Help ID a Naval Cannon

Gun Tramp · Jan 7, 2024

3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.

Commodore Swab · Jan 7, 2024

Selair_chapman said:
Yes indeed! Will blast'er in the spring and post videos. Speaking of which, where can a guy get a 3" mold made for lead casting I wonder? I cast for my rifles and muskets already but the standard mold makers probably wouldn't do it...I'd assume.

Check with callahan

mzzldr · Jan 7, 2024

Selair_chapman said:
Yes indeed! Will blast'er in the spring and post videos. Speaking of which, where can a guy get a 3" mold made for lead casting I wonder? I cast for my rifles and muskets already but the standard mold makers probably wouldn't do it...I'd assume.

Check out this link, maybe they can help:
http://trailrockordnance.com/ammunition-price-list/

Selair_chapman · Jan 7, 2024

Gun Tramp said:
3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.

maybe not a bad idea

zulu · Jan 7, 2024

I have a mold that cast a ball 2.90" in diameter which allows proper windage. for a 3" bore . A friend made it for me about 20 years ago.
I have cast a lot of balls with it out of different material.
I weigh them but can't promise how accurate it is.
Never the less, here it is.

Lead - 4.8 lbs.
Zinc - 3.1 lbs.
Aluminum - 1.1 lbs.
Concrete - 1 lb.

I have made hundreds of shot with it.

Here are some pictures.

Aluminum

Zinc

Lead

Concrete

Miscellaneous lead shot

Selair_chapman · Jan 7, 2024

zulu said:
I have a mold that cast a ball 2.90" in diameter which allows proper windage. for a 3" bore . A friend made it for me about 20 years ago.
I have cast a lot of balls with it out of different material.
I weigh them but can't promise how accurate it is.
Never the less, here it is.

Lead - 4.8 lbs.
Zinc - 3.1 lbs.
Aluminum - 1.1 lbs.
Concrete - 1 lb.

I have made hundreds of shot with it.

Here are some pictures.

Aluminum

Zinc

Lead

Concrete

Miscellaneous lead shot

Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.

zulu · Jan 7, 2024

Selair_chapman said:
Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.

Don't even know where to find him anymore.

Deavertex · Jan 8, 2024

Gun Tramp said:
3" lead projectile? Considering the $8261 original value of your tube, you might want to ask your insurance agent if he knows of a lighter and possibly safer material for your projectiles.

Cast iron was the material for naval guns, not lead. A lead ball would probably blow up the gun, since it's nearly twice the density of cast iron. Also, for this gun, you're not talking about the bore of a six pounder, though. You're better off shooting something like a soup can filled with concrete, up to 3 or 4 pounds tops, if you want a projectile.

I'm pretty sure you're already aware of this or most of it, and I apologize if this comes across as "dudesplaining", but seeing lead mentioned for the projo was scary to this old gun lover.

Selair_chapman · Jan 8, 2024

Deavertex said:
Cast iron was the material for naval guns, not lead. A lead ball would probably blow up the gun, since it's nearly twice the density of cast iron. Also, for this gun, you're not talking about the bore of a six pounder, though. You're better off shooting something like a soup can filled with concrete, up to 3 or 4 pounds tops, if you want a projectile.

I'm pretty sure you're already aware of this or most of it, and I apologize if this comes across as "dudesplaining", but seeing lead mentioned for the projo was scary to this old gun lover.

Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.

mzzldr · Jan 8, 2024

Selair_chapman said:
Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.

It appears you have a sub-bore diameter stainless steel sleeve in your barrel. A call to South Bend Replicas will give you their recommendation.

Selair_chapman said:
Point well taken. Much appreciated. I'm definitly new to the cannon game and appreciate all the dudesplaining I can get.

davec2 · Jan 9, 2024

Selair_chapman said:
Oh wow! That is more than impressive. Just love it. I may need to follow down your path. I have a thing for being able to cast for all my blackpowder (and some smokeless) firearms and will need to do this for the cannon. I dont suppose your friend is still able to make these? If so I am happy to pay whatever is worth his while.

Selair,

You might want to read through this older post.......especially pages 2 & 3

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/well-i-pulled-the-trigger.136380/page-2

Selair_chapman · Jan 9, 2024

davec2 said:
You might want to read through this older post.......especially pages 2 & 3

Great read/info! Many thanks

Selair_chapman · Jan 9, 2024

To follow up on the material of balls, I assume that the pound designation of cannons is based on the weight of a solid iron ball? If so, what would this cannon be with a 3" bore? Not a 6lb I take it, so likely a scaled down bore from the original barrel this one was modeled on?

mzzldr · Jan 9, 2024

Selair_chapman, et. al.,

Hopefully this link will clear up the bore diameter (pounds versus inches) discussion:

http://www.civilwarartillery.com/calibertopounder.htm

Youngblood · Jan 9, 2024

Selair,

2.91 is a 3 pounder
3.67 is a 6 pounder

Someone better at math than me can crunch to see what exactly 3inches is.

Selair_chapman · Jan 10, 2024

Youngblood said:
Selair,

2.91 is a 3 pounder
3.67 is a 6 pounder

Someone better at math than me can crunch to see what exactly 3inches is.

I'll just call her a three pounder. The ball itself is 2.9ish anyway.

TVG.75 · Jan 12, 2024

I would be proud to have that gun!
Zinc is the correct projectile material that can be cast at home. Lead is far to heavy.
An aluminum mold will not work, it will get "soft" since zinc will be cast at over 800 degrees & aluminum melts at 1220 degrees.
I had Dominick Carpenter make me 2.20" and 2.44" steel molds for my guns a number of years ago. I'm not sure if he still does this but any capable machine shop should be able to make one. I found Dominick Carpenter on www.GBOReloaded.com in the black powder mortar & cannon section.
It isn't hard to cast zinc balls. Plenty of precautions need to be taken. Most pot metal or die cast things are made of zinc alloys & will usually cast just fine.

Selair_chapman · Jan 14, 2024

TVG.75 said:
I would be proud to have that gun!
Zinc is the correct projectile material that can be cast at home. Lead is far to heavy.
An aluminum mold will not work, it will get "soft" since zinc will be cast at over 800 degrees & aluminum melts at 1220 degrees.
I had Dominick Carpenter make me 2.20" and 2.44" steel molds for my guns a number of years ago. I'm not sure if he still does this but any capable machine shop should be able to make one. I found Dominick Carpenter on www.GBOReloaded.com in the black powder mortar & cannon section.
It isn't hard to cast zinc balls. Plenty of precautions need to be taken. Most pot metal or die cast things are made of zinc alloys & will usually cast just fine.

Many thanks! I will reach out to Dominick and report how it goes.

Selair_chapman · Jan 15, 2024

Update on the restoration. All done! Here she is.

JeffG · Jan 15, 2024

Looks like a South Bend Replicas Verbruggen, 2 3/4 Bore. ? Probable JP Barnett vintage. Most likely cast iron and steel sleeved, a dandy piece!! How does a tennis ball fit in it? That would make a dandy blank. The SBR catalog will give you a wealth of info, as will "Round shot and Rammers" .

Lead balls are ok for mortars, but a little dense for cannon. (pressures) I would suggest zinc balls or balls cast of Bondo, automotive filler, or concrete filled soda cans.

You know we are going to need pictures!

https://www.rotometals.com/other-products/cannon-balls-for-pop-mortar-cannons/

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