Model12Win
Moderator
Hello all! Now this is a weird one, even for me to ask!
I am trying to commission someone to build me a replica of a 14th century bronze handgonne (hand cannon). If you click "Medieval European Handgonne #1" HERE you will see the .55 caliber original bronze specimen I am trying to have recreated for me. I am going to have it made in .540" caliber so I can use .54 cal balls and patches that I already have plenty of. This specimen seems to have a thick barrel, as most handgonnes do, and tapers to the end. The breech should be something like an inch and a half wide, and the muzzle looks to be about an inch wide with .55 bore.
So, assume we are using a traditional bronze of 88% copper and 12% tin, and I was using 230 grain .535" lead round balls with a thin patch, and maybe up to 40 grains of FFG black powder, and a simple bronze barrel of the dimensions shown in these pictures, how safe do you think that would be? What kind of pressures would said load produce?
I have seen people make reproduction handgonnes in brass and fire them, so I am curious. Of course I could always just have one made from steel, but I would love to have an authentic one made of bronze.
So what do you guys think? Will this be safe provided I don't overload it? Thanks!
I am trying to commission someone to build me a replica of a 14th century bronze handgonne (hand cannon). If you click "Medieval European Handgonne #1" HERE you will see the .55 caliber original bronze specimen I am trying to have recreated for me. I am going to have it made in .540" caliber so I can use .54 cal balls and patches that I already have plenty of. This specimen seems to have a thick barrel, as most handgonnes do, and tapers to the end. The breech should be something like an inch and a half wide, and the muzzle looks to be about an inch wide with .55 bore.
So, assume we are using a traditional bronze of 88% copper and 12% tin, and I was using 230 grain .535" lead round balls with a thin patch, and maybe up to 40 grains of FFG black powder, and a simple bronze barrel of the dimensions shown in these pictures, how safe do you think that would be? What kind of pressures would said load produce?
I have seen people make reproduction handgonnes in brass and fire them, so I am curious. Of course I could always just have one made from steel, but I would love to have an authentic one made of bronze.
So what do you guys think? Will this be safe provided I don't overload it? Thanks!