Dynamite guns! (1 Viewer)

W T Allison II

W T Allison II

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What campaigns were dynamite guns used in and what toy soldier maker produced a set?
 
The Spanish American war and Trophy made a set that included such a gun
 
Didn't East Of India make one for the Boxer Rebellion? -- Al
 
4th Hussar said:
The Spanish American war and Trophy made a set that included such a gun
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I agree and that was the only set Len made for that war. I can't find it any catalogues but he may have done such a set for the Boxer rebellion since dynamite guns were still in use but fading quickly in 1900.
 
Very cool subject! They were used in Cuba by our troops and the Rough Riders are named as having a battery of them as well. The Army had about 10 or 15 of the field gun version. It was a 2.5 inch gun that weighed in at 1000lbs on the carriage. Used smokeless powder to compress the air to launch the projectile. Kind of a neat idea. Didnt last long as I am sure they were a maintenance nightmare in the field. The guns were invented in the 1880s and went out around 1900 +/-.

Tommy, are you building a display or were you reading something that made you wonder about this interesting but not long lived gun system?

Dave
 
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DMNamiot said:
Very cool subject! They were used in Cuba by our troops and the Rough Riders are named as having a battery of them as well. The Army had about 10 or 15 of the field gun version. It was a 2.5 inch gun that weighed in at 1000lbs on the carriage. Used smokeless powder to compress the air to launch the projectile. Kind of a neat idea. Didnt last long as I am sure they were a maintenance nightmare in the field. The guns were invented in the 1880s and went out around 1900 +/-.

Tommy, are you building a display or were you reading something that made you wonder about this interesting but not long lived gun system?

Dave
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Dave: TR used them in the Battle of Santiago but they didn't fire dynamite at all. I have a Trophy set. I had no idea East of India produced a set. I just wondered if many of the forum members knew about the subject and the sets. As far as I know, this is the only Trophy set produced for the Spanish American War.
 
Hi Tommy,

They were certainly interesting guns. I dont really know why they called the dynamite guns. Because they were basicly big BB Guns using compressed air or in the really big navy gun steam to launch the projectile. Because they used a smokeless powder to compress the air in the ones used by TR they must have made a loud pop and then the projectile would be launched with out the tell tale give away of a smoke puff like the powder based guns. Of course smokeless powder was still in its infancy at this point so my guess is these babies would have been able to get in close and do a lot of damage before they were spotted. This is purely speculative on my part but a 2.5 inch projectile would certainly pack a good punch against basic earth works and wire.

As for makers who have covered this war, there arent many. WB and K&C and Trophy and another maker whose name escapes me right now havent done a lot with it since aside from the Rough Riders not many folks even discuss it. Incidently my great uncle's father was in the US Cavalry and fought in the Phillipines. I have a great photo of him in uniform from a shop in Manila but dont have a lot of other details on him yet, except what small memories my mother has of him as an elderly man during WWII.

Still a very interesting conflict that has bearing on some of todays issues if folks would take the time to study it.

Dave
 
DMNamiot said:
Hi Tommy,

They were certainly interesting guns. I dont really know why they called the dynamite guns. Because they were basicly big BB Guns using compressed air or in the really big navy gun steam to launch the projectile. Because they used a smokeless powder to compress the air in the ones used by TR they must have made a loud pop and then the projectile would be launched with out the tell tale give away of a smoke puff like the powder based guns. Of course smokeless powder was still in its infancy at this point so my guess is these babies would have been able to get in close and do a lot of damage before they were spotted. This is purely speculative on my part but a 2.5 inch projectile would certainly pack a good punch against basic earth works and wire.

As for makers who have covered this war, there arent many. WB and K&C and Trophy and another maker whose name escapes me right now havent done a lot with it since aside from the Rough Riders not many folks even discuss it. Incidently my great uncle's father was in the US Cavalry and fought in the Phillipines. I have a great photo of him in uniform from a shop in Manila but dont have a lot of other details on him yet, except what small memories my mother has of him as an elderly man during WWII.

Still a very interesting conflict that has bearing on some of todays issues if folks would take the time to study it.

Dave
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Hi Dave: If you are ever in San Antonio, try the Menger Hotel Bar, they have displays for the Rough Riders and the Phillipines. TR supposedly said after the battle of Santiago that the dynamite guns were better than artillery. They were gone by 1904. Was one used in "Fifty-five Days to Peking"?
 
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