1820's Cannons from the U.S.S.Shark | Blacksmith Show and Tell | Forum

Hello all. I am Dave Curl. Been a member for a while and have just recently stepped off the cliff to full time. 

   One of our current jobs is forging reproduction ironwork for the skids and sliders for two of the original cannons from the USS Shark that were recovered from Arch Cape in 2008. The cannons were shipped to Texas A&M for restoration and are now in the hands of the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Our job is to reproduce copies of the original iron used in 1821 when the Shark was built. The assemblies include the shipboard mounts manufactured in much the same way as they were in 1821. COOL BEANS!

   Tim Kennedy of Blind Moses Woodworking is doing the wood work and I am doing the iron. 

   This has got to be one of those rare and challenging jobs that we blacksmiths love. It certainly is exciting. This morning I was getting some measurements at the museum and I got to inspect one of the officers swords from the same shipwreck. It was awesome! I could still see the detailed work in the bone handle and the scabbard tip. The museum has X-rays of the sword (It is currently in as found condition) and they show all the detail that went into the making of these fine swords.   I have pictures if anyone is interested.

Dave

Solstice Forge