Original Swivel Gun?

OK, so I don't know the correct name of this weapon, I thought or think it is a swivel gun, I say that because there are holes that were repaired on the sides of it that I think were from what was called a Pintel? anyway here are some pictures, any help would be appreciated. And please don't make fun of my prop model Larry. :nono:

 

[RickD]

Lord that thing is huge

 

[pichou]

Looks like a doglock wall gun missing the dog catch. Brit proofs, but I don't know the other two marks.

Brass barrel... maybe a Navy gun, but I don't know that stuff very well.

 

Also the butt plate wraps around the top of the stock and is marked on top with a fancy A26, someone at the shop said it was for fleet A ship number 26 but I don't know.

 

[Leonredbeard]

guncellar,
Is the bore flared inside the muzzle? Is it a 4 gauge? Did you show us the repairs on the stock?
volatpluvia

 

[Coot]

Your gun may well be an Espingole. As a type, the espingole predates the blunderbuss proper and goes back to the 1500s. The presence of sling swivels (as I see on you gun) would be unusual on these large bore guns. Does Larry's hand cover a round hole about 3/8" to 5/8" in diameter thru the stock or evidence of the 'repair' or plugging of such a hole? Many large bore espingoles and blunderbusses were pinned to a yoke (sort of like a large oarlock) by a metal pin or bolt which went thru the stock a bit forward of the balance point. The idea was to carry the gun to the position of best use and insert the yoke into one of many holes drilled in the rails or on stanchions around the ship. With the exception of the sling swivels and the dog-lock, your piece is very similar to a British Navy swivel blunderbuss (c1800) in Gilkerson's "Boarders Away II".

 

Yes, there are two holes (one on each side) just 2.5 inches in front of the lock (see picture #1), I'm sure the swivels were added later.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Strictly speaking, a swivel gun is a small cannon mounted in a oarlock like yoke on the gunnel of a ship or boat.
This gun is a blunderbus fitted with a dog-catch lock--the dog-catch safety itself is missing. Large blunderbusses could also be mounted on the gunnels of a ship or boat. Both types could be mounted on the top of a fort's wall as a very effective part of the defenses.

 

[bajabuc]

Some of these guns were made to be used in the "crows nest" for shooting down on the enemy's quarterdeck. The swivel mount stayed on the nest rail and the gun was hoisted up before battle. The enemy had guys in their nest, and they were shooting at you. The gun was attached to the swivel so it wouldn't drop to the deck when the guy shooting it was killed. Generally, there was a crew to load and fire it. the gunner, often a midshipman, a wiper/rammer, and a powder boy.
A ship of the line would have these stations built all over the masts. Because life on a British Naval vessel was a brutal experience, a "pressed man" didn't get to shoot it...he might just take out the officer who had had him flogged. Nice gun!

 

[Mulebrain]

Neat gun there for sure!

Now to the really important question!! How much?

 

Hey Mule Brain, take that one to the range,eh? what would the range officer say :grin: