TOY

An incomplete cast copper alloy toy cannon of Post-Medieval date. The muzzle (open end) of the cannon is missing due to an old break. It is cast in one piece with a pronounced base ring and tapering breech. The cascabel is very long and prominent, narrowing after the base ring and ending in a small, expanded, rounded knop terminal. The vent field, between the base ring and vent ring, is only as wide as the vent hole which is 1.7mm in diameter.

The trunnions project from either side of the first reinforce ring. Both trunions taper towards the ends and are square in section. However the trunions are not symmetrical as they project from the barrel at different levels whilst curving in opposing directions. The total width of the cannon across the trunnions is 13.2mm. The chase (remainder of the barrel after the trunnions) has two incised circumferential lines decorating it and also has an irregular shaped hole where it has been damaged.The muzzle has an internal diameter of 2.9mm at the break. The cannon is now 35.3mm long and weighs 3.39g.

Forsyth and Egan (2005:80-81) discuss toy cannons and suggest those that actually fired were very popular by the end of the 16th century but the majority show features that were developed in 17th - 18th century.