gunner Gordon

We seem to be talking about two distinctly different weapons that look almost identical. One, the "coach" gun, tends to have a full length stock and a 18 to 20 inch barrel with a swell on the muzzle. This weapon has a cylinder bore like a shotgun with the swell to facilitate loading on a moving surface like a coach or the deck of a ship. You can feel the bore just past the cannon barrel flare. It is intended to be fired primarily from the shoulder. The "blunderbuss" (handheld) is usually somewhat shorter with the stock itself being shorter. These weapons do not fit the shoulder fired venue as the pan is now in your face. I have had the flash in the pan on shipboard lifted out of the pan while still burning and blown into my face with muskets, nevermind the shorter blunderbuss doing the same thing. The bores of these weapons are usually tapered from bell to breech and have no caliber per say except the smallest point ,this being due to shot being the load. Nails and other scrape steel would not have been used (bronze tube) except by the ignorant or the desperate, it is an enduring myth. We must remember that these were the state of the art weapons of the time and expensive they were not regarded lightly. Used for watch duty to give a loud warning and the shooter an even chance at hitting something. The sheer number of variation attests to the interest in improving the weapon type.

One other thing not taken to task was the thickness of the side . Up and down oak (ribs) and horizontal sides. Side pieces alone can vary on commercial craft from 2 1/2 inches thick on a 90 ft. LOD schooner to 4 inches or more on larger ships. Daniel is correct that charges were loaded way in advance and were not incremental by target as we do today with semi fixed munnitions for mortars and artillery. Mythbusters only has to convince their viewers of what they see on the screen, and are not accountable for scientific results . Afterall, how many shots did they fire? and at what?

If you can find a copy of it ,Chappell's book "early north american small boats" or something like that is a great source of construction and rig types from the time period and slightly after.

Even in the military, French cavalry pistols converted to sea duty included adding a belt hook, many examples exist on the market today and are well documented.

Don't forget that the guns we get from India are not the best they make, the "shooters they produce for the UK must be proved and tested to enter those markets as "live" guns. Not everyone enjoys the freedoms we have here. Some dealers are getting the idea across to the makers to manufacture thr "real" thing without a vent, but they seem tobe loath to sell their best for less. I have several 1st model brown bess muskets and have removed the breach plugs and found the workmanship on the plug and the bore to be of very high quality. Just wish someone would ship them some decent black walnut.

In addition to the above observances on the mythbusters episode ,note that the replica 6pounder tube was not full scale but 3" not the 3.67" it should have been but still shooting the full charge of modern made glazed black powder, much more volitile than the original. The wood structure was not anywhere near the mass of an original. Having worked on many such T.V. shows I can tell you the controversy we are discussing is far better viewer advertising than doing it correctly and not haveing it "talked" about.Don't get your hopes up until world wrestling becomes a competition of... wrestling?

trade ye two blind ones fer one wi' no teeth

unfortunately the event has been canceled due to.................snow damage!?!!! It is planned to be up again in 2011

me mate an' me be south o' ye on tha Surprise and other ships wa ha guns interested? post me on me profile fer particulars mate.

Ye ha' nay idea mate, badgers is wot got me in trouble most in this world. Tha quote be " I poked a badger wi' a spoon, once" long story , wot part o' the country be ye? Me Mate an I be needin' cannoneers all tha time. Really, on ship and shore. Besides, well, badger hole, hmmmmmm......

And that comment put me ta' hiden wi' tha regiment on "myspace" fer a while, take a look at "BYDANDFOREVER", lot o pirates in that corner o' tha world.

DWEEBS

Bin Laden, (whatever happened to him?)

AHHH, oh , what's the use......

MANICURE

Cripes ! Capt BlackHearted Pearl, they be eight more guns ta deal wi on the gundeck and the ussual on ta quarter deck, needin more vermin from the hold or wot ye can find ashore.....any chance a' me goinwi ya ta press a few more?

Ja wohl Ganadige Frau Brower, Vielen Dank fur das Spiel von Pooh Bahr. Es hat mir an meine zeit in Deutchland errinert, damals WEST Deutchland. Ich will wieder da sein eines Tages.

non so fierce as BUNICULA !!!

ah yes, HAMMER FILMS

Are you offering CANDY Captain?

CHARLIE