"Kingdom of Italy guns." Topic

Here are some photographs from my collection of artillery ‘tubes' from various places. All were cast in Pavia (20 miles S. of Milan) Italy – the location of the Kingdom of Italy's Foundry. The founder was Biagio Bernardo Bianco:

1 lb. Amussette. Copenhagen – Tøjhusmuseet (Royal Danish Arsenal Museum):
link

4lb gun. Vienna – Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Military History Museum):
link

6 lb 1808. Borodino Battlefield Museum:
link

6 lb #2.: Moscow Kremlin:
link

6 lb #3 detail. Moscow Borodino Panorama Museum:
link

320 mm mortar Gomer chamber 1810. Turin, the Citadel,Museo Storico Nazionale di Artiglieria:
link

Kingdom of Italy guns from the 4th edition (Vienna: 1903) of the "Katalog des k. k. Heeresmuseums ….":

Nr. 15 1-pfündiges Kanonenrohr mit Steinschloß, in Lafette; das Rohr mit der Inschrift: ««Pavia 1808»» und mit der lombardischen Krone.

…

148. 12-zölliger weittreibender italienischer Mörser, gegossen von Biaggio Bianco zu Pavia 1805. Kaliber 33 cm, Länge der Bohrung 69 cm.

149. 8-zölliger weittreibender italienischer Mörser, gegossen von Biaggio Bianco zu Pavia 1805. Kaliber 22.5 cm, Länge der Bohrung 44'5 cm.

150 und 151. Zwei 15-zöllige stehende italienische Steinmörser, gegossen in der königlichen Gießerei zu Pavia 1812. Kaliber 40.7 cm, Länge des Fluges 50.5 cm; die Pulverkammer ist cylindrisch, 16.5 cm tief. Vor dem Henkel die lombardische Krone mit den Worten des Wahlspruches: ««Guai a chi la toccherä.»»

152. 12-zölliger weittreibender italienischer Mörser, gegossen zu Pavia 1812. Kaliber 32.5 cm,Länge der in die konische Kammer übergehenden Bohrung 69 cm. Die Krone trägt den ganzen Wahlspruch: ««Dio me l'ha data, guai a chi la to(ccherä)»».

…

154 und 155. Zwei 6-zöllige italienische Batteriehaubitzen, gegossen in Pavia 1812. Kaliber 16.5 cm, Länge des Fluges 71 cm, der Pulverkammer 26 cm. Am Vorderstücke die lombardische Krone wie bei Nr. 150 und 151.

156 und 159. 24-pfündige kurze italienische Belagerungskanonen, gegossen zu Pavia in den Jahren 1808 (von Biaggio Bianco) und 1810/11. Kaliber 12 cm, Länge 294 cm. Zeichnung der Krone hier und auf den folgenden Rohren (bis Nr. 161) wie bei Nr. 152.

157. 12-pfündige italienische Feldkanone, gegossen zu Pavia 1809 (1810) von Biaggio Bianco. Kaliber 15 cm, Länge 249 cm.

158. 24-pfündige lange italienische Belagerungskanone, gegossen zu Pavia 1812. Kaliber 15 cm,Länge 323 cm. Das Rohr weist zwei Mündungstreffer und zwei Aufschläge am Vorderstücke auf, auch der rechte Henkel ist gestreift.

160. 6-pfündige italienische Verteidigungskanone, gegossen zu Pavia 1810. Kaliber 9.5 cm,Länge 240 cm.

161. 6-pfüündige italienische Feldkanone, gegossen zu Pavia 1813. Kaliber 9.5 cm, Länge 166 cm.

162. 4-pfündige italienische Feldkanone, gegossen zu Pavia 1811. Kaliber 7.7 cm, Länge 140 cm. Zeichnung der Krone ähnlich wie bei Nr. 150.

The only Naples (Joseph) piece I have ever found:

153. 5 3/4-zöllige sizilianische Batteriehaubitze. Kaliber 15.2 cm, Länge 101 cm, Länge des Fluges 75 cm, der Pulverkammer 19 cm. Am Vorderstücke das gekrönte Monogramm Giuseppe Napoleons, des Königs beider Sizilien (1806-1808). Der Name des Rohres: ««Il balenante»». Amlinken Schildzapfen die Bezeichnung F. di Napoli.

