Author Topic: Daniel King Howitzer (Read 10009 times)

GGaskill · « **Reply #60 on:** January 11, 2006, 08:29:15 AM »

The References/Bibliography of the King Howitzer article listed the locations of all the existing originals. I still have the typed version of that page and will post it tonight on the lassengunsmithing.com site with a direct link posted here.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #61 on:** January 11, 2006, 08:50:51 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill

The References/Bibliography of the King Howitzer article listed the locations of all the existing originals. I still have the typed version of that page and will post it tonight on the lassengunsmithing.com site with a direct link posted here.

HOT DAWG!

That's a start!

guardsgunner · « **Reply #62 on:** January 11, 2006, 11:08:07 AM »

CW- John listed enough dem.'s taken from his re-pop for reference point to the drawing on the first page of this thread.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #63 on:** January 11, 2006, 03:20:24 PM »

Quote from: guardsgunner

CW- John listed enough dem.'s taken from his re-pop for reference point to the drawing on the first page of this thread.

I'm well aware of them. That's where I first started. But then I noticed that there are some differences between the original and the repro. So, the thing to do in putting all the work into generating a fully detailed set of working drawings is to go back to the original.

GGaskill · « **Reply #64 on:** January 11, 2006, 09:19:30 PM »

OK; pages 6 and 7 of my typed version of the King Howitzer article are now available at http://lassengunsmithing.com/html/KHp7.htm.

If anyone downloaded the other typed pages, I would appreciate copies so I can re-establish the web pages when I finish rebuilding my web server.

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #65 on:** January 12, 2006, 12:14:53 AM »

First look says there may be one (at the time) about 8 hour drive from me. That's a start. Now to confirm and determine accessibility.

guardsgunner · « **Reply #66 on:** January 12, 2006, 05:11:47 AM »

CW
Sorry, thought you may have forgotton the dem.'s are there. This thread has been running awhile.
The gun that I copied was 1 of 20 purchased under contract in 1861.
There are 6 known today. I have measured 4 and they are all a little different. The moldings on the muzzle swells really show it.
There are a couple of guy on this board that live in Maryland/ N.Va.; maybe you can get one to do some leg work for you.
Wish I had your cad skills. (or any at all).

Cat Whisperer · « **Reply #67 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:42:45 AM »

guardsgunner - don't apologize, I appreciate your concern. Thanks also for the information on the variation between examples of the same model! That is key information as to how seriously not to take individual dimensions.

This is one tough lookin' cannon & it'll be fun cranking out a few replicas of various scales!

I like the comments about the recoil being apparently disproportionate to it's size. That says good design for strength - assuming it didn't have a reputation for coming unglued. There was one note about broken trunnions though.

guardsgunner · « **Reply #68 on:** January 12, 2006, 07:00:51 AM »

The commet about the weak trunnions was from the early batch of 1793 howitzers. Was the other commet made after they were banded with iron or was that concerning the 2nd batch of guns?
A gun with a bronze tube , steel band and trunnions would be neat and easy.

Powder keg · « **Reply #69 on:** January 12, 2006, 08:29:55 AM »

I got the prints from Don! I'll scan the barreel tonight and Email you what I have. I think it will be enough to work with.

Later, Wes

GGaskill · « **Reply #70 on:** January 12, 2006, 08:56:57 AM »

The early version (the one with the small breech section) was the one which broke trunnions (usually on the first firing with a 3 lb shot, according to General Wayne's complaints), which is why I would prefer the second version.

Double D · « **Reply #71 on:** January 12, 2006, 06:20:31 PM »

If You make apost you don't want all you have to do is click on the X in the upper right corner of the post to delete it.

rifleshooter2 · « **Reply #72 on:** January 13, 2006, 09:52:50 AM »

We have the second model and it is beefier, But I would like to get a first model. Our reenactment group is focused on the early days of the legion when they were stationed at Legion Ville ,when they broke some of the first models Plus it would be nice to have both to be able to show the changes Wayne had made to the piece.

