? Lantaka?

[boltaction]

Good evening: I'm hoping someone knowledgeable in this area might be able to help. About 25 years ago my brother and I each purchased a small cannon at an arms auction in England. From the descriptions we thought they were miniature models, but when they arrived they were rather larger. Mine is a miniature naval piece, quite old and neat. My brother's is I think a Lantaka perhaps, but we're wondering about the markings on it. From the patina, we're pretty sure it's bronze rather than brass. It's 27 inches long, about 5 inches across the trunnions, and the bore is approximately 1 1/4". I would guess the weight at roughly 25 lbs. Any information would be helpful. It's one of those things that one has around the house for years and years and then one day you look at it and think, what exactly is that? Granted, for most people, that might relate to an old teapot or something, but in our case it's a cannon...... I know from looking up these things that cannon were commonly made in the Malaya area (and indeed that whole region) from the 1600-1900's, so it could be anywhere in that time period! I don't know what to make of the numeric markings on it, whether they are a date or not, and if they do represent a date, 1681, 1891, or neither. My expertise is in Ross and Lee Enfields, so this is a little out of my usual realm. Sorry for the slightly fuzzy photos; I think my brother took them with his cell phone camera. Thanks! Ed

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[muffett.2008]

Nice, looks like a signal gun.

[browningautorifle]

It's not one from the railing of a ship is it? Don't know if those classed as signal or were for repelling borders...

[Aragorn243]

I don't know what it is but it is really nice. Looks like the ocean and a whale are engraved on it. I think I'd made a nice heavy duty stand for that and prominently display it in the living room. Be great for daughter's new boyfriend introductions.

[boltaction]

Yes, sort of a "note the bore size.....your balls would fit in there nicely and could be launched anywhere in town from here........"

Ed

[browningautorifle]

I had a chance once to joint purchase a deck cannon that would have fit about a one pound lead ball...I convinced my companion that this could go badly as we'd probably be jailed for actually shooting this thing. It's more what we'd have shot at I'm sure that the fact of shooting it. It sure would have been neat to do though.

[muffett.2008]

I think the signal guns just fired a powder charge, noise and smoke.......would hate to blow off that nice bronze muzzle shroud using shot.

[Vincent]

It looks similar to this Dutch bronze signal cannon.



Bronze signal cannon, Dutch, ca. 1680, on wooden carriage.