down there, and picked up a pair of his #1, 57" wheels, and acquired a nice hedge timber from a friend and set to replacing the rolling stock. The carriages of the time were made primarily of white oak, but as we're a Missouri unit, we decided to use hedge for the axle housing, as it's a native wood to the great state of MO (my family has been in the state since 1823, and proudly provided the Confederacy with more than one good son!).
I could drone on for hours on the subject, so to keep from boring you to tears, I'll let the pics talk. Feel free to ask any questions!

As to the gun itself, the finished gun weighs in right at 1700 pounds, with 900 of that the barrel itself. The barrel was machined from a section of a ship's propeller shaft, and since it's machined steel instead of cast iron, it produces a unique sound when fired. Just ask the yankees! A sidenote on the hedge- as hedge fenceposts will remain solid for at least 100 years, I figure the next 2 generations will never have to replace that axle! We cut the hedge so that the growth rings 'grip' the steel axle, and as it dries further, should clamp it as tight as can be.

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