It really fired. If I remember correctly, you loaded it with a kind of paste that I am guessing was gun powder. Can't remember how it was ignited. Maybe there was a percussion cap too.

That sounds like a "carbide cannon" You put calcium carbide powder called "Bang-site" and water in them and they used a lighter flint to set it off. The most popular brand was called a "Big Bang Cannon". Still made today I think by the same company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-Bang_Cannon

I have a couple of fairly rare toy machine guns that were made by the Smiths Welding Company that used 'carbide' to make a bang when shot.Cool stuff!

 

Bangsticks are usually 12gauge.

 

That sounds like a "carbide cannon" You put calcium carbide powder called "Bang-site" and water in them and they used a lighter flint to set it off. The most popular brand was called a "Big Bang Cannon". Still made today I think by the same company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big-Bang_Cannon

I have a couple of fairly rare toy machine guns that were made by the Smiths Welding Company that used 'carbide' to make a bang when shot.Cool stuff!

I for sure don't remember adding water but maybe it was in the paste. I seem to remember a tube similar to toothpaste tube. Or maybe it was powder. I just don't remember the adding water.

 

Bangsticks are usually 12gauge.

Not bangsticks, Bangsite. It is powdered calcium carbide for the cannons.

http://www.toycannons.ray-vin.com/carbide/bangsite.htm

http://www.toycannons.ray-vin.com/

Here are pics of the machine guns -http://www.toycannons.ray-vin.com/carbide/smiths.htm

Have one of the model 32. And a couple of the model 31, including one still in the box.

 

It really fired. If I remember correctly, you loaded it with a kind of paste that I am guessing was gun powder. Can't remember how it was ignited. Maybe there was a percussion cap too.

You can make your own cannon legally today.

Many people do it for a hobby.

The best barrels are the de-milled 25 or 30mm gatling gun barrels that have been cut up into 18" chunks, perfect for black powder and a round lead fishing sinker for shot. They'll throw it out pretty far, though accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

 

You can make your own cannon legally today.

Many people do it for a hobby.

The best barrels are the de-milled 25 or 30mm gatling gun barrels that have been cut up into 18" chunks, perfect for black powder and a round lead fishing sinker for shot. They'll throw it out pretty far, though accuracy leaves a lot to be desired.

As kids we would make "Polish Cannons" (disclaimer I am 1/4 Polish with a Polish last name ).

You would take the tops and bottoms off of about 5-6 soda cans, all but one. Tape them end to end with the one with a top and bottom, st the bottom of the stack. Punch a hole in the bottom can. Place a few drops of lighter fluid in the bottom can, shake, place tennis ball in cannon and light.

Pretty cool.

I have crewed on the Brig Niagara.

http://flagshipniagara.org/flagship_niagara/index.htm

They had a real cannon on board that fired cannon balls. If you removed your hands from your ears right after they fired the cannonball you could hear it moving through the air.

They would fire a blank coming into port and half the time it would set off car and building burglar alarms on shore.