Author Topic: New Additions at Wild Imports  (Read 1765 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline John N

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 160
New Additions at Wild Imports
« on: May 23, 2005, 10:12:46 AM »
Wild Imports, listed on the suppliers sticky, is offering a full scale mountain howitzer (4.62" bore) and a 3" bore naval cannon. These are cast bronze with steel liners. Does anyone know where their products are manufactured? I would guess India or the Philippines.

Offline CAV Trooper

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 228
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2005, 11:51:06 AM »
I talked to the guy a while back at a gun show and he indicated that their cannons and mortars come from Brazil.

On all of their products, instead of being cast solid and then drilled and sleeved, the brass is cast around the sleeve.  Bummer.  :cry:
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

Offline dominick

  • GBO Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (21)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1367
  • Gender: Male
    • Black Powder Cannons & Mortars
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2005, 01:14:18 PM »
I heard Argentina, I guess South America wins the vote...

Offline Cat Whisperer

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7493
  • Gender: Male
  • Pulaski Coehorn Works
Re: New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2005, 02:06:42 PM »
Quote from: CAV Trooper
 ....  the brass is cast around the sleeve....




The issue is two-fold for me, integrity of the design and reputation for uncompromising quality control - especially when it comes to castings.
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
Cat Whisperer
Chief of Smoke, Pulaski Coehorn Works & Winery
U.S.Army Retired
N 37.05224  W 80.78133 (front door +/- 15 feet)

Offline Cannonsight

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2005, 02:00:54 AM »
I saw one a few weeks ago at the Ohio Artillery Show. The tube was polished pretty well, but showed alot of waviness compared to the "brand name" U.S. manufactured pieces. I didn't check it out too closely but it had some funky-looking proof marks also. I think it was mounted on a non-US style carriage too.
Chapman & Sons-Artillery Sights

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2005, 04:07:14 AM »
I e-mailed Wild Imports awhile ago to see if they would sell the Barrel separate from one of thier naval cannons they replied they did not. I prefer to build my own carraiges.  But awhile ago before I found this site I did get their smallest Napoleon cannon which I way overpaid from another site :( The site isn't in the sticky and I'm not going to mention the site either.  I was using 40 grain FFG blank loads Which I found out at the wild imports site to be a little on the hot side like about 35 grains over. It was a good thing I wasn't firing ball or I think I wouldn't have the cannon anymore.

Offline CAV Trooper

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 228
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2005, 05:13:35 AM »
Quote
The tube was polished pretty well, but showed alot of waviness compared to the "brand name" U.S. manufactured pieces.


I noticed that too as well as a bunch of small "pits" from the casting process that hadn't been polished out.

Quote
I e-mailed Wild Imports awhile ago to see if they would sell the Barrel separate from one of thier naval cannons they replied they did not.


They do sell their six pound barrel separately. It's used on both the field and naval carriage.
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2005, 11:08:41 AM »
The Six pounder is a little to rich for my budget and a little to large to work with, But it would be nice to have a brass barrel that size but  not today at least.  I was inquiring about thier Naval 1.73 inch"Golf ball" diameter barrel and thier 2.74 inch mortar barrel. But no luck I gotta buy the whole setup on those. Hearing about the quality and the way they are made. kind of makes me fee relieved I couldn't get them. But by the photographs you do have to admit they are some nice looking cannon.

Offline gcr

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2005, 02:27:42 PM »
I asked if their barrel liner had a seam, and they replied yes.

Offline Cat Whisperer

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7493
  • Gender: Male
  • Pulaski Coehorn Works
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2005, 01:58:47 PM »
Quote from: gcr
I asked if their barrel liner had a seam, and they replied yes.


gcr - thanks for posting this & WELCOME to the board!

What do you shoot?  - or - What would you like to shoot?
Tim K                 www.GBOCANNONS.COM
Cat Whisperer
Chief of Smoke, Pulaski Coehorn Works & Winery
U.S.Army Retired
N 37.05224  W 80.78133 (front door +/- 15 feet)

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2005, 01:30:25 PM »
Since Wild Imports won't sell a barrel for a soda can size mortar, Im wondering if anybody can point me in the right direction, I know the usual reply is for me to make it myself, But I specialize in the wood part and I don't think I would be able to aquire the skill to build a nice looking safe brass mortar barrel of that size. Something thats affordable of course, and unfortunetly it would have to be in the future like around the Fall.

