My Weird Wiard Firecracker Cannon

[CrufflerSteve]

I have a cheap imitation of a Wiard field carriage with a Brooks firecracker barrel to celebrate the 4th.

I wanted to do the Wiard carriage since it had 35 degrees of elevation compared to the 5 degrees or so for the typical carriage. I know the barrel doesn't at all look like the Wiard barrel. My one criticism of the Brooks barrels is the trunnions are too skinny, way thinner than proportionate would be. It was a pain to get a trunnion plate working with it.

Here's a few pictures of it. My full scale Coehorn mortar is in the background. Actually, the Wiard is resting on the rear deck of the Coehorn. A small, but fun cannon.

As you can see, it does elevate quite a bit.

I tried it last night at extreme elevation with 10 grains of ffg and a black cat. It launched a black cat very nicely about 30 to 40 feet before it went off. Great fun.

A very strange carriage but I'll enjoy my 4th (if the police don't take it away).

Monday, if you're in the US - shoot your cannon. If you're in the UK or Dominion, shoot some to celebrate getting rid of us! Have a happy & safe 4th!

If you want full size pictures of these:
http://www.crufflersteve.net/firew1.jpg
http://www.crufflersteve.net/firew2.jpg
http://www.crufflersteve.net/firew3.jpg

Steve

 

[musketman]

How does it shoot M-80's?

Looks like a fine addition to any collection'''

About the barrel trunnions, couldn't you have some bushings made to slip over the existing trunnions and brazed into place to bring their diameter up to size?

 

[CrufflerSteve]

How does it shoot M-80's?

Looks like a fine addition to any collection'''

About the barrel trunnions, couldn't you have some bushings made to slip over the existing trunnions and brazed into place to bring their diameter up to size?

No M-80's. Just the regular firecrackers. Any sort of firecracker is illegal in Colorado. Fortunately, my job has me travel to Wyoming every so often so I can stock up. They don't even sell M-80's there.

I did think about trying bushings but time was short and I wanted something ready for Monday. It works and I suspect it will probably stay this way.

Doing this gave me some respect for the Wiard design. I don't know if it was accurate enough for indirect fire but it was an interesting cannon. When I win the lottery or some unknown relative leaves me large amounts of money I'll buy one from Paulson Brothers.

Steve

 

[prhneboy]

Hello, what a great looking cannon. I have 2 civil war cannons and one 1812 cannon, also 2 naval cannon. "Toys" They all shoot black powder and a small amount of cotton ball pits. to give it a little bit of a kick. Once in a great while a few BB'S maybe shot out of them. But i would like to know the maker and where you got the cannon? :hmm:

Thanks

bomberboy

 

[CrufflerSteve]

Hello, what a great looking cannon. I have 2 civil war cannons and one 1812 cannon, also 2 naval cannon. "Toys" They all shoot black powder and a small amount of cotton ball pits. to give it a little bit of a kick. Once in a great while a few BB'S maybe shot out of them. But i would like to know the maker and where you got the cannon? :hmm:
Thanks
bomberboy

I got it from Brooks USA. The trunnions are proportionately too small which made it a total PITA to fit to the cheeks. I complained to them and the fellow who runs the company said they will go more proportional over time. It is a well constructed barrel and the opening breech makes cleaning easy. It was very impressive with 15 grains of BP and 3 or so ladyfingers. It made for a great 4th. I went for the Wiard design since it could handle greater angles than most cannon but the high elevation was almost all that was used. I got the wheels from cannon-mania.

Steve

 

[prhneboy]

Thanks steve for the info. :RO: i soon will buy this product very soon! Thanks again.

eace:

Bomberboy