New theory on who rifled this British light 3-pounder gun

[cannonmn]

Please take a look here, many photos etc., two interesting guns. Some of you will remember when I had the bronze gun on display in the sutler village a few years ago.


http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/ ... 1098822977

[cannonmn]

I now have the answer.

http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/smfor ... opic=137.0

There's more info and photography at the link, but if you're in a hurry this is the basic information:

In 1864/65, after Armstrong’s 6-pr 3 cwt RBL mountain gun proved to be too heavy for transport by mules, it was decided to replace it with a lighter RML. The first RML introduced was a 7-pr of 3-in and 2 cwt (designated Mark I) and was made by boring out and rifling old SBML bronze pieces on the Woolwich pattern. After this gun also proved to be too heavy, it was replaced by a Mark II of 200 lbs, which was produced by shortening the bore of the Mark I by two inches and turning the exterior down - in the process removing the old decorative mouldings. About 50 were made but not introduced into service because their preponderance was considered unsatisfactory.