Thanks Steve
The 1-pdr Amusette is certainly interesting cast in 1808 in Pavia. It looks like that it would take a lock. Do you think it was possibly a mountain gun?

The "4-pdr" is of Gribeauval 4-pdr design but with 77mm bore is a 3-pdr which is very interesting.

Certainly very interesting. The two that struck me were the two 6-pouce howitzers cast in 1812. These have a calibre of 165mm which is the same as the M1795 Long Port that was used with the French 12-pdr batteries but they seem much shorter.

Stephen

Stephen,

1 lb. Amussette: The picture is of the tube in Copenhagen. Note that the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum has a complete tube WITH carriage. It also states "Kanonenrohr mit Steinschloss".

4 lb gun: It is my practice to refer to a piece by the national designation. It is my present believe that the KofI called this a 4 lber. I am trying to get clarification on this matter. I have a large collection of Italian books heading my way via ship. Those works might add to my understanding.

I will add the material from the Petrov catalog on the 72 Italian pieces in the Kremlin catalog today (I hope!).

Steve

Dear Steve
Thank you as ever at pointing out that the Vienna Amusette has a carriage.

The "4-pdr" may be correct for the Piedmont in calibre but the Kingdom of Italy adopted the French calibres and this would be a 3-pdr with the casting date. Certainly a very interest to find out more upon these.

THanks
Stephen

Seventy-two (72) guns listed as ‘Italian' in the 1911 Petrov catalog of pieces taken during the
1812 Russian campaign then existing in the Kremlin collection. These pieces were organized
along two faces of the Arsenal Building (the other two faces being part of the Kremlin wall).
The catalog provides the location, by section, around the building:

Note: The Russian measurement of the time was the same as the English inch and pound; 1 pud
= 40 lbs.

4 lb (15 pieces, 2 NOT KofI): Bore 3"; length: 56"; weight: 19 pud:

p. 31, #105: P.K. over 319. Crown. See:
link

p. 31, #106: P.K. over 315. Crown.

p. 59, #38: 221.5 K.; No. 19; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #39: 224.5 K.; No. 2; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #40: 230.7 K.; No. 24; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #41: 226.7 K.; No. 16; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #42: 228.8 K.; No. 9; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #43: 229.08 K.; No. 29; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #44: 229.112 K.; No. 25; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #45: 228.11 K.; No. 26; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #46: 227.80 K.; No. 15; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #47: 227.78 K.; No. 22; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.
p. 59, #48: 229.08 K.; No. 20; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1811; Italian crown.

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6 lb (31 pieces): Bore: 3.8"; length 64"; weight 25 pud:

p. 51, #111:1225 L; No 81; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; Italian crown.

p. 51, #112:1225 L; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809 Xbre 31; Italian crown.

p. 51, #113:1217 L; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1807; Italian crown.

The following 16 pieces weigh between 1189 L and 1273 L:
p. 52, #118; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; Italian crown.
p. 52, #119; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809; Italian crown.
p. 52, #120; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; Italian crown.
p. 52, #121; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; Italian crown.
p. 52, #122; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; Italian crown.
p. 52, #123; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; Italian crown.
p. 52, #124; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 Xbre 11; Italian crown.
p. 52, #125; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809; Italian crown.
p. 52, #126; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809 Xbre 13; Italian crown.
p. 52, #127; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809 Xbre 13; Italian crown.
p. 52, #128; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 31 Sept.; Italian crown.
p. 52, #129; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809 X; Italian crown.
p. 52, #130; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; Italian crown.
p. 52, #131; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; No. 89; Italian crown.
p. 52, #132; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809; No. 4; 1189 L; Italian crown. See:
link
link
p. 52, #133; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; 1173 L; Italian crown.

The following 10 pieces weigh between 1189 L and 1215 L; Nos. & weight on trunnion faces:
p. 52, #138; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; Italian crown.
p. 52, #139; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; No. 16; Italian crown.
p. 52, #140; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809; Italian crown.
p. 52, #141; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1802; No. 18; Italian crown.
p. 52, #142; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; No. 17; 1189 L.; Italian crown.
p. 52, #143; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; No. 62; 1190 L.; Italian crown.
p. 52, #144; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; No. 67; 1208 L.; talian crown.
p. 52, #145; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809; No. 7; 1215 L.; Italian crown.
p. 52, #146; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810; No. 36; 1208 L.; Italian crown.
p. 52, #147; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; No. 72; 1215 L.; Italian crown.

p. 54., #172; 1197 L. No. 38.r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1803 Gen 31; Italian crown.

p. 54., #173; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1809 27 Xbre.; Italian crown.

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12 lb (12 pieces, 1 NOT KofI): Bore: 4.8 "; length: 81"; weight 60 pud:

p. 33, #152: Libre 2335; Biaggio Bianco fece a Pavia a l'anno 1807; Italian crown.

p. 33, #153: Libre 2331; Biaggio Bianco fece a Pavia a l'anno 1808; Italian crown.

p. 35, #191: No. 13; Libre 2336; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 Xbre 31; Italian crown.

p. 35, #192: No. 4; Libre 2423; Biaggio Bianco fece a Pavia a l'anno 1807; Italian crown.

p. 48, #56: r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 Xbre 31; Italian crown. Note r. f.= Real fonderia.

p. 48, #59: r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 Xbre 31; Italian crown.

p. 52, #134: 2300 L.; No. 15.; r. f. Pavia; Italian crown.

p. 52, #136: 2315 L.; No. 3.; Italian crown.

p. 54., #174; 2410 L.; No. 9.; Italian crown.

p. 54, #177; 2359 L.; No. 14; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1810 Xbre 31; Italian crown.

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Howitzers (22 fund) (14 pieces): Bore: 6"; length: 40"; weight: 18 pud:

p. 62, #140: No. 17; 905 libr; f. Pavia 1810; Italian crown.

p. 62, #142: No. 23; 874 libr.; Italian crown.
p. 62, #143: Italian crown.

p. 63, #151: 894 libr.; No. 9; Italian crown.

p. 63, #153: P. 292.11 kil; No.38; Italian crown.

p. 63, #154: Italian crown.

p. 63, #158: 1810. 8ber 31; Italian crown.
p. 63, #159: 1810 avril 30; Italian crown.
p. 63, #160: 1810 Xbre 31; Italian crown.
p. 63, #161: 1810 Xbre 30; Italian crown.
p. 63, #162: 1808 Xbre 30; Italian crown.
p. 63, #163: 1810 avril 30; Italian crown.
p. 63, #164: 1810 8bre 31; Italian crown.
p. 63, #165: No. 45; P. 17 pud. 7 fn.; Italian crown. Note: There seems to be missing info re one
of these pieces: there are seven dates for eight pieces.

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Other, NON KofI, Italian pieces:

Italian Republic:

4 lb:

p. 31, #107: "Il Violente"; No. 20; Francesco Bianco F. a. 1799; R. I.

p. 31, #108: "Il Violente"; No. 24; without dolphins. R. I. A probable error as both have same
name.

12 lb:

p. 33, #150: "Il capriccimo"; 8 R. 66.; Fuso il 27 Febrajo Barento e Torito. Dal cap. fran
Tihavsky secouro.

Dear Steve
Thanks for that that is a great assistance.

Can you check the date of the following two as Kingdom of Italy was established in 1805.

Also what month is Xbre? I am assuming December.

p. 52, #141; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1802; No. 18; Italian crown.
p. 54., #172; 1197 L. No. 38.r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1803 Gen 31; Italian crown.

Thanks
Stephen
Stephen

Xbre? I am assuming December. Correcto! I can only report what the catalog states.

Steve

Should be:

p. 52, #141; r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1806; No. 18; Italian crown.

Re:
p. 54., #172; 1197 L. No. 38.r. f. Pavia a l'anno 1803 Gen 31; Italian crown. I suspect the date to be incorrect.

Steve

Dear Steve
Thank you for the clarification. I agree that the 1803 date seems wrong.

Thank you for this. I have now tabulated the results.

Stephen