Unusual cannon

[archieclement]

Came across this unusual cannon going to be auctioned. Not sure if seen one quite like it. So had several questions for our artillery fans.

1. Was this cannon likely never in US service?
2. Would this cannon possibly been representative of militia cannon?
3. Assume not alot of weight goes with 1861 painted on tube, is it likely correct era?

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/87/207/1861light-cannon-john-potter-marked-carriage-and-limber

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

The info on it is sketchy, it kind of rings hollow to me. Can't exactly say why, but I would be cautious and get as much info as you can from every source. Finding another would be helpful, to either verify or difuse the confusion.

--BBF

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

To me, it looks like a "homemade" gun and carriage. I don't see anywhere on the carriage to hang implements or water bucket......there's no method of elevating or depressing the barrel either. Is there a vent?

 

[drezac]

It is possible it could have been made as a salute gun for firing blanks. From the photos, with that carriage it would defiantly not be capable of firing any type of live round. The carriage is not built in a manner that would allow the force of recoiling to be distributed properly to the carriage. Most likely the carriage would come apart if a live round was fired with it, In my opinion, I think that the price listed is way too high for the item.

 

[bayonet]

$20,000-30,000? I wouldn't spend $20-30 on that. Ok maybe $30.95

 

[drezac]

That auction is not it's first go-round. I found this online, it appears to be from 2005

Iron Parade Cannon and Caisson,

Civil War era cannon. 37" diameter steel banded wheels with red paint with black pinstripes. Total barrel length from muzzle to cascable is 42" with a 3" smooth bore. Cannon barrel has wedding band encompassing the barrel near the center with yellow pain...

www.cowanauctions.com

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Some small town piece not worth that price.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Very interesting and attractive. It may not be a Civil War relic but it's certainly a nice piece of folk art. The seller never claimed that it was used in the Civil War, only that it was "Civil War era." As to the price, who knows? You get two wealthy folk art collectors who want it badly enough and there's no telling how high the bids will go.

 

[bayonet]

Very interesting and attractive. It may not be a Civil War relic but it's certainly a nice piece of folk art. The seller never claimed that it was used in the Civil War, only that it was "Civil War era." As to the price, who knows? You get two wealthy folk art collectors who want it badly enough and there's no telling how high the bids will go.

Hows that saying go? "Theres a Sucker born every minute", or something like that. Someone paid over $20,000 for it in 2005! Guess it took 17 years for the Wife to demand he get rid of it.

 

[archieclement]

The info on it is sketchy, it kind of rings hollow to me. Can't exactly say why, but I would be cautious and get as much info as you can from every source. Finding another would be helpful, to either verify or difuse the confusion.

--BBF

I have no interest in acquiring a cannon, just window shop them while looking for guns

Thought it was curious, possibly era piece, though it might been postwar attempt to look ACW.

 

[archieclement]

To me, it looks like a "homemade" gun and carriage. I don't see anywhere on the carriage to hang implements or water bucket......there's no method of elevating or depressing the barrel either. Is there a vent?

I do know a actual ACW cannon here was hastily mounted and put into action with a carriage made by a local blacksmith/wagonsmith.

Unfortunately there's little description other then who did it, the fate of the gun is unknown. Suspect melted down later in war as was sorta oddball bore, 9 pdr.

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

You have a good idea about it's origin and possible demise. Made in a hurry for an unknown purpose, then put into a more demanding role, when the States needed all the iron/metal/etc it could get for the 1st and 2nd world wars, by melting it down.

--BBF

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Reminds me of the episode of The Andy Griffith Show when Opie had to do a class report on the city's famous cannon, fabled to have been used in the civil war. Turns out it did not.

--BBF

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Reminds me of the episode of The Andy Griffith Show when Opie had to do a class report on the city's famous cannon, fabled to have been used in the civil war. Turns out it did not.

--BBF

That show had some hilarious episodes about Mayberry's history and cannons.

Two episodes immediately come to mind:

1. Andy made up all kinds of fake history to sell a worthless cannon in one episode.

2. In another, Goober lit a match to see what was down the barrel of an old cannon.
(It was still loaded and ignited) ... sending the shell into a bad guy's car, thus "saving the day".

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I do know a actual ACW cannon here was hastily mounted and put into action with a carriage made by a local blacksmith/wagonsmith.

Unfortunately there's little description other then who did it, the fate of the gun is unknown. Suspect melted down later in war as was sorta oddball bore, 9 pdr.

True as that is, I'd be willing to bet the carriage you mention was of more sturdy construction (albiet hastily so) than the one at the auction.

 

[Ole Miss]

Would love to hear from @redbob with his thoughts on this item.
Regards
David

 

[redbob]

At that time, cannon were sometimes fired to draw interest to political rallys and events ( and sometimes even by rainmakers) and as this gentleman was a politician, this cannon may have been built for that purpose and never intended for combat.

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Redbob, that makes sense.

--BBF

 

[Rhea Cole]

The light carriage & 2 1/2" bore are consistent with a signal ? saluting gun. The "sewer pipe" shape is consistent with a signal / saluting gun. In all likelihood, given the data we have, this is a signal / saluting cannon.

 

[Rebforever]

End of the barrel has been sawed off. It shows new metal.