What is it

[Pappydoodle]

Greetings All. While I was out in some nearby woods "tecting" last weekend, I got a strong signal on my Garrett ADS 7. About 4 inches down, I came across this little thing. It appears to be solid copper and is pretty heavy. It's hollow and has some neat, intricate marking all over it. I still need to get more crud off the back but, it's solid metal that's for sure. I have never seen anything like this before and was hoping somebody here could help me out. Thanks folks - stay safe !!!

Pappydoodle

 

[darrenb]

Looks like a tiny bronze cannon! My guess (and it is only a guess) is that it is probably a toy cannon from the days when toys were made right.
Great find!
HH
Darren

 

[MNCoinhunter]

It does look like a cannon, except that one end is rounded. Could'nt even begin to guess what it is, but you may have something there. Do a little research.

 

[metalhead]

No clue.Did ya try the whazit forum?Good luck identifying.Happy Hunting!

 

[MrGee]

What size is this thing? Looks like the decorative top of a lamp or the end of a flagpole or some such thing.

MrGee

 

[MNCoinhunter]

It does look like a cannon, except that one end is rounded. Could'nt even begin to guess what it is, but you may have something there. Do a little research.

Now that I think of it, old cannons were rounded were'nt they? I guess I was thinking of those huge battleship guns that they could load from the back end. All it is missing is the stand it would have sat in.

 

[RickIowa2009]

I think its a mortar from the old days, that was my first thought when I saw it, it has the two side pins which hold it in a cradle, and the fuse section!

 

[newbiehunter]

Go back out where you found it and you might find some lead soldiers to go with it.

 

[darrenb]

Does the protrusion at the rear have a removable cap? If so, it could be a small ship's signal cannon. If the cap is on it, it may be stuck from corrosion. If that's the case, when removed, there should be a small hole that goes into the breech section where a section of cannon fuse would go. You should be able to see the hole from looking inside it if it isn't too corroded. If it is a signal cannon, it is very ornate. Could be worth quite a bit!

 

[Orion42]

How big is it? That would give a clue too.

John

 

[widebody]

[size=large]i think it's a small cannon also but it also could be a candle snuffer. a little hefty for that but i have a snuffer and it's a tad beafyer than is needed for putting out candles. just another guess. could be a collectors cannon. or a model cannon. was wondering the same as darrenb. probly sat on a wooden carriage.

HH[/size]

 

[Pappydoodle]

[size=medium][/size] Hey Folks. Well, I went to two antique dealers over the weekend and they both said it looked like a model cannon too, but neither would put money on their calls. One also said, yes, it could be a candle snuffer, but he'd never seen one so ornate. Darrenb - no the rearmost protrusion doesn't have a cap. Its got, well, for lack of a better term, a little nipple on it, but its solid and I can't see a hole on the inside where a fuse would go through either. This thing is just at 2 1/4 inches long and about 1 1/8 inches in diameter. Both dealers agreed that it's copper, not brass. I went back out in to the woods early this morning to see if I could find anything else similar or as someone else said, lead soldiers. The cannon thing seems to be the best idea (the wooden holder rotted away or broke?), and so it just got dumped. I'm going to keep checking around - maybe something will turn up. Keep the ideas coming though - and thanks to all for your input.