British, Late 18th, Early 19th Century, Fo’c’sle Deck Gun for a Merchant Ships Defence Deck Cannon on a Wooden Display Stand. Sn - 21819 British, Late 18th, Early 19th Century, Fo’c’sle Deck Gun for a Merchant Ships Defence Deck Cannon on a Wooden Display Stand. Sn - 21819 None Cannons

In the late 18th and early 19th Century merchant ships carried a swivelling deck gun on the forecastle of the ship as a defence against marauding pirates boarding their ship. These guns were simple in design but effective and were fired by a lighted match. This is a British swivelling deck gun from the late 18th and early 19th Century. The gun is made from cast iron and measures 35” in length with a 20 inch barrel. The bore of approximately 1.25 inches. The gun would have had an iron mounting spike on the bottom of the forged mounting bracket and the two arms were secured to the barrel by lugs either side of the barrel by forging. The cylindrical cannon barrel has a slight taper, increasing from the muzzle to the touch hole. The cannon is complete with a later hard wood display stand which measures 18” x 5 ½ “ x 4”. The cannon including its stand weighs 14.12 Kg. The price for this cannon with stand includes UK delivery. N.B. As an antique black powder cannon no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21819