A very fine and original London made 18-pounder carronade circa 1780-1815. The carronade is a shorter, usually shipboard cannon designed by the Carron Iron Works in Glasgow, that fired a larger, hollow round that had great smashing power at close range, ideal for ship-to-ship action. The gun was made at the C.J. Oliver foundry at Wapping in London, which later became the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. In all likelihood this gun was made for the Honourable East India Company, as it has no British Ordnance marks. The HEIC was also somewhat technologically more forward-thinking than the Royal Navy, and initially began arming their ships with carronades sooner and to a greater extent than the Royal Navy, although by 1790 the Royal Navy was beginning to catch up. This gun displays some of the earlier characteristics of its type, so HEIC use seems most likely, making this gun even more of a rarity. Size: This gun weighs about 1500 pounds, has a 5 1/2 inch bore, and is 43 inches from muzzle to cascobel. On the carriage it stands 28 inches tall, and is 50 inches long overall. The gun is mounted on an oak ship's carriage. Shipping to be arranged by purchaser. Condition: Gun and carriage has been painted repeatedly. The paint on the carriage is showing its age, as is the wood of the wheels in particular. The gun itself is in remarkable condition for its age, and with appropriate cleaning and maintenance is an outstanding specimen of this important ship-board gun.