2476

Bronze breech block, with explanatory letter from Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian.

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 750.00 USD
Bronze breech block, with explanatory letter from Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian.
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This item SOLD at 2010 Oct 23 @ 14:43UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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Bronze breech block, with explanatory letter from Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian. 33 lb, 8" tall and 4-1/2" in diameter. Very heavy and solid, mostly dark but some patina on bottom, with large handle in side and small hole in top, basically a 17th-century "cartridge" for a smaller cannon, enabling the gunners to pre-pack the powder and shot and put the whole block into the breech, lock it in place via a protrusion in the bottom, and fire away. Three Roman numeral I's next to the handle indicate which gun this particular block fit on board the ship. From the Spanish 1733 Fleet, Florida Keys, pedigreed to the Marty Meylach collection.