November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
A fine, bronze swivel gun (cannon) with an overall length of 18-3/4" and a bore of 1-1/2". Although unmarked, it is mid-18th century in form and probably of Spanish Colonial origin, based on comparable examples known from Spanish New World archaeological sites. The yoke-shaped, swivel mount of heavy brass is reproduction, as is the turned wooden stanchion base. There is a turned oak plug of some age inserted in the socket-shaped cascabel at the breech of the gun, in lieu of a longer wooden tiller or aiming arm that would have been more commonly used during the period. Such small cannon were commonly mounted in the fighting tops or on the quarterdeck and forescastle rails of ships, principally as anti-personnel weapons, as well as mounted on frontier fort walls and in blockhouses. CONDITION: Very good overall, with a few lines of scarring in the upper bore of the barrel and some light dings and bruises to the cannon, primarily at muzzle, trunnions and bottom of breech (yoke rest), as to be expected; the cannon has a very pleasing and uniform dark age patina to it. JLK
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