J.W. COCHRAN PATENT STYLE MODEL REVOLVING TURRET CANNON. PATENT MODEL OR DISPLAY PIECE

J.W. COCHRAN PATENT STYLE MODEL REVOLVING TURRET CANNON. PATENT MODEL OR DISPLAY PIECE

01-24663
Cal. 52
S# NSN

In 1834, John Webster Cochran of Enfield, NH patented a repeating cannon or firearm that utilized a revolving horizontal turret to fire multiple shots. The story is, that the next year he demonstrated a model to many possible European buyers. The Turkish minister was impressed and persuaded Cochran to exhibit his cannon to the Sultan, who had Cochran build a full size 12 pounder. After being rewarded by the Sultan he returned to America and worked with the C.B. Allen factory to build the now quite rare turret rifle and pistol. Cochran went on to patent many other firearms related inventions. Is this firing model cannon the one originally built and exhibited by Cochran? It has 6″ smooth bore barrel which is fed by a 5-1/2″ diameter six shot turret. Each chamber would be muzzle loaded and fired by percussion caps. The hammer is mounted at top. Although the mechanism is not complete, it appears that turning a crank at rear causes the turret to rotate and somehow trip hammer. Horizontal field of fire is set by a lever which engages a rack under turret. Elevation is controlled by a brass knob on trail. Cannon shows very fine workmanship with cast and machined parts. Other parts are hand forged. CONDITION: cannon presently does not fire. All metal is dark brown patina, but carriage and wheels show a considerable amount of original gray paint. An intriguing small cannon worthy of considerable further study. Consignor states that this very cannon is pictured in the “Stagecoach Museum Gun Collection” catalog on page 204.

STATUS: ANTIQUE