Pair of 6lb Naval Gunnades

A incredible matched pair of 6lb naval 'Gunnades', distingueshed from 'Carronades' by the presence of trumnions (rather than an underslung loop).
Carronades and Gunnades became popular around the turn of the 19th century, made possible by improvements in the centuries old manufactueing techniques utilised in the production of artillery. Piloted by the Carron ironworks in Falkirk, this type of artillery singalled a change in the tide of naval warfare.
This type of gun had the advantage of a machined bore, which was achieved using a water wheel powered boring bar, with the barrel mounted on a downward sloping sledge, running axially to the boring bar. 
The machined bore carried a number of benefits, primarily by means of circularity and axial trueness. This allowed  for a tighter fitting cannonball to be used, as less of a clearance was required compared with the older style barrels still utilising a core cast bore, which had to make allowences for variability in the gun's bore size and profile. 
This reduced windage resulted in less gas blowby past the ball, increasing the gun's efficiency, whilst allowing the wall thickness/weight of the barrel to be reduced, by utilising a smaller propellant charge for the same muzzle velovity. By avoiding the ball rattling it's way down the bore upon firing, the barrel life was also improved vs guns with a higher windage allowance. 
The other advantage of machining out the bore was a little known biproduct of the metallurgy of casting. Once the shot of molten iron bagan to chill in the mould, the impurities naturally migrated to the centre of the casting (the area that chills last of all). This meant that the lowest quality aspects of the casting shot did not find their way into the structurally important parts of the barrel, and could thus be removed during the bore machining, for a more robust casting less prone to flaws and inclusions.
In an era when the majority of naval battles took place 'yard arm to yard arm', the diminished range of these artillery pieces was of little importance. Their close quarters power soon gained them the fearsome nickname of "smashers".
Carronades and gunnades were popular armourments on the quarterdeck and forecastle's of naval vessles, where it was vital to keep the centre of mass as low as possible for stability reasons. A smaller crew could work a gun such as this, due to it's diminished weight compared with it's long gun equivalent. 
This aspect made gunnades very popular aboard merchant vessles, where trained gunners were typically few and far between. The Carron company cleverly developed a woolen cartridge, which negated the need to sponge the gun between firings, allowing a relatively untrained crew to match the 90 second rate of fire achieved by their frequently drilled Royal Navy counterparts. 
Gunnades and Carronades remained popular into the mid 19th century, finally bowing out following the advent of breech loading rifled naval artillery. 
This pair of barrels are a rare matched pair, both having come from the same source. They are likely to be Royal Naval guns, rather than merchant navy - as they lack the usual crown and letters cast into the top (see my other advert for a merchant example). Both guns have got a feint "F" cast into the end of their right hand trunnion. 
The vents are both clear, and the bores clear all the way up to the breech, where the concave chamber backface is still very visible. The pieces are in very good conditon, with lots of definition left to their shape - with no evidence of them being sea recovered (where caution must be exercised).  
Each barrel is ** in length, with a muzzle diameter of ** and a breach diameter of **cm. The width accross the trunnions is ** and the trunnions a chunky ** in diameter. The bore of ** denotes them as 6pdr's. 
The guns have been left in their natural state to show their good condition. They can be stripped back and painted if the buyer wishes. 
UK delivery may be possible for a fee (please enquire), or assistance can be given to load into a van or trailer on collection.
A very rare opportunity to own an idential pair. Although heavy, these barrels are still moveable without the need for hiab crane's or gantry's. They would look spectacular either side of a doorway or entrance, or possible adorning the steps of a garden terrace.