Preacherman
Member
From a British commentator (http://www.sedgwickpark.co.uk/simonsr/simonmcclean21.htm - thanks to Pax for the link!):
Punt Gun
At long last I found the photographs of my punt gun so as promised here they are. As you can see, its a bit of a beast.
It is just over 10 foot long and weighs more than 3cwt as you see it. Heaven only knows how big the punt must have been to support it.
For those of you not in the know, punt guns were used extensively by gamekeepers and wildfowlers from the early 19th century onwards. Their purpose was brutally simple - to kill as many geese and ducks (or other species of birds) as possible at once. A typically Victorian efficiency drive, one might say.
Rapid re-loading of shotgun cartridges was not really available until the early part of the 20th century so the punt gun was developed as a "broad brush" solution to the problems of bird infestation.
These guns were far too heavy to be carried by hand and were instead mounted on a "punt" or canoe. The punt was an extremely large, shallow drafted vessel that could only be safely used in inland rivers and waters
As you can see from the black & white photograph, there isn't much freeboard to protect you from a watery grave should you encounter waves.
My punt gun is a bit of a rarity apparently. I bought it as a "comfort" purchase at a Sothebys auction a few years ago- I desperately needed to console myself after I was outbid on a double-barrel 4 bore hammer gun.
The gun came with a board on which were mounted four 9 " cartridges, a wad cutter and a powder measure. There is also an inscription on the board, which reads as follows: -
This massive octagonal barrelled punt gun was made in 1852 by the famous FrenchGunsmith Jean Chale for Sir John Reeve de la Pole Bt. of Shute Devon.It was found supporting the roof of a cowshed by its present owner Mr. Tom Smith of Killeen Co. Dublin who has used it over several years for wildfowling on the River Laune estuary.
The gun looks to be in sound condition, although the woodwork needs a damn good clean and all the metalwork needs to be re-browned - a huge job! There is a rather nice engraving on top of the barrel - the name J Reeve de la Pole Bt. is visible. Along either side of the breech there were some silver family crests mounted on the metalwork. These are in very bad order and are unlikely to survive any restoration, although they may be added later on if the mood takes me and finances allow!
The barrel begins as an octagonal section but is taken down to a smooth cylinder. Most punt guns are trunnion mounted - this means that they have small knobs near the breech to secure them, just like cannons used to have.
My punt gun is mounted on a spring-loaded block with a hole through it on. Presumably on would place a large pin through this hole and fasten it securely - very securely!
When the project is finished I will have a test firing, before the gun gets put on the wall. Watch this space for more details.
Interestingly, advances in metallurgy have meant that punt guns are relatively much lighter and smaller than they used to be so behemoths like my weapon are very unlikely to ever be seen in use again - except perhaps on the front of the new Challenger tank!
This photo illustrates a modern piece - it is a mere strip of a gun, being only 7 foot long and weighing a mere 88 lb, despite packing the same firepower as my piece.
Punt Gun
At long last I found the photographs of my punt gun so as promised here they are. As you can see, its a bit of a beast.
It is just over 10 foot long and weighs more than 3cwt as you see it. Heaven only knows how big the punt must have been to support it.
For those of you not in the know, punt guns were used extensively by gamekeepers and wildfowlers from the early 19th century onwards. Their purpose was brutally simple - to kill as many geese and ducks (or other species of birds) as possible at once. A typically Victorian efficiency drive, one might say.
Rapid re-loading of shotgun cartridges was not really available until the early part of the 20th century so the punt gun was developed as a "broad brush" solution to the problems of bird infestation.
These guns were far too heavy to be carried by hand and were instead mounted on a "punt" or canoe. The punt was an extremely large, shallow drafted vessel that could only be safely used in inland rivers and waters
As you can see from the black & white photograph, there isn't much freeboard to protect you from a watery grave should you encounter waves.
My punt gun is a bit of a rarity apparently. I bought it as a "comfort" purchase at a Sothebys auction a few years ago- I desperately needed to console myself after I was outbid on a double-barrel 4 bore hammer gun.
The gun came with a board on which were mounted four 9 " cartridges, a wad cutter and a powder measure. There is also an inscription on the board, which reads as follows: -
This massive octagonal barrelled punt gun was made in 1852 by the famous FrenchGunsmith Jean Chale for Sir John Reeve de la Pole Bt. of Shute Devon.It was found supporting the roof of a cowshed by its present owner Mr. Tom Smith of Killeen Co. Dublin who has used it over several years for wildfowling on the River Laune estuary.
The gun looks to be in sound condition, although the woodwork needs a damn good clean and all the metalwork needs to be re-browned - a huge job! There is a rather nice engraving on top of the barrel - the name J Reeve de la Pole Bt. is visible. Along either side of the breech there were some silver family crests mounted on the metalwork. These are in very bad order and are unlikely to survive any restoration, although they may be added later on if the mood takes me and finances allow!
The barrel begins as an octagonal section but is taken down to a smooth cylinder. Most punt guns are trunnion mounted - this means that they have small knobs near the breech to secure them, just like cannons used to have.
My punt gun is mounted on a spring-loaded block with a hole through it on. Presumably on would place a large pin through this hole and fasten it securely - very securely!
When the project is finished I will have a test firing, before the gun gets put on the wall. Watch this space for more details.
Interestingly, advances in metallurgy have meant that punt guns are relatively much lighter and smaller than they used to be so behemoths like my weapon are very unlikely to ever be seen in use again - except perhaps on the front of the new Challenger tank!
This photo illustrates a modern piece - it is a mere strip of a gun, being only 7 foot long and weighing a mere 88 lb, despite packing the same firepower as my piece.