Andy Michaels
Legion Ville Historical Society
www.legionville.com

Powder keg · « **Reply #73 on:** January 13, 2006, 06:07:26 PM »

Hey Andy,

If Cat sent you a sketch, Would you be able to take some measurments of that barrel you guys have? We have most of the stuff for the first model but nothing on the second model. Any help would be apretiated on this matter. I could send you some stuff to get the measurments with, if needed?

Later, Wes

GGaskill · « **Reply #74 on:** January 13, 2006, 09:01:14 PM »

The Company of Military Historians' 1961 article on the King Howitzer in now back online at lassengunsmithing.com/html/khp1.htm with an additional page from a 1965 "letter to the editor" from the original author providing additional info on the guns.

I would like to publicly thank CAV Trooper for sending me a text version of the article which greatly simplified reposting.

rifleshooter2 · « **Reply #75 on:** January 14, 2006, 02:45:28 AM »

Quote from: Powder keg

Hey Andy,

If Cat sent you a sketch, Would you be able to take some measurments of that barrel you guys have? We have most of the stuff for the first model but nothing on the second model. Any help would be apretiated on this matter. I could send you some stuff to get the measurments with, if needed?

Later, Wes

No Problem. We store it at my buddys house. I can run over and make the measurments.

Andy

Powder keg · « **Reply #76 on:** January 14, 2006, 03:06:03 AM »

Thanks to both of you! Much easer to read.

Later, Wes

Powder keg · « **Reply #77 on:** January 19, 2006, 01:07:56 PM »

Would anyone happen to know what color the field carriage should be painted? looks like a light blue maby?

Thanks, Wes

Story · « **Reply #78 on:** September 20, 2006, 04:29:00 AM »

I'm glad I stumbled onto this thread.

1. Does anyone have any experience with the Cannon Mania tube?
http://www.cannon-mania.com/barrels-bronze.htm
bottom of page

2. Does anyone have any references to pre-RevWar use of 4lb howitzers? From what I've read so far, the howitzer concept was cobbled up by the Dutch in/about 1740 and would have seen action during the Seven Years War.

GGaskill · « **Reply #79 on:** September 20, 2006, 07:49:56 AM »

There is another article from another edition of the MC&H that discusses earlier use of small howitzers. I'll try to post it by the weekend as an second addendum to the above linked article on the King howitzers.

Double D · « **Reply #80 on:** September 20, 2006, 08:51:56 AM »

Just so this topic doesn't get side tracked to badly. This thread is for the discussion of the King Howitzer. So you can talk about the Cannon Mania King howitzer.

To talk about Cannon Mania you need to go here Cannon-Mania

Story · « **Reply #81 on:** September 20, 2006, 09:59:44 AM »

Quote from: GGaskill on September 20, 2006, 07:49:56 AM

There is another article from another edition of the MC&H that discusses earlier use of small howitzers. I'll try to post it by the weekend as an second addenda to the above linked article on the King howitzers.

Appreciate that, Ggaskill!

Story · « **Reply #82 on:** September 20, 2006, 10:11:11 AM »

Quote from: John N on December 17, 2005, 06:44:14 AM

Wesley,

I purchased that barrel from Cannons Online. ItÂ’s the first one they made with high relief and engraving. They used it for years at events and demonstrations. It even won first place at an art fair. The owner was retiring it and made me an offer I couldnÂ’t refuse.

He primarily fired plain tennis balls due to range limitations but for distance filled them with sand or concrete.

The barrel is 15 5/8th inches long and weighs 38 pounds. Bore diameter is 2.75Â” and depth is just over 8Â”. It has a 4Â” deep, 1.25Â” diameter powder chamber and an angled vent. All interior surfaces are rounded.

I havenÂ’t fired it yet. IÂ’m saving up for a carriage.

