Handgonne

[jaxenro]

Hi
Am thinking about having a barrel turned from bronze used for making small cannon barrels. It will be about 12" long, 1 1/2" diameter, a 1/2" bore, and based on a traditional design. What's a fair price to pay for something like this?

 

[ChrisPer]

One off, done by proper craftsman? He tells you what the fair price is.

 

[jaxenro]

Not knowing the amount if machine work involved in making its hard to form a basis to work from. One hours work? Four?

 

[wulf]

First find a machinist then discuss the price.

 

[curator]

Check out this link from the Rifle Shoppe that offers something similar to what you want:http://www.therifleshoppe.com/catalog_pages/hand_gonnes/hand_gonnes.htm
This should give you an idea of what one would cost. No opinion is being offered about dealing with the Rifle Shoppe--some people swear by them, others swear at them. YMMV.

 

[Commodore Swab]

When dealing with bronze cannons a rough guide is 1,ooo a foot. However that doesn't compute well for guns under 2 feet. As well as there being a decent difference between lathe turned, sand cast, and lost wax. I might add that this also does not include toy or scale cannons.

 

[Tinker2]

Hi
Am thinking about having a barrel turned from bronze used for making small cannon barrels. It will be about 12" long, 1 1/2" diameter, a 1/2" bore, and based on a traditional design. What's a fair price to pay for something like this?

The ones that I had made for me, cost me about $200. each.

William Alexander

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Do you plan to actually shoot it, or just have a replica for display?

 

[jaxenro]

Definitely shoot it. We are using bronze that is made for this

 

[Tinker2]

Do you plan to actually shoot it, or just have a replica for display?

I have mine for shooting, collecting, show and tell, and fun.

William Alexander

 

[jaxenro]

Nice like the second from the top very elegant shape

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I'd love to have one made for me out of bronze. I have a .54 caliber original example in mind. How might one go about having said handgun made for their person?

 

[jaxenro]

If he does mine I will pass the info on

Seems like there's a market for these but no one wants to fill it

 

[freekforge]

There is a market for them however its not very steady. I have made close to 50 gonnes, one year i might knock out a dozen in a very short time the next year i might make 1. its kind of hard to keep up with it which is why i think companies shy away from gonnes

 

[jaxenro]

Like everything else I think markets are partially developed by supply and marketing. I could see if you only made them when asked it could be spotty but I think a niche company with a product line and stock on hand for maybe a half dozen models might be able to build demand. I doubt anyone could make a living at it but it could be a nice little sideline business. The key would be keeping stock so someone who wanted one wouldn't have to wait three months and jump through hoops to get it.

Plus as a maker wouldn't it be easier to run off ten identical ones and sell them as a group to a dealer instead of doing a bunch of one off's? Then he could keep the inventory and deal with the customers and the maker could just work without worrying about selling so much. Sadly I don't have a metal lathe or space for one

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Ever make your bronze gonne?

 

[Karl Helweg]

There is a market for them however its not very steady. I have made close to 50 gonnes, one year i might knock out a dozen in a very short time the next year i might make 1. its kind of hard to keep up with it which is why i think companies shy away from gonnes

You might want to post any extras for sale on http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=3 These folks might be as much of a market as BP folks.
Another potentially big market would be: http://www.pennsicwar.org/penn46/
If you are selling 14th century gonnes you want to make sure the 14th century folks know about them.

BTW - I am very pleased with my .75 handgonne that you made.

 

[wulf]

I made two. I sold one for $350. That was complete
with a stock and blade [hook] and an "S" curve
match holder....That should give you an idea of
what they sell for.

 

[jaxenro]

Never did get the one I wanted done but am still looking for drawings of historical examples I can have duplicated. Simple pole mounted ones up to ones with a stock and "S" match holder (but not a matchlock)

 

[BillinOregon]

We had more active gonners and makers here a few years ago. Freakforge made me one very reasonably.