Nice! I don't even do reenactment stuff, I just like seeing how things get made. It's a pleasure to watch. Also, I'm now imagining what would happen if someone tried to fire one of those things without a tripod... it's a hilarious mental image.
They were reasonably common in europe around the early 17th century. Known as Rampart guns or Parapet Guns, all thrown in under the general name of swivel gun. This one is based on a museum piece dated 1625. It has a 1.5 inch bore. Will take a 6oz black powder charge and a 10oz solid lead ball, or 1lb of shot. It was mostly used as a sniping weapon against officers as it had the advantages of a musket, but the range of a small cannon. Think of it as the barrat50 of its time. The tripod it is mounted on is based on a woodcut illustration of the same period. Its was the first big gun I made back in 2001. Still going strong and a lovely piece to shoot. Has a very distinctive sound unlike any other artillery piece. Kicks like a mule though.
@@SwallowForge Thanks for taking the time to explain. I could see by the design of the stock its ancient. 6oz is a huge charge. What are the characteristics of the barrel that prevent it from blowing apart?
The barrel wall is just over 1/4 inch thick. This one is made using very high pressure seamless tube, but the originals were forge welded over a mandrel. The genius of the gunsmith was to ensure enough elasticity in the temper of the steel that it would not rupture. That being said, historically many guns/ cannons did rupture catastrophically, killing the operators. I rarely use more than a 2oz charge. And thats more than plenty.
@@SwallowForge Right. Your reply is the reason I asked. Maybe you know this vid about colonial gunsmithing ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Q7yFmSwspFM.html and Im amazed how they could figure out the loads that wouldnt burst the barrel but as you say, it didnt always go to plan either. I completely understand how Hershel House figures his work in building but not in what youve done. It looks so dangerous because of the charge size, but ok, 1/4in. On the right side of your vid you will see a homebuilt mortar. Id like to build a similar one but smaller. In explanations of similar mortar builds, the builders didnt use solid barrels. What appears to be solid is hollow, with the actual barrel inside the hollow case. My idea is to take solid material and drill the bore for a 1/2in or 3/4in ball. I can either cast it or purchase solid material and then drill. Can you think of any basic advice about materials, dimensions, size and placement of a fuse hole? There is an excellent video showing a Civil War mortar in action, quite amazing, and what im learning more about and want to build is a miniature version of that but bring to it any modern safety measures that would help reduce chance of death of the operator. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E2l9NU2a-XY.html
