forward observer
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Not a handgun or rifle, but still a muzzle loader and even better, it's a 1/3 scale shooting model of an M1861 ten pound Parrott rifle. The barrel is actually a smooth bore, but at 1/3rd scale, it measures one inch.
There were actually two models of the Parrott ten pounder--the 1861 with a 2.9 inch bore and the revised M1863 with a 3.00 inch bore. The bore size was increased, so the Parrotts could use the same ammunition as the more popular 3 inch Ordnance rifle. Having two bore sizes in service for a while did cause some logistical errors when the wrong ammo got shipped to units in the field. Since this model has a slight flare at the muzzle, which was not present on the M1863, it would represent the M1861. The barrel on this model is cast iron with a seamless steel liner and welded breech from South Bend Replicas. The currently still sell this barrel. Originals had a cast iron barrels, but with a wrought iron sleeve heated up to make it expand enough to slip over the breech area for extra strength. That's what gives the Parrott its distinctive look.
I found this model last June--on Armslist of all places. However, I only realized after I had made a contact, that the seller was located in Idaho--over 1600 miles away from where I live. His price was good, but he didn't want to have to contend with shipping a such large and heavy item, nor would I. I also did not want to have to spend close to a week driving over 3200 miles round trip by myself. He then mentioned that at least once a year he and his wife would drive to Amarillo, TX to visit her family--and that if he still had the cannon when they next went, he would be willing to haul it down in his SUV--if I could make the trip to Amarillo. That's only an 8 hour drive each way by interstate from central Arkansas.
I had all but forgotten about it, when out of the blue, about 2 weeks ago, the seller called to let me know that he and wife were going to spend Thanksgiving in Amarillo and that he still had the cannon. He was also willing to come down on the price a bit. I got the idea his wife may have wanted the thing out of the house. Anyway, I drove up on Black Friday, met the seller at my motel that afternoon, then headed back the next day.
The model was constructed from scratch by the seller's late father around 1977 from ordinance plans that several places sell. His father had actually competed with it in some small scale cannon shooting matches--hence it has a sighting system that uses a rear ladder sight from a 1903 Springfield rifle. The seller inherited the cannon when his father passed some time in the 1980's, but it's been well taken care of and looks all but brand new. Included in the sale was an extra complete set of wheels, axle, axle housing, and other assorted parts that his dad had fabricated intending to build a matching limber. This never got made. Also included were implements, a custom ball mold, around 15 molded balls, powder measures, a small collection of related artillery books, plans, and old supply catalogs.
I probably won't attempt to construct the limber. First of all I don't have the room, but more importantly, I don't have the tools one would require for the blacksmithing and complex Iron work needed.
Here's a last shot of the cannon dwarfing the only other model I have with a South Bend barrel. It's a 1/7th scale model of a 9 inch Dahlgren naval deck gun--also with a 1 inch bore.
I haven't had a chance to shoot either of these little monsters plus one other 1/4 scale M1841 bronze 6 pounder that I won in an auction earlier in the year. I have friend who has a large enough place out in the country, but he is recuperating from a hip replacement and wants me to wait until he is mobile enough to join in the fun.
Here's shot of the 1/4th scale M1841 along with a .50 cal 1/8th scale model of the same gun that I finished around 1975 from a kit still sold today by Dixie Gunworks. The 1/4th scale had an odd .97 caliber bore, so I had to order a custom mold for it.
Cheers
There were actually two models of the Parrott ten pounder--the 1861 with a 2.9 inch bore and the revised M1863 with a 3.00 inch bore. The bore size was increased, so the Parrotts could use the same ammunition as the more popular 3 inch Ordnance rifle. Having two bore sizes in service for a while did cause some logistical errors when the wrong ammo got shipped to units in the field. Since this model has a slight flare at the muzzle, which was not present on the M1863, it would represent the M1861. The barrel on this model is cast iron with a seamless steel liner and welded breech from South Bend Replicas. The currently still sell this barrel. Originals had a cast iron barrels, but with a wrought iron sleeve heated up to make it expand enough to slip over the breech area for extra strength. That's what gives the Parrott its distinctive look.
I found this model last June--on Armslist of all places. However, I only realized after I had made a contact, that the seller was located in Idaho--over 1600 miles away from where I live. His price was good, but he didn't want to have to contend with shipping a such large and heavy item, nor would I. I also did not want to have to spend close to a week driving over 3200 miles round trip by myself. He then mentioned that at least once a year he and his wife would drive to Amarillo, TX to visit her family--and that if he still had the cannon when they next went, he would be willing to haul it down in his SUV--if I could make the trip to Amarillo. That's only an 8 hour drive each way by interstate from central Arkansas.
I had all but forgotten about it, when out of the blue, about 2 weeks ago, the seller called to let me know that he and wife were going to spend Thanksgiving in Amarillo and that he still had the cannon. He was also willing to come down on the price a bit. I got the idea his wife may have wanted the thing out of the house. Anyway, I drove up on Black Friday, met the seller at my motel that afternoon, then headed back the next day.
The model was constructed from scratch by the seller's late father around 1977 from ordinance plans that several places sell. His father had actually competed with it in some small scale cannon shooting matches--hence it has a sighting system that uses a rear ladder sight from a 1903 Springfield rifle. The seller inherited the cannon when his father passed some time in the 1980's, but it's been well taken care of and looks all but brand new. Included in the sale was an extra complete set of wheels, axle, axle housing, and other assorted parts that his dad had fabricated intending to build a matching limber. This never got made. Also included were implements, a custom ball mold, around 15 molded balls, powder measures, a small collection of related artillery books, plans, and old supply catalogs.
I probably won't attempt to construct the limber. First of all I don't have the room, but more importantly, I don't have the tools one would require for the blacksmithing and complex Iron work needed.
Here's a last shot of the cannon dwarfing the only other model I have with a South Bend barrel. It's a 1/7th scale model of a 9 inch Dahlgren naval deck gun--also with a 1 inch bore.
I haven't had a chance to shoot either of these little monsters plus one other 1/4 scale M1841 bronze 6 pounder that I won in an auction earlier in the year. I have friend who has a large enough place out in the country, but he is recuperating from a hip replacement and wants me to wait until he is mobile enough to join in the fun.
Here's shot of the 1/4th scale M1841 along with a .50 cal 1/8th scale model of the same gun that I finished around 1975 from a kit still sold today by Dixie Gunworks. The 1/4th scale had an odd .97 caliber bore, so I had to order a custom mold for it.
Cheers
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