I didn't want to hijack Irish_Mans thread but it sounds like some of you might know more about a small cannon I have. I purchased it from an auction where it was incorrectly labeled as Portuguese. I know its British by the raised British Crown, strait ridge for the vent hole, and loop handle on the cascabel. I found a similar one for sale that said this model was made around 1750. Length is about 32". Weight is around 125lbs. Bore measures around 2.25" which seems large for it's size. I believe that would translate to being a 2 lber.

What role would this model have served? It seems too large to be mounted on a swivel but kind of small to be in a naval carriage. Any thoughts or knowledge are appreciated. Thanks!

I'm no expert, but I'd guess that you have a British Grasshopper Cannon. Each infantry battalion was equipped with two of these to provide immediate firepower at the battalion commander's discretion. These cannon could fire a 3 lb ball or canister shot, and had a carriage designed for easy mobility even over difficult terrain. They were popular with both sides during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.

A naval gun due to the loop on the cascabel. These 2 pounders were mounted on naval carriages and mounted on small sloops, brigs or cutters. Probably used on small boats on the Great Lakes and the lakes and rivers of New England. Very cool.

Most naval cannons had two loops at the center of gravity for hoisting. This one could conceivably been hoisted vertically from the loop at the back, since it's small, but if the loop isn't at the actual tail end of the cannon, I imagine it would swing, which would be sub-optimal. I'm thinking this is a land gun.

Rabid's idea is plausible. I don't know how useful this would be in a fight. Kind of like the Gonzales cannon. It could also be for saluting, etc. But small boat, go among Indians, fire it so they wet their pants and flee, that's possible too.

The loop wasn't for hoisting but was part of the recoil mechanism. It enabled the breeching rope to pass through the loop rather than being looped around the knob. The RN adopted this pattern in the late 1700's. It is the Blomefield Pattern.
https://www.google.com/search?q=blomefield+pattern&biw=1680&bih=904&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Yp9kVYmEOsKvsAWkpIGYAw&ved=0CCUQsAQ

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Rabid's idea is plausible. I don't know how useful this would be in a fight. Kind of like the Gonzales cannon. It could also be for saluting, etc. But small boat, go among Indians, fire it so they wet their pants and flee, that's possible too.

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Its the same idea as the swivel guns mounted on keel boats on the rivers. They were used extensively on the small boats on the lakes/rivers in upstate New York during the ARW.

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Most naval cannons had two loops at the center of gravity for hoisting. This one could conceivably been hoisted vertically from the loop at the back, since it's small, but if the loop isn't at the actual tail end of the cannon, I imagine it would swing, which would be sub-optimal. I'm thinking this is a land gun.

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Most artillery in the French Army of that time period did have two handles near the trunnions for hoisting purposes. You see it quite extensively in Napoleon's Army.

Thanks for all the info Rabid! Just coming up with the seach term "Blomefield" yielded a ton info.

I love seeing threads like this one
I love reading up on stuff that I know nothing about....

my GIS on blomefield cannon brought up this link that looks exactly like the pics of your cannon

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/blackpowder-mortar-and-cannon-sponsored-by-seacoast-artillery/cannon-identification/

consensus of those "experts" seems to be small swivel gun
probably a knock-off of British Navel model
made for commercial merchant ships

Thanks Sheik. It is definitely fun researching old things like this. I also found that thread once I searched for blomefield. That one does look very similar but I think it is longer and thinner.

I found this one which is obviously the exact same model based off of pics and measurements in addition to the raised "I". They built a large display and have it in a naval carriage. Not saying that's correct though.

http://www.kwsantiques.de/english/cannon/a288.html

That's an amazing piece to have in your collection. Very cool.

Hi CS78, I am looking for a cannon similar to yours (my grandfather had one, but with no crown) and I see you wrote: "I found a similar one for sale that said this model was made around 1750." Can you tell me where you saw that?

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Hi CS78, you wrote: "I found a similar one for sale that said this model was made around 1750." Can you tell me where you saw that?

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They were found for sale at cannonsuperstore.com. Looks like they have sold though. Info quoted below was on their site a number of months back. I have not seen any that were close to these that did not have the crown. Please post pictures of your grandfathers cannon.


" " Fantastic Pair British Iron Naval Cannons



This is an exact matched pair of British cannons. Very rare and in very good condition.

They are located in the Netherlands for FREE pick up or we can arrange delivery anywhere.

Length: 31.5 inches (800mm)

Bore: 2.25 inches (54 mm)

Weight: 116 lbs. (53 kg)

Dated: middle 1700's

Markings: British Crown

Description: These naval cannons that were manufactured in England sometime in the middle to late 1700's.

They seem to be in very good condition for their age.



The story is that these cannons were used on large trading canoes on the Congo River (former Zaire). They used to be charged with shrapnel and nails for maximum effect when attacked. These canoes transported mainly slaves and ivory to the coast stations at he mouth of the Congo river as they could navigate the sand banks.

Slavery was practiced in that area from 1500 to 1850 until slavery was abolished. The boats and the cannons remained in villages along the river, were the current owner found these two in the late 1970's.

Located in the Netherlands " "

Thanks for the additional info. These do look quite similar. I will look for a picture of my grandfather's. It's been many years since he passed on.

Do you think the price listed at the cannonsuperstore is correct?

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Do you think the price listed at the cannonsuperstore is correct?

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Shoot me an email. toledo321 at aol.com