Enchinus Cannon Muzzle- M1841 found-Not??? Maybe plumbing hardware???

[Smartin]

Hello all,

Found I think is a M1827-1841 muzzle enchinus ( rounded moulding forming the bell ). It was found on a site that has the right timeframe and history. A river trading post in the late 1700's to mid 1800's, and situated directly across the TN river from Fort South West Point. Many stories about this site and the Fort. Indian alliance with the traders and skirmishes with the Union fort.

I've known about since I was a kid in the 70's and have found many buttons and old relics at the site. This is the first time I've detected though. I believe it has been detected in the last 20 yrs cause I saw many holes close to where I found the muzzle piece.

I've decided the piece must be from another time, I'll continue to dig the site to see what else comes up.Somtimes I'm a little too optimistic!

Included are - two broken pieces solid brass? ( the one with the rounded piece is stamped "FR with a crown above and also says -PATENT
-a round piece with a stem, looks like a cover for something (solid bronze or brass)
-a horse tooth don't know what to think of that
- the hole before removal


-the inside dia. is approx 3 3/4" and outside is 5" ( the piece I found )

Any help with the id of this or conformation would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Smartin

 

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[Southcacalaky]

Re: Enchinus Cannon Muzzle- M1841 found Can the experts help

Greast relics, HH Art...

 

[trk5capt]

Re: Enchinus Cannon Muzzle- M1841 found Can the experts help

SMARTIN, All Of The Cannon Of That Time Period That I Have Seen Were Cast In One Piece, I Believe any Insert in the Muzzle Would Be Carried Away By The Blast. This Is Just My Oppinion as I Am No Expert On Artillery. Interesting Finds. trk5capt...

 

[Smartin]

Re: Enchinus Cannon Muzzle- M1841 found Can the experts help

SMARTIN, All Of The Cannon Of That Time Period That I Have Seen Were Cast In One Piece, I Believe any Insert in the Muzzle Would Be Carried Away By The Blast. This Is Just My Oppinion as I Am No Expert On Artillery. Interesting Finds. trk5capt...

trkCapt,
I agree with your opinion, and frankly I thought the same thing. This piece I found is solid bronze, the smallest inside diameter is 3 3/4" ( .08" larger than the 3.67 bore of the six pounder M1841) the only reason I considered it being a muzzle face was the description of this model I found on the net. It would not make sense to have a bronze cannon and then have a bronze insert on the muzzle unless there may be some usefull purpose as a replaceable muzzle loader face? Here's a description I found on cannons.6-pounder smoothbore, M1841

This popular workhorse of the Mexican War era was regarded as superseded by the Union artillery, but was still heavily employed by a Confederate army that could not afford to pass up any opportunities. The gun shows the last vestiges of the highly decorated artillery profiles that had prevailed until the beginning of the century: breech band, cascable fillet, fillet and roundel at the throat, and an echinus on the muzzle face were also features of the M1841 12-pounder. All were dispensed with on the M1857 Napoleon that displaced both these weapons as the smoothbore of choice for both armies. Attempts to convert some of these guns to rifles, using the James system of rifling, had only marginal success. Some have also been converted to "false Napoleons" by the National Park Service, grinding off the moldings and the sharp discontinuity between the reinforce and the chase, and enlarging the last few inches of the bore. The result can be quite confusing for the battlefield tourist.

I'm not sure and by no means an expert either. Sure would like to get some expert advice. This thing could be some kind of toilet orfice!!!

Thanks for looking,
Smartin