I wondered how you all were coming along with this project. You all REALLY did a fine job on the restoration. The Carriage looks great and I understand you could not have exactly authentic Iron Straps over the Trunnions as thieves could open the straps and steal the gun and perhaps use it nefariously.
I also liked the Lion Head decoration on the front of the Gun Carriage, both to identify it as being from Great Britain and because it signifies how the Gun could ROAR back in its day.
Back in the 50's in my adopted home town of Fredericksburg, VA, it seems the Town was awakened to the sound of an "UnCivil War" cannon being fired AND a couple of Cannon Balls flying towards town. At that time, the cannon had not had their touch holes plugged and the cannon balls in the pyramids on display with them were loose. Seems a guy who had something against the town, got drunk, brought a 10 pound keg of black powder to one of the historic cannon on display and was FIRING ON THE TOWN. (There were then and still are original cannon all over the place near the town because of the National Battlefield Parks there.) They said he used a push broom handle to load the balls, but no one ever said how he got the powder down the bore, though he figured out some way to do it.
Fortunately, he did not actually hit anyone or anything of value in the town, before the Cops got there to stop him.
As a result of that drunken fool, all the historic cannon got their vent holes plugged and the cannon balls were spot welded together in the ball pyramids.
Gus