William Bowen? 18th Century British Swivel Gun/Signal Cannon, 1700s Antique

SOLD FOR: $3876

LSB#: 230407FG007

Make: Possibly William Bowen

Model: Signal/Swivel Cannon

Year of Manufacture: Ca. late 1700s

Caliber: Approximately 1 3/4?

Action Type: Muzzle-Loading Black Powder Fuse-Ignited Cannon

Approximate Overall Dimensions, Assembled on Mount: W: 13?, H: 27?, L: 24?

Type of Finish: Brass

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is fairly smooth with some fouling and residue.

Mechanics: There is nothing to indicate that this cannon will not function properly. We do not know the proper load for firing this cannon. Its design is consistent with a signal cannon. We did not fire this gun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This gun comes with a custom mount and a letter purported to be from Charles Trollope of the Ordnance Society with his opinion about the originality of the gun.

Our Assessment: Cannons are objectively cool, the older the better in this writer’s opinion. This is an 18th Century signal/swivel gun, more likely used for signaling based on its size. It comes with a letter purported to be from a member of the Ordnance Society (we suspect this is a transcription), which speculates that the gun is from the late 1700s and made in the United Kingdom, but not for the government. The gun looks great and will display well, especially among a collection of maritime artifacts. Please see our photos and good luck!

-Bud