Take-Apart - The Cannon and Ball

The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
 
The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
Larger Photograph (38.0K)

 
The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
Larger Photograph (55.6K)

 
The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
Larger Photograph (47.1K)

 
The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
Larger Photograph (64.0K)

 
The Cannon and Ball (John Berkeley)
Larger Photograph (66.2K)

 
The Cannon and Ball - Brass (Bits & Pieces)
 
The Cannon and Ball - Brass - Disassembled (Bits & Pieces)
Craftsman:John Berkeley (1st - 6th)
Bits & Pieces (7th & 8th)
Category:Take-Apart
Material:African Blackwood & Mahogany
Pieces:6, plus the carriage

The objective is to remove the cannonball from the muzzle. Though similar in appearance to The Arabi Gun, the mechanism is completely different. Looking into the muzzle, you can see the cannonball just inside. The muzzle opening is round, but the cannonball is held in place with a slightly oval opening.
 
The muzzle is easily unscrewed reveling the oval insert holding the cannonball in place. Then unscrew the breech which will then unscrew, with a left-hand, thread into two parts. One of the parts has a stud that will fit into the oval insert allowing it to be unscrewed, releasing the cannonball.
 
The 1st photograph is the latest model. The 2nd to 5th photographs are earlier versions of the classic design. The 6th photograph is a slightly modified design.
 
The brass version in the 7th & 8th photographs was sold by Bits & Pieces and has an identical mechanism.