The Cannon Blog

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A bronze cannon converted to swivel gun

We often get enquiries where people want to sell something or are looking for a evaluation. Usually we cannot help with this, because we do not buy and we are no antiques experts. But with this item here I wanted to make an exception: A bronze cannon barrel with a length of 170cm, diameter at the muzzle 17cm. I. e. dimensions similar to a Lantaka, but without the oriental ornaments. On top is a stylized coat of arms, which indicates a work for export. But the really unusual with this piece is an iron swivel and a rear attachment of iron to handle it as a sviwel gun. This appears to have been retro-fitted. Corrosion on the iron parts is substantial, as would be typical for about 100 years in sea water. The cannon was salvaged in the Mediterranean ca. 70 years ago and has since been the property of the current owner’s family.

I am posting this here without commercial interest. If you are interested in purchasing this cannon, I can pass your contact to the owner.

Photos are under copyright of the cannon owner.

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Port fort Heraklion

The seaside fort Enetiko Frourio Koules at the entrance to the old harbour of Crete’s capital Heraklion has a rich history. It was at the center of several epic struggles for sovereignty of the island, most notably the Ottoman siege that lasted 21 years from 1648 until 1669 – probably the longest in history. It ended with Ottoman victory after the flagship of a French-led relief fleet, the La Thérèse, sank when her powder magazine exploded.
Salvaged cannon from the La Thérèse are today the highlight of the little museum in the fort, in particular three masterly crafted bronze cannon.

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Frederiksværk

Cannon on Frederiksværk town square

The small town of Fredericksværk in northern Sjælland, Denmark, was home to a substantial cannon foundry during the age of front-loading cannon. Between 1756 and 1833, an estimated 2.500 cannon were cast for the Danish military, but also for export.

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Derelict cannon at the Fortezza of Rethymno

Main gate of the Fortezza

The fortress towering over the little Cretan town of Rethymno is a strange place. Built by the Venetians at the end of the 16th century to protect the town and its inhabitants from Ottoman invaders, it proved ineffective for this purpose in 1646, when it was taken after a short siege. The Ottomans demolished the church and built a mosque in its place.

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Noon signal in Valletta

In relation to size, Malta is probably the most fortified land in the world. The armed conflicts this tiny nation was in involved in are epic and so it is fitting that the harbour of the capital Valletta is flanked with two huge forts. On the north side there is a battery of British 19th century front-loading guns, one of which is fired every day at high noon. Even though the country gained political independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, the action here is carried out by reenactors posing as British colonial soldiers.

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Cannon at the Royal Palace Garrison in Mandalay

Don't let this image fool you - Mandalay is a bustling trade center and definitely not a tranquil place.

When I visited Burma in 2012, there was little international tourism in Mandalay. The town does not offer a lot spectacular sites compared to other places in the country, so many visitors use it as a stop-over at most. Therefore the museum located in the middle of an ancient but still used garrison caters mostly to a local audience.

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