gunner Gordon

Ahh, wonderful to find some true knowledge on this subject

My group is firing sleeved barrels, several shows per weekend, and then doing the usual cleaning at the end of the weekend, pouring water down the barrels, brushing and using bore butter. As a fabricator and a son of a master machinest, my questions are these.

1 Since the barrels are pressure fit into the casting and the touchhole drilled afterward, there is no true seal between sleeve and casting. there will be a buildup of powder residue and rust over time. Having rebuilt historic machinery and architecture pieces for years, I've seen how this type of buildup can cause expansion pressure. How safe is this over time?

2 How many actual firings would be considered safe before retiring barrels?

3 There was also a mention of honecombing of barrels over time. Is this just relative to cast iron? what about the sleeves, how do they react over time to firing?

4 Shouldn't our master gunner be keeping a detailed log of firings?

5 We use aluminum foil for our charges, you mentioned an incident involving aluminum foil. What are the pros and cons of foil charges?

I'm relatively new to the group, and the people in charge have been lording their methods and knowledge as absolute. Me, having been a machinests son,a fabricator and a shooter since I was 12 have some serious doubts about the safety of the group.

What are your thoughts, and what else should I been considering?

The problem with an unknown core casting, gun cast with the liner in place , is many fold. The liner and the breech plug in the liner should be of a construction to fire the charge without the iron around it. In such a casting the molten material can cool off too quickly on contact with the steel liner ond become weak or porous .The vent when drilled may not be true but have spark hiding cavities. There have been attempts to solve these problems, but the best way to build a sleeved gun is to cast it solid,better trunnions too, and bore the tube then press the properly breeched liner into the tube. If you don't know the maker you don't know the construction of the gun. Then an X-ray such as used for aircraft castings is about the only positive way to be sure. Proof firing an unknown gun only tells you it's safe through the last shot. I too know two one armed gunners, one involving the use of aluminum foil, there are no small cannon accidents. Think, what would be the acceptable percentage of failures? One of the true examples of zero tolerance for accidents.

I'm truly sorry that it has taken so long for me to get back to you, I work in the motion picture and government sector with special weapons(class3 and destructive devices) I alo teach a coast guard approved gunnery class for tall ships in southern CA as well as running guncrews on two of these ships. Please contact me on my profile PM and I would be happy to share my experiances with you.

Capt Rhedd,

This be James B. Hawke of Ye Pyrate Brotherhood. That piece looks strikingly like our Quatermasters gun that we have fired many times. All the marking are the same as well the overall look. I would suggest bringing it to one of our next get togethers so Liam La Croix (Bill) can give it a eyeballin'.

Fair winds to you and yer bonny lass.

James B. Hawke

(aka Gregory Serra)

Ship's Cooper

Ye Pyrate Brotherhood

Funny you say that. I was waiting for the next time we get together for your opion on this little bit of fun. I need to go to the link to see when next we meet.

I am so itching to fire this but common sense has the better of me.

Now how much for a cannon?

Capt. J.A. Rhedd

The Devil's Chariot

NY Harbor

Now yur talkin, what kinda cannon yur lookin fur??

8" to 30

swivel to mortar

letme know and i'll throw sum prices at ya

and just to say, i sold a .69 cal smooth , looked just like yours. the gent came to me several events later tells me the frizzen snapped in half on a fire. we are currently working to replace it with a newer lock.

an iffen yur lookin for another iron in the basket, i have the huge sale right now , look here https://pyracy.com/in...showtopic=15535 an if ya cant do the sale now, i do accept payments on in stock items (shameless plug)

RE above description,the easiest reliable new lock is L&R queen ann lock, as Track of the wolf sells. the quickest fix with a reliable ending. I run into these guns all the time, if you are in the business you will too.

Aye eye ye should go authentic every time ! Now aboot the shilling ye took off the drumhead last night in the pub while drinkin tay forgit the glass problem, ye be pressed inta service if ye know wot I means...

All that money they spend comes from us, why don't they just not take it in the first place, we could answer most of the questions ourselves....

"Room service, it's all I really want anyway"

I see tha press gangs aboot fer the HMS Surprise agin, the'l be wanten me bones fer tha gun deck no doubt, good way ta stay aheed o' the RN's schedule an readiness watches. Hate doin it wi me' captain in disguise all on our own, need ta recruit sum o' me own gunners.....let's see.... who here in the pub be drunk enough ta sign on.....who.....

STRAFE..........lane changing tecnique on LA freeways

LOWER GI

Burning Man needs an airship with several Gatling guns to repel the bloody shirtcocker infestation!

.

Let's go! I happen to have several Gatling guns, take yer pick: 1874 model in 45-70 or 1897 model in 3ocal. Carriages or tripods(see Mail Call 1st episode)

I'll drink tay that !

Happy birthday Rue, may they all be stationary in time!

PC TOILET PAPER

STAKES it is my dear( for the vampire in you)

BONDO

Aye withdrawals be right. Wot I needs is a hair o' the.....or maybe a lip or sumthin to ease the pain.......maybe ifn I jist lift me head off the pistol, who put that thar?

yes, well, eat the ice anyway

SPEAKS you may, my dear

SPANKS........ ummm yeah, you left me no choice

THANKS

THONGS

Always waking me up at the best part....

mummy

TRANGS

that would be GORDON kilts

PRANKS