What the devil is this thing?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ron James said:
Reason I suggested something to lay a cannon, I have seen a very long " Gunners Dirk " that was graduated such as that (From Italy ), In fact the term point blank comes from using such a devise If you didn't have your Zippo handy the little flintlock would be just the thing to light the fuse or powder train.
Click to expand...
So, you're thinking it might be merely a supporting ignition device?

Curiouser and curiouser.
 
I'm not a cannon cocker. but my understanding, to lay a gun is to adjust the angle of the barrel so the projectile hits where you want it too. That's what a gunners kirk did, allowed the barrel to be set to a prescribed angle, the dirk acted as a transit? to measure elevation. It that what that thingie is? don't have the foggiest, but maybe, it looks to be some sort of devise to measure elevation or angle, and that flint lock looks too useless to be any type of weapon.
 
Given that the numbers are in ascending order, I'd have to think that this is a device for measuring the strength of a known quantity of black powder; the further up the staff an indicator is pushed by the explosion of the powder, the more "proof" it is. But this depends on seeing how an indicator is pushed; is there an escape hole down near the chamber that an indicator would slide down to cover?
 
The numbers are not quite in ascending order. The rear/first section starts at 1 and runs to 10, then the next section starts as 1 again. Also, the first section gradations are larger than those of the other sections. The idea that the markings are related to range (of a cannon?) doesn't seem valid since the gradations of the front three sections appear to be the same length, where range or elevation markings would vary in size to conform to a trajectory.

Jim
 
Maybe a known quantity of powder is inserted into the barrel and then the muzzle placed against the ground. Measuring how high the rod lifts upon ignition reveals the energy of the powder charge.

Maybe?
 
It almost seems the end piece doesn't go with the rest of it?
Maybe there were two of them and some of the segments got interchanged??

Are they all bored clear through from the barrels bore, on back?
Otherwise, why the ports in the end one of the last segment?

And another question?
Why the heck does it have a left-handed lock??

rc
 
RC - I like the NRA idea. I'll give it a shot.

Busmaster - I wasn't thinking fuse so much as predicting a "powder train" burn rate though a closed train will accelerate the rate given sufficient O2.

Ron - Yup, I'm confident too that it is in fact not a weapon. I don't get the sense that it would be utilized in any sort of angle/trajectory fashion... so far.

SDC & Jim Even though they don't join randomly as well as I have them joined in the first photo - along the lines of your observations - I wondered if there isn't enough variation to utilize either of the two center portions independently for various tests justifying the repetition in numbering.

Elkins That's an interesting possibility but if I read you correctly, the numbers may be initiated backwards - low to high.
 
rcmodel said:
It almost seems the end piece doesn't go with the rest of it?
Maybe there were two of them and some of the segments got interchanged??
Click to expand...

Oddly, and counter to my hopes that it can be alternatively assembled for different tests, the threading and the indexing only allows them to be assembled in this order. Could be that they coincidentally mate correctly while missing an original segment though.

rcmodel said:
Are they all bored clear through from the barrels bore, on back?
Otherwise, why the ports in the end one of the last segment?
Click to expand...

If the small diamond shaped tips are un threaded - it is a continuous though restricted path through to the ported tip.

rcmodel said:
And another question?
Why the heck does it have a left-handed lock??
Click to expand...

Good catch but that's my limitation to 4 photos on the first round showing a central lock as a left side lock.
 
Thanks RC

I'll use the link when I get home.
The lock? Looks left to me in the photos...

If you're the one who re-posted this correctly - thanks for that too. Obviously "research".
 
I wonder if it is a beam scale system for weighing out powder for a cannon and we're missing more than just the two extreme ends.

BTW, I thought we'd get a new set of eyes on it here in Research after the initial opinions in NFW.
 
hso said:
I wonder if it is a beam scale system for weighing out powder for a cannon and we're missing more than just the two extreme ends.

BTW, I thought we'd get a new set of eyes on it here in Research after the initial opinions in NFW.
Click to expand...
I get the beam scale from the exterior markings but it'd be hell to modulate as the interiors are not baffled in any way to control contents in any particular chamber - 3 as it currently sits.

Thanks for the shift to research by the way.

Unfortunately, the missing bits make this a bit of "looking for the lantern in the dark" but damn I'm having a good time with the mental exercises.


Thanks to all for the input so far. I'm having a beer to you even as I type this.
 
I don't think anything goes "inside". I think it may be a graduated rod intended for the powder to be on one end and a fulcrum for the rod to rest on indicating the weight of the powder?
 
Perhaps it is a powder tester and strength is measured by recoil distance as recorded by an indicator pointing to the numbered gauge inscribed on the threaded sections. There may be a part missing, say a cradle for it to rest in which holds the indicator.

There is more than one scale. the larger piece at the bottom of the pic has at least 4 different scales visible. Then there are the other three sections which when threaded together make one long scale. Perhaps the section currently threaded to the lockwork may be unscrewed and replaced with the larger multi-scaled section. Then again, the multi-scaled section looks to be larger diameter than the others and has a different sized threaded piece so it may not belong with the rest at all.
 
Again, I'm just guessing.

But if it's as big & heavy almost solid steel as it looks like it is?

You couldn't put enough black powder in that little barrel to move that steel hex rod nearly as far as it marked if it was suspended hanging on a couple of 4' long stings.

And why do the markings go down past the lock?
No way it is going to slide past the hammer no matter how you supported it.

rc
 
I seriously doubt it is a reproduction.

Why would anyone go to that much trouble & countless hours to 'reproduce' something of that quality that nobody can so far identify??


BTW ApacheCoTodd.
How much did your wife pay for it?

You could be setting on a little gold mine!

rc
 
Last edited:
It's still incomplete, I think. When fully assembled, there is still a threaded rod on the end for something else to attach.
 
Hand held pistol would be my guess.


tumblr_mmnwx5qlfr1rwjpnyo1_500.png

Something similar


18th century Indian axe pistol,

Originating in 18th century India, this curious firearms serves both a flintlock pistol and an axe. Instead of a typical pistol butt it has a handle so that is can be wielded like an axe and an axe blade is attached to the barrel which can be used as a forward grip. Approximately .52 caliber.
 
I considered that early on.

But why would a fighting weapon be seriously compromised in strength by threaded segments?
A take-down fighting ax / pistol for your shaving kit?

And why would it have some sort of measuring scale engraved & gold filled on the handle?

That just didn't fly very far with me!



BTW: The modern plated round-head screws holding the 'trigger assembly' on look a little suspect to me too for an arm of that apparent time period.

rc
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
A Proposal (Devil's Advocacy)
Replies
23
Views
2K
Onslaught
O
H
  • Locked
I got a RIOT for Christmas! What to do, what to do...
Replies
23
Views
1K
PUMC_TomG
P
S
  • Locked
My Experience as a juror in a home invasion robbery
Replies
2
Views
992
Larry Ashcraft
Larry Ashcraft
R
  • Locked
a VEXING 1911 problem/malfunction...suggestions?
Replies
16
Views
1K
richyoung
R
S
  • Locked
My experience as a juror in a home invasion robbery
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
dogsoldier0513
D
Back
Top