Carriage Specifications

Steen Cannon & Ordnance Works offer a wide variety of carriages. WE are the major supplier of out door metal carriages for the National Park Service.

In the department of Field gun carriages, we make the following:
No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Field carriages in wood, aluminum and ductile iron,
Wiard Carriage for 6-Pdr and 12-Pdr In Aluminum only

First Model and Second Model Prairie Carriage for Mountain Howitzer, In wood or ductile iron

1776 6-pounder Traveling Carriage for British 6-Pdr, In wood or all aluminum

In the department of Siege carriages, we make the following:
No. 1 Siege carriage for the 12-Pdr. Gun and the 4.5 Siege Rifle in Wood and Aluminum
No. 2 Siege carriage for the 18-Pdr gun and the 30-Pdr. Parrott in wood and Aluminum
No. 3 Siege carriage for the 24-Pdr. gun and the 8-inch howitzer in wood and Aluminum

In the department of Siege and Garrison Carriages we make the following:
Barbette carriages for the 18, 24 and 32 pounder guns in all metal that looks like wood.

In the department of naval carriages, we make the following:
Light and heavy Dahlgren Boat howitzer carriage
All metal naval truck carriage for the 32-pounder shell gun.

In the department of support Carriages, we make the Field Limber and Caisson and Ammunition Chest in wood and aluminum.

1883 Gatling Gun metal field carriage

Wood Carriage Specifications

Specifications

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All of our carriages are constructed from hand picked clear Kiln-dried Ash or White oak. Our beams are laminated from eight, ten and twelve quarter material using waterproof glue and high pressure along with constant temperature. In gluing up the beams we reverse the grains to make our beams actually more sturdy than an original with the grain all going in the same direction.

Finishing

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We first treat all wood parts with a copper naphthenate solution as was done on original carriages of the period. (2) Second, we apply two coats of boiled linseed oil(heated). (3) Next ,we use a 100% acrylic bonding primer specially formulated by the Porter Paint Co. of Louisville, Ky. that contains mildacides along with rust inhibitors and bonding agents that makes a superior intermediate coat between the copper naphthenate and the boiled linseed oil solution and the finish coats. Porter Paints is the only company in the paint industry to have this special primer available. (4) Nest all the wood receives a coat of Oil Base enamel. (5) We then use a industrial grade 100% acrylic paint finish (3 coats) that is guaranteed to out last any oil base paint two-to-one against chipping, peeling, color retention, and years of service before repainting is required. I’m a former paint company owner and according to all major paint companies and the National Paint Institute that does most of the independent testing of all paints agrees that 100% acrylic paint finishes are the superior way to treat outside surfaces. As you can see, our methods are of the highest quality and we feel you could not purchase a carriage from anyone that will last longer than ours.

Hardware

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All of our hardware is made exactly to the orginial specifications. Some parts are made of ductal iron or semi-steel and the rest is either machined on lathes & milling equipment or hand forged. All of our hardware is hand finished by filing and sanding so there is no parting lines or rough edges. Finally, two (2) coats of red oxide rust-inhibitive primer followed with two (2) coats of gloss industrial enamel are applied.

Metal Carriage Specifications

Why should you purchase a Metal Gun Carriage from Steen Cannons?

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All of our metal gun carriages are cast from ductile iron or aluminum. Ductile iron is a casting material similar to steel. Ductile iron has a casting strength of sixty thousands pounds tensile; twenty thousands pounds stronger than mild steel. Our Aluminum Carriages are cast from thirty five thousand pound tensile strength aluminum.

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Metal gun carriages are the preferred carriage for outside use. Our carriages are designed to last a life time with little maintenance.

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We use all iron and steel components and parts on our carriages. On our Aluminum Carriages we do bolt on iron parts using steel bolts, washers, and nuts however we put a special backing behind every part so as not to create Galvanic Corrosion. ” GALVANIC CORROSION” When two metallic materials are in contact in the presence of a corrosive electrolyte. corrosion still increase on the least noble material (the anode) and decrease on the noblest (the cathode). The increase in corrosion is called galvanic corrosion.

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All of our gun carriages are ground and sanded so that no casting seams are present from the casting method.

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All of our carriages receive a 5 mill thickness of rust inhibitive paint with two part epoxy industrial enamel in olive drab and gloss black paint. A 100% acrylic exterior paint is used for the final (3) coats of paint.

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We are the only company that can supply you with the correct size of gun carriage tar your barrel. Most companies use a No. 1 Field Carriage Trail), Axle, and Wheels and bolt on No. 2 Cheeks or No.3 Cheeks when they are required to furnish a No.2 or No.3 Carriage. The result is a very disproportionate gun carriage with over-sized rondelles.

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The finish product is a carriage that when put beside a traditional wood carriage people find it hard to tell the difference.

Steen vs Competitors

Metal Carriage Specifications

First Model Prairie Iron Specs

Aluminum Siege Carriage Specs

Iron Field Carriage Specs

Siege Carriage Specifications

Material Components Aluminum, #356 and B-535 Almag
Trail = #356 Aluminum
Cheeks, Axle & Wheels = B-535 Almag

Total Weight Approximately 3000 lbs. (the heaviest in the industry)

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Metal Thickness Trail = 1″ (one inch)
Cheek, ¾” (three quarters inch)
Wheels, Spokes & Fellies = solid
Hub = 4″ wall thickness
Axle, 3″ (three inch) and solid

Special Features

1. Solid ductile iron Axle (65,000 lb. tensile strength) made to original specifications with special barrier placed between iron and aluminum.

2. Elevation screw box cast in solid brass.

3. All hardware constructed from either steel or ductile iron.

Exterior Finish

1. All aluminum components are etched with a special Aluma-Prep solution.

2. All metal components and hardware are painted with a High-Performance Red Oxide Primmer.

3. Aluminum components are painted with an industrial two-part metal epoxy.

4. A faux wood grain finish is applied over epoxy finish.

5. Two coats of 100% Acrylic water base industrial finish is applied for final finish. The result is a strong durable finish that can still be easily maintained in the field unlike “Powder-Coated” finishes that have to be sent back to the factory for re-painting.

Front Pintle Barbette Carriage Specifications

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Materials              .25 (1/4″) steel

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Components         Carriage and Chassis

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Total Weight         Approximately 4200 lbs. (the heaviest in the industry)

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Metal Thickness    Carriage & Chassis = .25″

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Wheels

• Wheels -Cast almag aluminum

• Roller Wheels – ductile iron

• Traverse wheels – ductile iron

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Axle                      Ductile iron

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Special Features   Our carriage is constructed to the exact
                             dimensions of the original. Every detail that you will find
                             on the origianl wood carriage you will see on our metal carriage.

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Exterior Finish     All surfaces are cleaned with metal prep
                             and etched. All metal surfaces receive a special rust inhibitive
                             primer then a two part epoxy industrial coating. A 100%
                             acrylic top coating is then applied multiple times with a simulated
                             wood grain finish.

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