Sources for Cannon and other Goodies - Cheap

[Sidewinder]

Here are some sources for reasonably priced Cannon and Cutlasses, and filintlocks:

For Cannon try Hern Iron Works. They have the best prices and make the gun tubes Dixie Gun Works sells, but offer a MUCH better price: http://www.hernironworks.com/

Some of the guns used in the filming of MASTER AND COMMANDER, with Russell Crowe, were cast by them.

For Cutlasses and some neat period flintlocks try Middlesex Village Trading Co. .Check out their new blunderbuss boarding pistol> They have a Blunderbuss in development now: http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/

Loyalist Arms, in Canada, has some new period muskets. This is just part of what they offer: http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/17...ess&French.html

The Swords are here, but I think some of the swords may be later 19th Century styles: http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers.com/na...cal_swords.html

Hope this helps.

Sidewinder

[capnwilliam]

Good sources, Sidewinder; I'll have to check them out!

Capt. William

[Salamander]

Cannons... ah, a subject dear ta me heart...

As fr BP v Pyrodex et al, I have some small experience (Member, US Field Artillery Assn., Loyal Train chapter) an' have found BP to be superior with both live and blank loads as ye gets more bang an smoke with less work. Pyrodex reqires more ramming and must be lit with at least BP if not a friction primer or percussion cap and just doesn't perform as well in cannon. As for propane, what few I seen don't have the "cultural and historic" exemptions that a true BP cannon has... important when yer dealin with the local constabulary, but more important when BATF shows up.

As for sizing cannon, how much does an iron ball the size of the bore weigh? A one pounder fires a (gasp) one pound iron ball, I like the six pounder I crew on... a six pounder with a one pound charge of powder firing saboted round ball can hit a forty gallon keg ten shots out of twelve, and that's with the keg lying down. Not bad for smooth bore.

Keep yer fires where they belong, in yer lanterns & pipes

Salamander