More sick art from a sick mind

[Winky]

Here is some early work of mine … these are working miniature black powder canons in calibers .22, .30, .36 and .44 they all shoot … the breaches have had oversize plugs ground down peened in and then welded all around and should handle pressure up to around 20,000 c.u.p. even though the barrels are all rifled they are only intended to shoot a wad … not a lead ball … although they will handle it just fine. (yes, I have tried it) The other items shown are some more of my early pieces a mace and a flail … the mace is sitting loose in the stand (yes it is that well balanced) Interesting the things that a deviate mind can create … isn’t it?

[everlastsupport]

As a kid, my Dad had a small canon, guessing it had a 3/4" bore. It was a blast on the 4th and sometimes he would take my brother and I out just to fire it. Funny, something so simple brings back old memories.

[Winky]

As a kid, my Dad had a small canon, guessing it had a 3/4" bore. It was a blast on the 4th and sometimes he would take my brother and I out just to fire it. Funny, something so simple brings back old memories.

LOL ... back in the 70's before I learned to weld my first little canons were smooth bore made with black pipe that I capped one end and drilled a powder hole to touch them off with. After a while I realized that if a policeman saw one of them he might get the wrong idea and think I was making a P.B. so I took them cut them up into little pieces and tossed the pieces in the garbage can. The way I do them now there can be no confusion about what they are ... I mean really ... rifled barrels and welded breaches no one man misconstrue intentions for these. They are strictly for my own display I never sell them due to liability issues.

[redbeard]

I thought rifled cannons would get you in Dutch with the ATF, or is that only on larger bores?

[Winky]

I thought rifled cannons would get you in Dutch with the ATF, or is that only on larger bores?

I would imagine not ... these are itty bitty toys made from decommissioned (black powder mostly) pistols and rifles ... they aren't meant to fire projectiles ... generally they just sit on a shelf to be looked at. If you were to make a large version ... you know ... a real piece of artillery that fired modern shells yes, you would be in hot water but you can actually own real howitzers as a collectors item they just have to be breach cut to BATF specs ... they aren't going to concern themselves with toys that can't sink a projectile more than a half to 3/4" into soft pine ... that's about the extent of their power like I said their just nick knacks made to sit on a shelf. At least I hope ... I was actually doing society a favor by turning real weapons into art ... ya think? These are low velocity insignificant ... conversation pieces.

[everlastsupport]

Either way, if I had one it would bring back old memories sitting on the desk.

If I had the one my Dad had, all 3 of my son would have stories to tell, like my brother and I.

Neat art for sure, functional even better.

[Rambozo]

... these are itty bitty toys ... conversation pieces.

When the conversation turns into a shouting match.



http://www.hernironworks.com/siegemortar.html

[Winky]

When the conversation turns into a shouting match.



http://www.hernironworks.com/siegemortar.html

A civil war siege mortar I LOVE IT! much nicer than the two micro miniatures I've made (non working) now I need to make a working one ... THAT IS AWESOME!

[Winky]

Either way, if I had one it would bring back old memories sitting on the desk.

If I had the one my Dad had, all 3 of my son would have stories to tell, like my brother and I.

Neat art for sure, functional even better.

This just means you need to make one for yourself ... they are fun.

[everlastsupport]

The middle son wants a spud gun. But I've been so busy lately doubt it will happen soon. Never know though.

[Winky]

Never had one of those but I have made compressed air launchers before ... anything that throws a projectile is fun.

[everlastsupport]

Our problem is we only have 1.5 acres. Spud will go a lot farther than the yard allows. They will go through plywood too.

[Winky]

Our problem is we only have 1.5 acres. Spud will go a lot farther than the yard allows. They will go through plywood too.

That could be an issue ... maybe a tennis ball launcher for your property and a spud gun when you are on BLM land or in the desert. At least the damage that can be done from a tennis ball is minimal.

[Brian Ski]

At least the damage that can be done from a tennis ball is minimal.

