A Fantastic c.1830s Iron & Wood Model of a Six-Pounder Field Gun Cannon

Origin: English
Period: Early/Mid Nineteenth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1810-40
Length: 22 inches (overall)
Length of Barrel: 14 inches
Length of Axle: 12 inches
Height: 8 inches
Depth: 12 inches (all at maximum)

The six-pounder field gun on a Type I carriage having wooden spindled wheels with iron flat tires, spindle, cannon barrel and axle, the main carriage gun body with the original flaking deep sea grey-green paint, surviving from the first half of the nineteenth century.

The cannon gun and carriage are in fair to good order, most importantly the whole has not been interfered with, nor cleaned or restored. The paint has flaked commensurate with age and two or three of the wooden segments that make up the wheels are loose. One of the wheels turns more willingly than the other but the whole is in original condition and is charming as a result.

The six-pounder gun was the most common piece of artillery found in the field during the War of 1812. The description 'six-pounder' refers the weight of a solid shot (popularly known as a cannon ball) fired this type of gun. Both the United States and Great Britain used guns of this size. In fact, some of the American guns were captured British pieces dating back to the American Revolution of 1775-1783. Only British artillery used the more modern block-trail carriage and the wood of British artillery carriages was painted grey with the iron parts black.

A hugely decorative and interesting piece of table-top artillery.