<p><img src='http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0042/8692/files/spanish38inchtopx600.jpg?1264074714' alt='' /><br />
This early 18th-century Spanish “3 pounder” bronze cannon was salvaged from a shipwreck in the Philippines. It has Chinese characters cut into the barrel just forward of the touch hole. Because it is clearly a Spanish gun of a type commonly used on government owned treasure galleons those markings have caused Dr. Spence to theorize that this particular cannon had once been captured and used by pirates (many of whom were Asian), before finally being lost in the Philippines, as such markings would never have been allowed by a Spanish galleon’s officers. Spanish government ships routinely carried public and private treasure from the Philippines to Panama and were known as Manila Galleons.</p>
<p>It still has heavy marine growth in the bore and is not fireable. It would look perfect displayed on either a stand, swivel or carriage. It would have fired up to a 3 pound 4 ounce iron cannon ball, and could also have been used to shoot grapeshot, rocks and even nails.</p>
<p>Spanish Bronze Cannon details<br />
Length = 38 inches (96 cm)<br />
Bore Diameter = 3 inches (7.5 cm)<br />
Breech Diameter = 22 inches (56 cm)<br />
Cannon Diameter at Trunnions = 16 1/4 inches (41.5 cm)<br />
Cannon Width at Trunnions = 9 1/2 inches (24 cm)<br />
Cannon Diameter at Chase = 14 inches (36 cm)<br />
Trunnion Diameter = 2 1/2 inches (6.5 cm)<br />
Trunnion Length = 3 (7.5 cm)<br />
Total Cannon Weight (estimate) = More than 150 lbs (68+ kilograms)</p>
<p>After a great deal of input from others, Dr. Spence suspects that the inscription was made by Chinese or Filipino pirates and should actually be interpreted as “JW hold (your fire) to hit the mark.” The mark being JW’s target. Due to the small size of the cannon, that target most likely would have people and not a ship. (Note: It may be that it was not only a reminder, but a jab at JW for previously firing too fast and missing his target. Could JW have been a European who had pressed into service aboard a pirate ship against his will? It certainly was a common practice. Could JW have purposefully missed hoping a battle would go against the pirates and that he would be freed? Did he play a role in the ultimate loss of the pirate vessel?)</p>
<p>Because of the unique nature of this cannon, the asking price has been set at $25,000 but all reasonable offers will be considered.</p>2010-01-20T20:07:28-05:00spanish-3-pounder-bronze-cannon12547102cannons2010-01-20T20:07:28-05:00Extremely rare pirate cannon: 18th century Spanish "3-pounder"2010-02-16T13:25:52-05:00unidentifiedbronze cannon, bronze cannons, cannon, cannons, for sale, gun, guns, naval gun, naval guns, pirate cannon, pirate cannons, pirates, shipwreck, shipwreck artifact, shipwreck artifacts, Spanish, weapon, weapons
<img src='http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0042/8692/files/spanish38inchtopx600.jpg?1264074714' alt='' />
This early 18th-century Spanish "3 pounder" bronze cannon was salvaged from a shipwreck in the Philippines. It has Chinese characters cut into the barrel just forward of the touch hole. Because it is clearly a Spanish gun of a type commonly used on government owned treasure galleons those markings have caused Dr. Spence to theorize that this particular cannon had once been captured and used by pirates (many of whom were Asian), before finally being lost in the Philippines, as such markings would never have been allowed by a Spanish galleon's officers. Spanish government ships routinely carried public and private treasure from the Philippines to Panama and were known as Manila Galleons.
It still has heavy marine growth in the bore and is not fireable. It would look perfect displayed on either a stand, swivel or carriage. It would have fired up to a 3 pound 4 ounce iron cannon ball, and could also have been used to shoot grapeshot, rocks and even nails.
Spanish Bronze Cannon details
Length = 38 inches (96 cm)
Bore Diameter = 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Breech Diameter = 22 inches (56 cm)
Cannon Diameter at Trunnions = 16 1/4 inches (41.5 cm)
Cannon Width at Trunnions = 9 1/2 inches (24 cm)
Cannon Diameter at Chase = 14 inches (36 cm)
Trunnion Diameter = 2 1/2 inches (6.5 cm)
Trunnion Length = 3 (7.5 cm)
Total Cannon Weight (estimate) = More than 150 lbs (68+ kilograms)
After a great deal of input from others, Dr. Spence suspects that the inscription was made by Chinese or Filipino pirates and should actually be interpreted as "JW hold (your fire) to hit the mark." The mark being JW's target. Due to the small size of the cannon, that target most likely would have people and not a ship. (Note: It may be that it was not only a reminder, but a jab at JW for previously firing too fast and missing his target. Could JW have been a European who had pressed into service aboard a pirate ship against his will? It certainly was a common practice. Could JW have purposefully missed hoping a battle would go against the pirates and that he would be freed? Did he play a role in the ultimate loss of the pirate vessel?)
Because of the unique nature of this cannon, the asking price has been set at $25,000 but all reasonable offers will be considered.
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