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19TH CENTURY IRON CANNON USED AS A SIGNAL CANNON

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:450.00 USD Estimated At:900.00 - 1,300.00 USD
19TH CENTURY IRON CANNON USED AS A SIGNAL CANNON

AT FORT MCHENRY, MARYLAND. This iron 19th century cannon was probably an insurance gun on a period sailing ship. It is currently on a cast iron carriage that was likely made for it around the turn of the century and is painted entirely black. There is a 1957 handwritten letter accompanying the cannon that states the cannon was used for many years as a signal cannon at historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. The cannon was procured by a Mr. Galloway who was a very high official in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for use on his large estate on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Upon Mr. Galloway's death, the cannon was sold by his widow to an antique dealer from Sussex County, Delaware. The cannon tube measures approx. 21 1/2" in length and 6" across at the trunnions with a 1 1/4" bore. The overall length on the carriage is 32 1/2" and it is nearly 15" wide across the wheels. At some point in its useful life, it was fitted with an iron strap to hold an ignition device commonly used on Lyle guns. The ignition device could be removed simply by cutting the iron strap. The rear of the carriage has a box with 2 vent picks and 4 possible projectiles that can best be described as solid brass cylinders approx. 3" long and 1 1/8" in diameter. UNATTACHED ACCESSORY: handwritten 1957 letter referencing the cannon. CONDITION: cannon has most of its black painted finish remaining and appears fully functional. The wheels turn easily appear quite secure. Bore is rusty but functional. (02-17881/BF). $900-1,300.