- Joined
- Mar 26, 2002
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- 1,861
Most of these were cast in Borneo in the late 1600s to early 1700s. Borneo was a favorite place because it had craftsmen and large deposits of tin and bronze.
Bronze was the preferred metal for casting cannons. It cost three times as much as cast iron, but it did not explode into shrapnel like cast iron. And, I am told, that cast iron cannon always did explode sometime as the metal fatigued from shot after shot. Bronze just split. Bronze also did not rust, good for naval warfare.
In the first thumbnail you will see a "Spiral Cannon" I have put my YCS there for size. This cannon weighs about 300 pounds and is 61" Long. Next thumbnails show my entire collection. Too heavy to move easily for better backgrounds. The cannon range in size from 28" to the 61" big guy. Most are about 48" in length. These are the larger swivel guns.
These "swivel guns" were mounted on the rails of ships, many were pirates like the Moro and the Dyak. The cannons were used as giant shotguns to clear the decks of enemy vessels.
Cannons were also used as currency. Probably some of these were traded for wives.
One of my favorite tribes were the Moros. They were really tough. Successfully fought the Spanish for 377 Years! Never gave up.
The last thumbnails show a Spanish Lantaka. 55" and 180 pounds. I recently posted this on an edged weapons forum so I stuck a Moro spear in it to qualify as an "edged weapon." The "sea Horse" or dolphin handles were for lifting te cannon.
I hope to get some help soon to move these to better locations for photos.
If there is interest, I will post better pictures of my new hobby.
Bronze was the preferred metal for casting cannons. It cost three times as much as cast iron, but it did not explode into shrapnel like cast iron. And, I am told, that cast iron cannon always did explode sometime as the metal fatigued from shot after shot. Bronze just split. Bronze also did not rust, good for naval warfare.
In the first thumbnail you will see a "Spiral Cannon" I have put my YCS there for size. This cannon weighs about 300 pounds and is 61" Long. Next thumbnails show my entire collection. Too heavy to move easily for better backgrounds. The cannon range in size from 28" to the 61" big guy. Most are about 48" in length. These are the larger swivel guns.
These "swivel guns" were mounted on the rails of ships, many were pirates like the Moro and the Dyak. The cannons were used as giant shotguns to clear the decks of enemy vessels.
Cannons were also used as currency. Probably some of these were traded for wives.
One of my favorite tribes were the Moros. They were really tough. Successfully fought the Spanish for 377 Years! Never gave up.
The last thumbnails show a Spanish Lantaka. 55" and 180 pounds. I recently posted this on an edged weapons forum so I stuck a Moro spear in it to qualify as an "edged weapon." The "sea Horse" or dolphin handles were for lifting te cannon.
I hope to get some help soon to move these to better locations for photos.
If there is interest, I will post better pictures of my new hobby.