A Stunning Original 1840's Prototype Bronze Cannon of a Dundas 32 Pounder Cannon On Original Bronze Carriage For Coastal Artillery

An absolute joyful piece, perfect for a former military officer, or maybe a gentleman's study or boardroom. A working bronze demonstrator cannon of a Col. Dundas 1840's pattern cannon, such as a 32 pounder. Used by the Royal Navy and Coastal Artillery from the 1840's. Very possibly made by the cannon maker, Low Moor Iron Works in Yorkshire, as a prototype working piece for Colonel Dundas, for the benefit of a Royal Ordnance contract, or possibly a presentation piece.

What an absolute corker! It has a very fine bronze cast barrel, with superb aged patination, on its original cast bronze carriage, now with wooden wheels. Overall 18 inches long. The cannon was designed in response to the need for heavier weaponry as armour on ships of the line improved. Colonel William Dundas, the government's Inspector of Artillery between 1839 and 1852, designed the cannon in 1846. It was cast by the Low Moor Iron Works in Bradford in 1847 and entered service soon after. Like numerous cannon before it, the full size version was made in cast iron, and smoothbore, loaded from the muzzle. The cannon was relatively inexpensive to produce – the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom estimated that each cannon cost approximately £167 [around £32,000 today]. Over 2000 were cast before 1861 and its exceptional durability, range and accuracy earned it a reputation as the finest smoothbore cannon ever made. Weight 18.5 kilos

Code: 23351