1540s Bronze Cannon Dug Up In Arizona Is The Oldest Gun Ever Found In The U.S.

Cowboy State Daily ^ | 12/12/24 | Mark Helnz

[CFW]

As long as they paid the stamp tax, they should be okay.

I thought Freepers might find this bit of history interesting. What a find!

[IncPen]

Maybe see what the Pawn Stars will offer?

[CFW]

[EnderWiggin1970]

Almost 500 years old, and several generations older than Jamestown colony. That’s impressive to consider. The Spanish were hauling heavy ordinance around deep in the heart of America long before the English colonies came into being.

[Big Red Badger]

Yuppers...
Coronado got around!

[MtnClimber]

The left will want it turned in at the next gun “buy back”.

[No name given]

Very very impressive.

[No name given]

And it should fetch a hefty payout.

[telescope115]

I went to the page, read the story, and in scrolling down, discovered an interesting story about a cow that ate 19 sticks of dynamite…….😖

[Leaning Right]

> Maybe see what the Pawn Stars will offer? <

Rick just put in his bid.

[FoxInSocks]

It was found at the site of a small Spanish stone-and-adobe settlement, and likely placed there in 1541.

I’m curious where it was actually found, but I didn’t see that detail. And why is this article in a Wyoming publication? Interesting reading.

It makes sense that the cannon would have been used in a fixed position, Blust said. Lugging a 40-pound hunk of bronze around while exploring what is now the southwestern United States wouldn’t have been practical.

Tell it to the Marines. They’ve lugged 81mm mortars around battlefields, and each of those parts is over 30 pounds. And rounds are 10 pounds each. Yeah, not quite the same thing.

[Farmerbob]

Judging by the picture at the site, if the cannon is 42” long, the barrel OD is only 2-2.5 inches. It couldn’t be a very large shot.

[FoxInSocks]

I’ve seen a few really interesting and memorable articles from Cowboy State Daily posted here.

[CFW]

As to the picture I included in this thread, I reduced the size and may have gotten the dimensions a bit off. I sorta squished it. LOL!

Go to the article site to get a better idea of the length of the gun.

[MtnClimber]

I would make an offer to buy it before it was turned in. Like $50 over the turn in price. I don’t have a wall canon yet.

[laplata]

Lol. That’s a good one.

[cgbg]

“The Spanish were hauling heavy ordinance”

Let us give credit where it is due.

Their horses did that.

:-)

[laplata]

You big city folks don’t appreciate certain things.

[laplata]

Me, too. I subscribe to it.

[llevrok]

Maybe see what the Pawn Stars will offer?

"That's cool. I got a buddy who knows about old guns. Do you mind if I call him?"