JohnN,
Did you find a carraige yet? If not, you might find the following passage of interest -
From Captain Lawrence of the Artillery, I borrowed two pieces which were a form of cohorn, that he had converted into swivels. They were of brass and had a chamber, and had been captured on the Delaware Frigate*.
Comment by a Hessian officer, from The Siege of Charleston by Bernhard A. Uhlendorf

*The Delaware was a Pennsylvania State Navy frigate captured by the British when they took Philadelphia in the fall of 1777 and kept in service with the Royal Navy for a few years. Whether these howitzers were King's, Revere's or French 4lbers like those carried on the Bonhomme Richard is unknown (but they all appeared to be kissing-cousins).
That's why I asked about pre-RevWar references in my post above.

There's also several pages on naval swivel and pedestal mounts for these howitzers in Boarders Away, Volume II: Firearms of the Age of Fighting Sail (William Gilkerson. Andrew Mowbray Pub, 1993)

Story · « **Reply #83 on:** September 20, 2006, 10:16:07 AM »

Quote from: Cat Whisperer on January 11, 2006, 06:46:01 AM

With this project, there is interest on Wes's part as well as my own, to histerical accuracy. There are two models of this cannon, and originals and copies.

We would like to have a handful of the dimensions taken from an ORIGINAL D.King cannon.

a) Does anyone know of one in a nearby collection or museum?

b) Would someone be able to take a drawing (provided on paper or electronically) and measuring instruments to actually measure an original cannon?

This is a plea for help, your assistance is solicited.

CatWhisperer,
I found the following on the MUSEUM-L Archives while surfing for information on the King. While the information is two & a half years stale, perhaps a phone call to Mr. Perkins is in order?

Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 15:48:46 -0400
Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
From: Stephen Perkins <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: King Howitzer
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Disposition: inline

Dear Colleagues, A researcher has been working on a Daniel King Howitzer (marked 1793) in our collection. He has viewed similar howitzers at the West Point Museum, Anapolis naval station, Fort Sill and Carlisle. He's interested in examining all known examples of this artillery piece. If your institution has a marked King Howitzer in your collection could you please let me know off list so that I can respond to him.
Thanks, Stephen Perkins, curator Bennington Museum 75 Main St. Bennington, VT 05201 (802) 447-1571

rifleshooter2 · « **Reply #84 on:** September 21, 2006, 03:04:12 AM »

Quote from: Powder keg on January 19, 2006, 01:07:56 PM

Would anyone happen to know what color the field carriage should be painted? looks like a light blue maby?

Thanks, Wes

Light Blue is what were thinking is correct Ours is a light grey now but were going to repaint it. Anthony Wayne was ordering alot of prussian blue and white paint that we think he was using for the carrages were just trying to figure out what ratio to mix it in.

Andy Michaels
Legion Ville Historical Society
www.legionville.com

moose53 · « **Reply #85 on:** September 21, 2006, 08:03:15 AM »

I found a model of a 1781 King Howitzer captured at Yorktown and now on display at the Virginia battlefield.It was in Science and Mechanics, November 1960,page 142,by Robert H. Dalton,Build an Historic Collector`s Item 1781 British 8-Inch Howitzer

Story · « **Reply #86 on:** September 21, 2006, 01:37:43 PM »

Cool - the King's big brother. An 8" bore throws a 65 lb iron ball.

Found another image of an original King
http://www.historicalimagebank.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album54&id=RWk10d_American_2_85_Bronze_howitzer_made_by_Daniel_King_of_Germantown_Pa_wp_psd

GGaskill · « **Reply #87 on:** September 21, 2006, 09:41:09 PM »

The first page of two and a half pages of the 1987 King Howitzer article has been appended to the previous articles. The rest of the article and a picture will follow as I have time.

Page 2 is up now.

So is Page 3. The references are up, too.

It should be noted that many of the statements in this article are speculation, even though there are numerous references.

Story · « **Reply #88 on:** September 22, 2006, 04:09:20 AM »

Interesting that they mention Amusettes being made in Philadelphia as well.
(As a footnote, here's a Napoleonic War background article on them)
http://home.wanadoo.nl/g.vanuythoven/Amusette.htm

Powder keg · « **Reply #89 on:** September 26, 2006, 06:08:43 PM »

Found a new link to one? I'm going to try and contact this guy.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645195257,00.html