GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
FINE AND RARE BRONZE 1786 FRENCH 1-POUNDER CANNON MADE IN THE 3RD YEAR OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, 1795. SN: NSN. This bronze cannon is very well marked and translation reads it was made by Lecourant Foundry in Rennes on the 3rd anniversary of the French Republic which is 1795. There are also a pair of fancy initials "AN" in script on top of bbl near muzzle for "Armée Nationale". This is an early cannon made during the beginning years of the French Republic, prior to Napoleon and it appears to have seen some use. Surviving examples of 1st French Republic cannon are very rare by Lecourant Foundry, indeed only a handful of bronze bells & cannon by them still exist. Local records list one Etienne Lecourant, bell and cannon founder, to have worked 1775-1832. The carriage it is mounted on also appears quite old and possibly of same era. Model 1786 cannon were quite popular in the late 18th century. William Gilkerson in his text on naval weapons of the American Revolution through the War of 1812 Boarders Away II describes this 40" cannon quite accurately as "In all sizes, iron guns has almost entirely replaced brass guns by the mid-1700's in most of the Western navies, but in a limited way brass remained a favored material for small swivel guns, their expense notwithstanding". Indeed, by the end of the century small brass guns experienced a resurgence of favor that outlasted the age of fighting sail. Refinements in alloying and casting enabled the production of stronger-than-ever brass barrels. These enjoyed not only the customary advantages of their non-ferrous material, but could be made lighter, with relatively thinner walls yet bigger bore. Most were handsome guns though not so ornate as their predecessors, having shed some of the detailing lavished on artillery during the Baroque period in imitations of the larger guns of their own day, the later brass swivels followed the tradition set by their forbearers. Some were more imaginatively designed. In 1786 the French formalized the first known 'model' of swivel cannon, a brass gun that followed exactly the 1767 pattern then in use for larger guns, except the smaller size and caliber. This is as fine a marked example as you will find on an original but fragile stepped naval-style carriage of the era. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Ex-Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: Cannon is in very good condition overall with excellent, well defined markings on breech "Lecourant a. Rennes en Ventose" as can be seen in photos. Right trunnion is marked "No. 80" and left trunnion states weight of "167" lbs. Cannon measures 39-1/2" overall with a 2.25" bore with 34.5" bbl length, and measures approx 9" trunnion to trunnion. Carriage wood is dry and cracking in areas, wrought iron hardware exhibits iron patina with pitting. Two wood wheels are missing and the third has about 1/4 missing. 51206-3 JS (8,000-12,000)