Mystery Cannon in Bulgaria

[Story]

A question floated on another forum, reproduced here for the international experts.

100mm, rifled, weighs 350kg, 1600mm long. Late XVII or early XVIIIc. Ottoman, origin not entirely sure, could be France, England or Sweden. Some suppose it's part of a 1000 cannon order from Sweden from the same time frame. That's pretty much all that's known.

 

[TheDoubleD]

100mm, rifled, weighs 350kg, 1600mm long. Late XVII or early XVIIIc. Ottoman, origin not entirely sure, could be France, England or Sweden. Some suppose it's part of a 1000 cannon order from Sweden from the same time frame. That's pretty much all that's known.

100 mm = 3.936996 inch what pounder is that? 8?

 

[robinghewitt]

I went on a cannon recognition course and then forgot most of it :shocked2:

There was something about the Swedes making a lot of cannon, usually referred to as Finbankers or something like that, recognised by the straight taper through the reinforces. Apologies for being vague, there was a lot to take in :redface:

best regards

Squire Robin

 

[Story]

Yes, probably an 8lbr

Does anyone else think that the rifling (or what we can see of it) looks notional, if not simply non-existent?

 

[Story]

I went on a cannon recognition course and then forgot most of it :shocked2:

There was something about the Swedes making a lot of cannon, usually referred to as Finbankers or something like that, recognised by the straight taper through the reinforces. Apologies for being vague, there was a lot to take in :redface:

Thanks. Look at the cascable, that's weird enough to be a distinct identifier.

 

I wish the symbols in the fourth photo were more distinct. I'd hazard a guess that its from either India or Nepal. The lettering looks similiar to Hindi, though they could be Farcy.

As for rifling, I don't really see any. It could be what they are calling rifling is really crud grooves. Grooves that were cut to channel away soot and residue so that more shots could be fired in the heat of battle.

CP

 

[robinghewitt]

I wish the symbols in the fourth photo were more distinct. I'd hazard a guess that its from either India or Nepal.

An easy test for Sweden or India... is it iron or bronze? :thumbsup:

How about Turkish?

 

[Gary]

On markings alone, Turkish. Then again, mine is just an uneducated guess. I guess I'll shut-up now.

 

[Story]

Bronze.

More photos, clearer, have been requested.

 

I wish the symbols in the fourth photo were more distinct. I'd hazard a guess that its from either India or Nepal. The lettering looks similiar to Hindi, though they could be Farcy.

As for rifling, I don't really see any. It could be what they are calling rifling is really crud grooves. Grooves that were cut to channel away soot and residue so that more shots could be fired in the heat of battle.

CP

Upon further thought, I think this may be marked with a Persian cypher. As upon further research, this seem to be an Arabic based alphabet.

CP

 

[MikeFromON]

I am not an archeologist but I would guess it's Turkish:

-The Turks once ruled Bulgaria.
-The Turks are said to have invented artillery in
the 14th century.
-The floral design looks vaguely Middle Eastern.
-If the gun was European, would it not have been an even 4" bore instead of 3.93"?
-It is bronze and not iron. Copper-based alloys
were in much wider use in the Mediterrean than
farther north, where iron and steel were the
metals of choice (I think).


I don't see the rifling you are speaking of. In one photo I see a groove in the bore that extends for perhaps a foot into the bore from the muzzle. Other than this one groove, it looks like a smooth bore to me.

 

[benvenuto]

I'd guess turkish. The turks were superb bronze founders and had a close allience with the french for many years in the 17th and 18th century (much to the horror of the rest of "Christendom")

 

[Vairochana]

on the 2nd bottom photo- the writing on the top of the cartouch says Allah- can't make out the rest, obviously a Koranic inscription tho. And it is written in Arabic.