hand mortar

[snidervolley]

wasnt quite sure where to place this one ?
but want to build one of these next

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

This is a poor reproduction of the shoulder fired mortar they had much thicker barrels.

 

[Coot]

Take a look at volume two of Gilkerson's "Boarders Away".

 

[snidervolley]

agreed this a a theatrical model in above pic for sure but there was thin walled cups that latched on like a bayonet that where thinwalled but better steal was used ,i'll dig up a pic

 

[Grenadier1758]

Those pictured are grenade launchers. Try the Rifle Shoppe.

 

[snidervolley]

already checked rifle shppe wants 975 for kit,doa!

 

[hawkeye2]

http://veteranarms.com/ReproductionMuzzleloadersandFlintlocks/Hand-Mortar.html

$690 in stock and "ready to run". Made in India though.

 

[Alden]

I bought one of the Veteran's latest big bore one's. It is very nice. Wish I had a pic to share with its russet F&I Godwin sling, early Grenadier's Match Case, halberd, and grenadoes. Some day I'll share...

 

[snidervolley]

alden
veteran is out of stock doa! are you hapy with it( the wood is it nice walnut ?0 and what do shoot etc etc

 

[matt denison]

What do you load in them? Homemade grenaids? Tennis balls?

 

[snidervolley]

TENNIS BALL PAINTED BLACK WORKS WELL

 

[KABAR2]

alden
veteran is out of stock doa! are you hapy with it( the wood is it nice walnut ?0 and what do shoot etc etc

A friend of mine has one it is some sort of Indian hardwood not walnut lock functions ok after I tuned it for him overall a nice peice...

I have had this sitting around for a couple of years... a Rifle shop barrel I purchaced from another builder one of these days I'll get it stocked up... Project #102......

 

[snidervolley]

CANT SEE PICS ??? TRY AGAIN

 

[KABAR2]

CANT SEE PICS ??? TRY AGAIN

Photo's are right where they are supposed to be working fine... :hatsoff:

no need to yell...

 

[pargent]

I would love to try one of those for mortar competitions , would they fire a solid ball?, I am supposing they would be fired kneeling with the butt on the ground ?

 

[KABAR2]

I would love to try one of those for mortar competitions , would they fire a solid ball?, I am supposing they would be fired kneeling with the butt on the ground ?

I don’t think you want to fire kneeling with the butt on the ground... you are too close to the thing that way between the flash from the pan and the back blast at the muzzle something’s going to get burned at best at worst debris in eyes and a trip to the emergency room.... That's why mortars are fired with a linstock or friction primers to get the body away from the muzzle.... these were intended to be fired from the shoulder..

 

[Joel/Calgary]

I would love to try one of those for mortar competitions , would they fire a solid ball?

If I understand correctly, you'd want to find what material would give a solid ball with the weight of a hollow cast-iron grenade, maybe aluminum, or else something like a sand-filled tennis ball? I've heard that zinc or zinc-based "pot metal" alloys are used in lieu of cast iron in cannon shot, as the density is similar, but casting temperature is more reasonable.

I am supposing they would be fired kneeling with the butt on the ground ?

As has been mentioned, you likely want to keep exposed body parts back behind the muzzle, so shoulder or butt-under-the-armpit only. You're not going to be able to use the improvised indirect-fire technique sometimes used with the M79 - tape marks on the sling for different range, with the butt on the ground and your foot on the appropriate tape mark. Besides, with this launcher, that might be rough on the toe of the stock.

Regards,
Joel

 

[vetarms]

Hand Mortar firing a Tennis Ball...

Hand Mortar Firing

 

[Alden]

2-3/4" 'round Grenadoes are what Grenadiers once threw (lit by burning matchcord in their distinguishing matchcases) and what was fired out of the hand mortar as well as from the stone, or Coehorn, mortar. I have sand-filled painted plastic replicas from Loyalist and one from Veteran's for display only. Twisted fuse, wooden plug, thick black paint and all... Flaming tennis balls would be nice from the Hand Mortar and from my same-bored Coehorn one can do the same and even the ever popular cement-filled beer cans if you like...

 

[snidervolley]

nactorn
cool video , wished it would have shown loading it and ball drop on target