| Project by SedaliaSteve | posted 336 days ago | 2429 views | 1 time favorited | 22 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
I got a cannon barrel, about 34” long with a 2” bore. I decided to make a Naval carriage for it since field carriages are really hard. I used 8/4 soft maple. I tried to give it a cherry stain. It looked okay but sure didn’t look like cherry as I hoped. I did get some carriage hardware from a place that specializes in it and only did a little of the metalwork myself.
It had to be strong since it would be used for live fire. I used blind dados to join the parts with some bolts running through the piece. It has recoiled up to 8 feet on dry hard ground.
It does follow a traditional plan. The only difference is that traditional carriages like this widened towards the rear to match the shape of the cannon tube. My tube is straighter so I went the easy way and made them parallel.
































22 comments so far
Karson
home | projects | blog
25811 posts in 1299 days
posted 336 days ago
Great job. Where are cannon tubes available>?
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Stan
home | projects | blog
8 posts in 348 days
posted 336 days ago
That looks like fun to shoot! Where do ya get cannon balls?
-- Thank God for Charlie Mopp's !!!!
rikkor
home | projects | blog
11335 posts in 774 days
posted 336 days ago
This is a really cool project. I am interested in the answers to the two questions above.
Tomcat1066
home | projects | blog
776 posts in 695 days
posted 336 days ago
Nice! I’ve worked on American Civil War artillery crews, so I’ve squeezed off a few rounds out of more than one cannon in my day. Beautiful looking carriage for that piece. What size gun is it? I worked mostly on 12 pounders myself.
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
SedaliaSteve
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 342 days
posted 336 days ago
There is an active board for cannon people at Graybeard Outdoors. I found my tube before discovering this and lucked out that it was properly made. This site has sources for tubes, metal, plans and everything else. I also found someone there to make a custom steel round ball mould for it. I’ve used it for lead and zinc casting. You can tubes that just look good for models and real ones for firing from firecracker size to full size. I’m sure there are a lot of people here who could do the wood part.
My barrel, in its final form, resembles a 1/2 scale Parrot rifle field cannon. I opted for the Naval carriage since the woodwork was easier. Field carriage wheels are seriously difficult. I do have a full scale cannon that I dress up in uniform to play with but I bought it so its not a project.
Steve
Kerry
home | projects | blog
131 posts in 689 days
posted 336 days ago
Wow – you must live in a really bad neighborhood! All I felt I needed was a dog. LOL
Really cool project. Thanks for posting it.
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
CedarFreakCarl
home | projects | blog
566 posts in 953 days
posted 336 days ago
Too cool…....
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
blackcherry
home | projects | blog
731 posts in 722 days
posted 336 days ago
Dude I wish your were my neighbor, that’s way cool…Blkcherry
GaryK
home | projects | blog
9549 posts in 887 days
posted 336 days ago
Very cool!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Jimthecarver
home | projects | blog
429 posts in 684 days
posted 336 days ago
I want one…lol
That looks like a Blast! My neighbors would just love to her that go off.
-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.
Eric Arrington
home | projects | blog
8 posts in 342 days
posted 334 days ago
Your toys are cooler than mine.
-- Eric Arizona/Argentina -- Cut twice measure once www.elcumbre.com
Gary Fixler
home | projects | blog
649 posts in 281 days
posted 280 days ago
I’m with all the neighbor terrorists in here. I have a wicked desire to fire that thing in my little 20'x30' back yard, with neighbors bordering me tightly on its 3 sides ;)
Looks great, btw!
-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator
8iowa
home | projects | blog
592 posts in 660 days
posted 280 days ago
I’m impressed! Here I thought I was doing great just having a 100 yard rifle range outside my shop’s door.
-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"
kiwi1969
home | projects | blog
601 posts in 341 days
posted 280 days ago
ain,t gunpowder fun! bet you were nervous first time you fired it, hoping all the hard work would hold up. Looks like it did. Do you need a permit for this?
-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand
Gary Fixler
home | projects | blog
649 posts in 281 days
posted 280 days ago
kiwi1969 – even if you do need a permit, who’s going to try to enforce it? He has a cannon! I think once you have a cannon, you’re a pirate, and the law no longer applies to you.
-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator
SedaliaSteve
home | projects | blog
6 posts in 342 days
posted 279 days ago
I did have the barrel x-rayed and checked by a company that handles high pressure pipe before the first shot. I also fired the first few shots with a long fuse and hiding behind a berm. There is a saying that there’s a small difference between a cannon and a pipe bomb. I can point people at some good sites if you want to get into this.
I’m afraid I’m not a pirate. I can’t shoot this from home but do take it out to a gun range. It’s great fun.
Steve
Minuteman
home | projects | blog
53 posts in 275 days
posted 244 days ago
Good way to start they Day
A big boom for the Neighbor hood
Good job
I always wanted to to an Ordnance rifle or Napoleon from the Civil War and Limber. Be nice for the front Yard.
-- Major Walt Timoschuk,III
John Gray
home | projects | blog
1757 posts in 784 days
posted 244 days ago
Nothing like the smell of black powder burning in the morning.
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
MJM
home | projects | blog
1 post in 95 days
posted 95 days ago
Hey Steve,
How could I get a set of drawings or plans,as I just got hold of a cannon barrel of similar size and need a carrige.Thanks for your time and help
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
17138 posts in 476 days
posted 95 days ago
This is what I need for my neibors barking dog, do you think he can play fetch with a canon ball ?
I would never do that just kidding gang.
BTW cool canon.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
Gary Fixler
home | projects | blog
649 posts in 281 days
posted 95 days ago
Jim – no need to shoot the dog. Just launch a tennis ball for him to go fetch, and enjoy the peace until he gets back :)
-- Gary, Los Angeles, video game animator
Minuteman
home | projects | blog
53 posts in 275 days
posted 95 days ago
Steve
Dixie Gun Works in Union City TN probably has carriage plans.
-- Major Walt Timoschuk,III