An Effort to Tie Down a Loose Cannon

Question: I would like to buy an old cannon for my front yard, preferably a six-pound or 12-pound mountain howitzer, either antique or replica. The only ones I can locate are either in the South or New England, which makes shopping a bit difficult. Also, some companies make the barrels and other companies make the carriages, but no one company seems to make a combination of both. --R.T.

Answer: Why not contact some of the auction houses constantly dealing in estates which, in turn, often have interesting antiques? Christie’s, for example, has sold antique arms and armor and undoubtedly would tell you if such an item is included in any estates the auction house is currently handling. Write Christie’s at 502 Park Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022.

There also are a number of Los Angeles-based auction firms that might be able to give you some leads. Also check with some of the area’s gun shops; they may have contacts among collectors of military memorabilia.

In “A Price Guide to Military Collectibles” by retired U. S. Marine Col. Robert H. Rankin (3rd edition, House of Collectibles, Orlando, Fla. 32809), the author notes that “cannons and mortars are in extremely short supply. The price trend is always upward. These collectibles were imported in considerable numbers shortly after World War II and sold rapidly. Importation was closed off a few years later, and no more will be coming in. This means that the demand far exceeds the supply.”

Some price examples from the book include an Argentina Hotchkiss rapid-firing gun (undated) with a price range of $2,200 to $2,500; a “French 75” cannon used by American field artillery crews in World War I, $7,500 to $8,100; a German Krupp mountain gun, $1,600 to $1,750, and a British Mark I field gun (introduced in 1909), $1,200 to $1,300.

As high as these prices may seem, they are about a year old and so would probably be even higher today.

The author does mention a Ron Manion as the “owner of the world’s largest military-antiques auction house.” According to the book, he can be reached through the Manions International Auction House, Department A-3, P. O. Box 12214, Kansas City, Kan. 66112.