45mm-breechloading cannon
This cannon was purchased at auction in Munich from the Bavarian Military Museum in Woolrich. The cannon cannot be positively not identified. The barrel is 54 inches long, 350 lbs, steel, breechloader, SMOOTHEBORE, and 45mm. A case was extracted from breech (57mm) that reads "PATRONEN FABRIK KARSLRUHE 93D 1914." The museum curators say it is not German since a 4.5cm was not in the in inventory during the 1880s. This date is also speculative. It has a breech plug bayonet type and not interruptred screw. It is numbered "1161" on top of breech and the data tag is missing from the top. An outline of a 1x3 inch plate with peened over fastening screws is still in place. It appears the plate was pried off years ago. Ideas of its origin range from Serbian-French signal to chinese. The bore at the muzzle shows signs of shot useage.
The owner is Richard Gaysowski. See his website devoted to swivel guns.
Email - Jonathan.E.Stevens@wheaton.edu
copyright 2001 Wheaton, Illinois
Created 12 August 2001
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