"MY ULTIMATE BIG BORES - an 84,000g projectile using 3,500g of powder - CANNONS"

Hello All,

Here is my Ultimate Big Bore ! ! (well, several of them) The largest one shoots an 84,000g projectile, (12 pounds) using 3,500g of black powder. (1/2 pound)


I look forward to doing this each and every year ..............

For the past 14 years I've been holding demonstrations at Oshkosh's 4th of July, Sawdust Days Festival. This is the 48th year that this event has taken place. It celebrates the early 1700's Frontiersmen, Settlers, and Indians that gathered at this location to celebrate the success of their harvest of Furs, Game, Food, and Goods, to be traded among those gathered.


To this event, I bring my REALLY BIG BORE(S). They are brought to the waters edge of Lake Winnebago, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at a place known as "Cannon Point". (obvious)

I display several Cannon Balls of various sizes and many examples of original Civil War Artillery accessories.

As was done in the "days-of-old" I fire a 12 pound Mortar every hour on the hour to keep track of time. The other cannon are fired by donation for the cost of the powder. Those donating for the powder actually get to shoot the cannon of their choice, and receive a parchment certificate acknowledging that they fired an original vintage cannon. Participants choosing to fire the Mountain Howitzer (most do) are run through the standard loading drill according to the Civil War Artillery Field Manual. Although the loading procedure was done by a crew of 5 men, I direct the participant to rotate through each of the various positions, and they perform each man's task individually.

For your interest, links to my web-page, showing my cannons, and several "you tube" video's, showing their firing, are at the bottom of the page following the pictures.

Here's the list of my Cannon that I bring to the event.


Original 1863 Ames Co. 12 pound Mountain Howitzer.
Original 1840 1 pound British Insurance cannon.
Original 1945 Naval Co. FB - Lyle Gun - (line throwing cannon)
Original 2005 12 pound Brass Coehorn Mortar
Original 1898 Manotowoc Foundry Signal Cannon (swivel gun mount)


As always, your comments are welcome.

CANNON POINT


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FIRST YEAR - 2005 - FRONT PAGE NEWSPAPER COVERAGE



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LAST YEAR - 2017 - FRONT PAGE NEWSPAPER COVERAGE



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FIVE CANNON ON CANNON POINT


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CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY DISPLAY


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THE DONATION CLOCK
every time $$ money is donated, the pointer moves.
when it reaches $12 - the last donator gets to fire
the cannon. (Mt Howitzer uses 1/2 pound of FFFFg
powder which costs $24 per pound - hence the $12)


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THE ORIGINAL AMES CO. 12 POUND MOUNTAIN HOWITZER


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THE ORIGINAL 1840 1 POUND BRITISH INSURANCE CANNON
called an insurance cannon because, if you wanted
to insure your ship's cargo, the insurance company
required you to have a cannon on board to defend
your cargo against pirates. No Cannon-No Insurance


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LOADING THE INSURANCE CANNON


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THE ORIGINAL 1945 LINE THROWING CANNON AND THE 12 POUND COEHORN MORTAR


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LINE THROWING CANNON READY TO FIRE
This model is often called a "Waffle Gun", because the
barrel construction looks like a "Waffle". The barrel is
Bronze. The ribbed pattern reduced material by over 40%
but still retains the strength of a sold barrel. Brass, Bronze,
and Copper were in short supply during WWII. This Cannon
is capable of shooting a light line to over 600 yards.


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THE 12 POUND COEHORN MORTAR


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ORIGINAL 1898 MANOTOWOC SIGNAL GUN


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LOADING THE SIGNAL GUN


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LOADING THE MOUNTAIN HOWITZER


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FIRING THE COEHORN MORTAR


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FIRING THE MOUNTAIN HOWITZER


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SIMULTANEOUS "NIGHT-TIME" FIRING THE COEHORN MORTAR AND THE MOUNTAIN HOWITZER


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"NIGHT-TIME" FIRING THE MOUNTAIN HOWITZER


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INTERESTING WEB-PAGE LINKS
http://www.buckstix.com/amesbarrel.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/BritishCannon.htm

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OTHER INTERESTING WEB-PAGE LINKS
http://www.buckstix.com/howitzer.htm
http://www.buckstix.com/CoehornMortarHunt.htm

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LINE GUN VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhkZIojHaqw

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SEVERAL MOUNTAIN HOWITZER FIRING VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFMrFd6ATL8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWrZJrrMX9M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKuFej5m03A

Now let's see you shoulder that

How do you transport multiple canons to an event?

Your minister of fun must be one hell of a lady.

buckstix,
You have outdone us all,holy mother of god ,cannot imagine the size of your gunsafe

Outstanding, Buckstix!

Nothing like the smell of cannon powder in the evening breeze...

