Original British 18th Century Bronze 6-Pounder Cannon Converted to Pattern 1895 Breech Loading Field Gun Original Items

Original Item: Only One available. This is an amazing piece of history produced at a time of war in another impenetrable part of the British Empire. Britain started colonizing India in the early 18th Century and basically pushed the French out of contention at the Battles of Plessey and Pondicherry in 1757 and 1759 respectively. Britain gradually overcame all the individual States of what today in India itself, Bangla Desh and Pakistan, a vast area. The last resistance came from the Patan Tribesmen of the North West Frontier in what is now the Bora Bora region of Northern Pakistan.

The last Waziristan Campaign of 1894 put this area under British Control however the remoteness meant that many British Garrisons were left isolated in hostile hill country. The mountain fortresses were secure but were vulnerable to mass attacks in that the terrain provided extensive close cover to any assailant. To avoid being over run it was decided that quick firing Cannons shooting grapeshot type loads would be the best solution to counter mass infantry assaults.

The region was isolated and time was short so obsolete late 18th century muzzle loading bronze cannons left over from the Napoleonic wars were pressed into service one last time. These were converted into M-1895 Breach loaders and installed into fixed fortress positions to repel any attack.

The strategy appears to have worked in that no famous action resulted and these 18th/19th Century Bronze cannons have just faded into history being quickly replaced with far more modern technology.

This very example is an incredible 18th century 6 pounder Muzzle loading Bronze Cannon that was later converted to with a British Pattern 1895 Breech Loading system. Based on the design and high quality of bronze composition and casting technique, we believe this tube to be of British or other European manufactured. However, it does not have any visible markings. 

It features a multi-banded bronze tube with plain trunnions and P-1895 Breech door. The breech is unmarked, we believe the markings we struck after it was taken to the Asian Subcontinent as this example was discovered and recovered from Kathmandu, Nepal in 2003.

The tube measures 61″ in overall length and has a 3.75″ bore denoting it as a 6 pounder. Overall weight is 1000 LBS. Please see images for detailed measurements. The touch hole is clear (not spiked) as is the entire length of the tube. 

Curbside delivery within the continental US is included with purchase. Customers outside the continental US should contact us for an accurate shipping quote.