When I was younger I built a tennis ball launcher... It was a pro job and needed a few tweeks... I built it out of about 4 or 5 layers of pvc pipe. Then it was wrapped in fiberglass. Glad I didn't have it next to my head. Electrically fired... Was impressive. I shot it straight up. I set the gun down and started walking around picking up pieces of the pvc. Then I heard a thump. The tennis ball came back to earth. All the fuzz was burned off black and the charge blew a hole in one side and out the other. Played with it a little more and gave up on the idea... Someone was going to get hurt. Maybe someday I will talk about my battery cannon...

[Winky]

When I was younger I built a tennis ball launcher... It was a pro job and needed a few tweeks... I built it out of about 4 or 5 layers of pvc pipe. Then it was wrapped in fiberglass. Glad I didn't have it next to my head. Electrically fired... Was impressive. I shot it straight up. I set the gun down and started walking around picking up pieces of the pvc. Then I heard a thump. The tennis ball came back to earth. All the fuzz was burned off black and the charge blew a hole in one side and out the other. Played with it a little more and gave up on the idea... Someone was going to get hurt. Maybe someday I will talk about my battery cannon...

That's why I like steel ... any time you have anything that throws projectiles there is always a risk ... When section density isn’t up to ballistic coefficients bad things can happen … sorry you had a negative experience … I think most of us have scary stories … I know I do. When playing with potentially dangerous things caution is key ... anyone who welds is aware of this. Speaking of dangerous things ... I have to get ready for work now ... HAVE A GREAT DAY!

[Brian Ski]

That's why I like steel ... any time you have anything that throws projectiles there is always a risk ... When section density isn’t up to ballistic coefficients bad things can happen … sorry you had a negative experience …

To me it was not a negative experience. It was more like a learning experience. One of the battery cannons I made was out of steel. Steel is bad when it flies apart... (btw back then everyone had dead batteries laying around. I just found a use for them) No body was hurt in either case and I had safety in mind. Did a lot of learning when I was younger. I learned what works and what does not... And what it not safe.

[Winky]

I hear ya Brian ... when I think of all the close calls I had when I was a kid ... it's a wonder I'm still around ... I learned back in 1962 about the hazards of certain chemicals ... I would tell you what happened but no need to put up red flags for mishaps that happened when I was 10 years old ... ouch!

[Brian Ski]

I hear ya Brian ... when I think of all the close calls I had when I was a kid ... it's a wonder I'm still around ... I learned back in 1962 about the hazards of certain chemicals ... I would tell you what happened but no need to put up red flags for mishaps that happened when I was 10 years old ... ouch!

Kids now a days don't know what fun is... I learned at a young age (single digits)that a garden hose will put out a gasoline fire, but it sure as heck ain't easy. Gasoline floats on water. Nothing like hearing Dad yelling "Why the h### is the garden hose melted???" Don't ever tell me at a young age that gasoline explodes... Cuz I want to see it.

Come on Winky... Look at my Avatar!!!!

Reminds me of a good friend telling me... We were in our 20s.... Of all the things we did and the trouble we could have gotten into, we never got hurt. (at least not too bad) His younger brother was a really good kid and never got into trouble, and he passes away from cancer in his mid teens.

[Brian Ski]

I thought rifled cannons would get you in Dutch with the ATF, or is that only on larger bores?

Nothing I recall... I thought it was the opposite. You cannot make any firearm barrel without rifleing unless it is a shotgun or black powder fired.

BTW I looked into these a while back... Glad common sense prevailed this time... I think I could have got into trouble shooting a projectile with these... BTW (for the unknowing) a 6 pounder or 12 pounder is not the weight of the cannon it is the weight of the cannon ball.

http://southbendreplicas.com/page1b.htm

Last time I talked to him, he had a year long waiting list.

[redbeard]

Nothing I recall... I thought it was the opposite. You cannot make any firearm barrel without rifleing unless it is a shotgun or black powder fired.

I think most cannons fall into the muzzle loaded/black powder catagory. I had a friend who built one with about a 2.5" bore and sort of remember his research turned up "as long as it isn't rifled, it's legal". But that was also a good many years ago.

It always surprised me that he didn't get pulled over more often when he was hauling it to our campouts.