Really cool!! Love that flame belch

"Mr. Buck Stix"

That is hilarious!
Only the name has been changed to protect the crazy.
That is what I am talking about when I say that craziness makes the world go round,
and Crazy Horse was a great hero and had a heroic name.
And a lot of hotdogs have been sold to attendees at Sawdust Days.

Rip ...

Hello boomstick,

Hello Bill73,

Hello Dulltool17,

Hello tomahawker,

Hello RIP

Thanks to all for the reply.

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quote:

Originally posted by Colin Masters:
How do you transport multiple canons to an event?

Hello Colin Masters,

Thanks for the reply.

What doesn't fit on the trailer, goes into my trusty 1991 Dodge Caravan. (530,000 miles)

Lending dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.



FAOBC 1-65 Ft. Sill

I have to say I'm constantly amazed by what some folks do here on AR. That looks like it would be a lot of fun to shoot any one of them.

Pretty cool.

Mr Buck Stix

Thank you for brightening my morning Sir!!

l attended a Range Conference a while back at Warcop Camp, and although l was the only civilian there all attention turned when the range Major asked who'd got or was intending to bring Artillery.
When l informed them that a club member had an "In Proof" copy of a 5lb Field Piece, he politely said "Not on My Range Please!!"
l do think the Marines and Para's were most impressed.

Now, just to be able to take your toys to the park and play.... That's got to be fun!!

Mr Buckstix

We've got a Canada Goose problem down at Windermere Marina.
l wonder if the club could take our cannon there, by way of offering a "Noonday Gun" service and slip a dose of Case Shot up the barrel while we were at it....
Oh the possibilities.....

l'm glad to see someone showing living history to youngsters, as we need to understand our past to be able to make better choices in the future.
Even if it means spitting on our hands and getting dirty once in a while....

All the very best.

Ratty.
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Very nice thanks for the pictures.

This is way way cool !
Keeping history alive Who is not to love this !

Hello cdparker,

Hello Cougarz,

Hello p dog shooter,

Hello ALF,

Thanks for the reply.

quote:

Originally posted by Ratwhiskers:
Mr Buck Stix

Thank you for brightening my morning Sir!! ........ Now, just to be able to take your toys to the park and play.... That's got to be fun!!

Hello Ratwhiskers,

Thanks for the reply.

When the local television reporter and camera man interviewed me, they asked; "Why do you do this?" I answered with; "Because I like to teach Living History and have people experience what it was like to shoot a cannon during the Civil War. Especially the youngsters."

After the camera was turned off, the reporter whispered; "Why do you "really" do this?"

I quietly answered; "Because where else can I shoot my cannon all day long, for 5 days straight, and not get arrested."

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Mr Stix's lust for burning gunpowder certainly knows no limits!

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Mr Stix's lust for burning gunpowder certainly knows no limits!

Hello Biebs,

Thanks for the reply.

I burned just over 25 pounds of powder in the 5-day event. And 3 days later, I can still smell the smoke.

buckstix,

Great to know a Dodge Caravan can do the long haul like that.
I always liked them, had a 1992 version until 2002 when a big big buck stix himself on my radiator at 55 mph. Totalled the buck and the Caravan.
That buck jumped off a bank beside the road and landed in the road just as the Caravan got there.
Suicidal I reckon.

Hope those 50 or so cannon shots in 5 days will tide you over until next year, keep you out of trouble from the law.
The feral cat hunting with mortar was a hoot.
Well done!
Another great read by another author: 101 Uses for a Dead Cat
1. Traction device for winter driving: Use frozen dead cat like sand & gravel under drive wheels ...

Rip ...

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
buckstix,
Great to know a Dodge Caravan can do the long haul like that.
Rip ...

Hello RIP.

The white 1991 Caravan in my main vehicle with 530,000 miles. My back-up is a red 1991 Caravan with 66,000 miles.

quote:

The white 1991 Caravan in my main vehicle with 530,000 miles. My back-up is a red 1991 Caravan with 66,000 miles

A man that has is priorities straight cheap vehicle expensive firearms. The 3.3 in the doges go for ever might have to replace the tranny a couple of times but the engines run for ever.

Are the strut towers still in good shape they are known to rust out.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
A man that has is priorities straight cheap vehicle expensive firearms.

Hello p dog hunter,

Thanks for the reply.

By not buying new vehicles for the past 27 years, it has allowed me to purchase my cannons.

I'M JEALOUS!!!

Hello Slider,

Thanks for the reply.

No need to be jealous. Just go to my website and buy a set of plans to build your own.

CANNON BARREL PLANS
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerBarrel.htm

CANNON CARRIAGE PLANS
http://www.buckstix.com/HowitzerCarriage.htm

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