Offline Blaster

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 637
  • Gender: Male
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2005, 02:25:11 PM »
rays89.  You can purchase barrels without platform/carriages for mortar and cannon from South Bend Replicas, South Bend, Indiana.  They are listed in their current catalog and by buying the barrels without the carriage, a substantial amount of bucks can be saved.  SBR is listed in our list of Suppliers along with many other very good firms.
They (SBR) have been in business for over 30 years and do produce some quality stuff.  Blaster (Bob in CO)
Graduate of West Point (West Point, Iowa that is)

Offline GGaskill

  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5669
  • Gender: Male
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2005, 02:28:14 PM »
I guess you are going to have to define affordable for us because brass is pretty expensive.  I would go with a 5" diameter and 8.75" length for a Coehorn style mortar.  This would be approximately 53 lbs of brass which would cost around $200, maybe more, just for the barrel metal.  The trunnion would run another 4 to 5 lbs.  Then add something for labor, something for a crate to ship it in, something for shipping.

Going to be hard to beat Wild's $550 price, just for a barrel.  Besides, their mortar mount looks like it is backwards and will tip over with the first shot unless the barrel is pointed the opposite direction.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2005, 07:04:21 PM »
I looked in the South bends website and basicly seen full size barrels, Looks like Ill have to do without, And stick with these smaller Brass cannons, I tend to find the cannons with brass barrels more apealling, I guess that why the majority of my collection are cannon with Brass barrels. plus most of them the barrels are under 12 inches long. Maybe in the future Ill lower my sites and look for a brass barreled Golfball size mortar. So far the largest mortar I have is 8 inches in length witha 1.3 inch diameter (inside) barrel

Offline GGaskill

  • Moderator
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5669
  • Gender: Male
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2005, 09:05:05 PM »
Well, don't give up.  Keep your eyes open and maybe you'll stumble over a piece of brass big enough.  That kind of stuff does happen.
GG
“If you're not a liberal at 20, you have no heart; if you're not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”
--Winston Churchill

Offline CAV Trooper

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 228
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #15 on: May 28, 2005, 02:56:40 AM »
Quote from: rays89
I looked in the South bends website and basicly seen full size barrels...


If you look at a SBR catalog, you'll see they currently show 14 cannons and two mortars that are sub-scale. 3 of the cannons and a mortar with a 2.25" bore can be had in brass.

In the past, they have made several other brass tubes but normally make them out of iron due to safety reasons and the very high cost of casting and finishing brass. Give Paul Barnett a call and see what he can do for you.
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein

Offline Blaster

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 637
  • Gender: Male
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #16 on: May 28, 2005, 11:51:45 AM »
rays89.  I just checked the most current catalog published by South Bend Replicas.
They have listed an iron coehorn with a bore of 2 3/4", chamber 7/8" and is 160 lbs with the iron sled mount.  This one, complete less shipping is $1092.00.  Then they list the barrel only which is 13" in length and weighs
75 lbs and price is $582.00.  It is rather difficult for me to imagine that the iron sled mount would cost $510.00 but that's how it is listed.  They have indicated in their description that concrete filled beer cans work well in this 2 3/4" bore.  I am furnishing this information, not as a sales pitch but just something you may find of interest -- and the owner of SBR, Paul Barnett is a great guy to deal with and I consider a real expert in the fabrication and operation of cannon and mortars.  Blaster (Bob in CO)
Graduate of West Point (West Point, Iowa that is)

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #17 on: May 28, 2005, 05:09:06 PM »
Blaster
  Thanx for the info. Being the common working man I think Ill be doing without. $582 is a lot of "coin" for this poor soul. Well it was a nice idea
                                                                                 Thanx again

Offline Blaster

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 637
  • Gender: Male
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #18 on: May 29, 2005, 06:11:17 AM »
rays89.  Just be patient, something reasonable will come along for you.  Hey, I'm no longer a "common working man" but now just a common retired guy.  If I want something like this stuff, I merely have to give up eating and also buying fuel for the P/U and in just a couple years, I'll be able to afford another mortar.  :wink:  
Good luck to you on your search!  Blaster (Bob in CO)
Graduate of West Point (West Point, Iowa that is)

Offline rays89

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 266
New Additions at Wild Imports
« Reply #19 on: June 07, 2005, 01:14:49 PM »
Bob
  Giving up eating isn't an option, I have 2 pickups of the same model one black one and one white one, If I fix the widow in the Black one and sell it...........Hmmmmm