Christopher H. Roads

A Lifetime of Adventure, Exploration & Preserving  Unique Natural and Historic Heritage

Cannon

There are several reasons why Omani forts and castles are so well-stocked with muzzle-loading cannon. First, during the age of Omani imperial expansion its forces captured many Portuguese fortified towns along the Indian Ocean rim, bringing the cannon back to Oman for local defence against the foreign invasions that had plagued the country. Second, Oman’s British allies donated many obsolete cannon. Third, the large number of damaged cannon, typically with the muzzle blown off, may be due to the importance of Oman’s harbours to merchant vessels of other nations.  The usual way for a cannon to end its working life was for the muzzle to part company with the rest of the barrel when fired one time too many. Ships often used broken cannon and other iron scrap as ballast, dumping them when enough cargo was taken aboard. Fortunately, the intact breeches and trunnions of these scrapped cannon usually contain the markings that establish their historical provenance. HAEC craftsmen have rescued many abandoned cannon, both inside forts and outside, and have cast new muzzles for the more historically important exploded cannon and welded them to the surviving part.
1862 British bronze 6 pdr field gun

Superb 1862 bronze 6 pdr on HAEF replica carriage

1862 British bronze 6 pdr field gun

Superb bronze 1862 6 pdr replica limber

Superb bronze 1862 6 pdr replica limber

1862 British 6 pdr limber

British 6 pdr cannon limber

British 6 pdr cannon limbber buit by HAEF

British 6 pdr cannon limber

Firing original barrrel on HAEF replica carriage

Firing the 1862 British 6 pdr

Firing the British 6 pdr & US 12 pdr

Original cannon barrels on HAEF replica carriages

Firing the British 6 pdr & US 12 pdr

16th Century breech-loading cannon

The cannon showroom at HAEF Muscat office

16th Century breech-loading cannon

Cannon with restored muzzle

Portuguese cnnon with restored muzzle and reproduction carriage;

Cannon with restored muzzle

Small arms-themed furniture by HAEF

Small arms-themed furniture by HAEF

12 pdr Napoleon by Alger of Boston

12 pdr Napoleon by Alger of Boston, discovered in Oman

12 pdr Napoleon by Alger of Boston, discovered in Oman

Trunnion of Alger 12 pdr Napoleon

Captured Portuguese cannon with unusually prexerved markings

Captured Portuguese cannon with unusually prexerved markings

Trunnion of Alger 12 pdr Napoleon

Trunnion of Alger 12 pdr Napoleon discovered in Oman

Trunnion of Alger 12 pdr Napoleon discovered in Oman

Limber of Cyrus Alger cannon

Limber constructed by HAEF for Cyrus Alger cannon

Limber constructed by HAEF for Cyrus Alger cannon

British 6 pdr carriage showing horse bucket

British 6 pdr reproduction carriage showing horse bucket

British 6 pdr reproduction carriage showing horse bucket

6 pdr limber with accoutrements

6 pdr limber built by HAEF

6 pdr limber with accoutrements

6 pdr limber built by HAEF

6 pdr limber accotrements

Carbines in limber of British 6 pdr

Carbines in reproduction limber of British 6 pdr

Carbines in reproduction limber of British 6 pdr

6 pdr cannon carriage

6 pdr cannon carriage built by HAEF

6 pdr cannon carriage built by HAEF

Garrison gun at Al Hazm

Guns conserved by HAEF at Al Hazm

Garrison gun at Al Hazm

Garrison gun at Al Hazm

Guns conserved by HAEF at Al Hazm

Garrison gun at Al Hazm

Gun at Al Hazm

Guns conserved by HAEF at Al Hazm

Guns conserved by HAEF at Al Hazm

Naval guns at Barka

Guns restored by HAEF at Barka

Naval guns at Barka

Awaiting conservation at Al Hazm

Guns awaiting conservation at Al Hazm

Guns awaiting conservation at Al Hazm

Carronade at Barka

Guns restored by HAEF at Barka

Carronade at Barka

Garrrison gun at Barka

Guns restored by HAEF at Barka

Garrrison gun at Barka

Garrrison gun at Barka

Guns restored by HAEF at Barka

Garrrison gun at Barka

Cannon for conservation, Barka

Cannon awaiting conservation at Barka

Guns at Mirbat on wrong repro carriages

Guns at Mirbat on inappropriate recent carriages

Guns at Mirbat on wrong repro carriages

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Conserved cannon at Mutrah

Cannon at Nizwa castle

HAEF mounted cannon at Nizwa castle

HAEF mounted cannon at Nizwa castle

Gun at Mutrah before restoration

Quick-firing gun at Mutrah before HAEF restoration

Quick-firing gun at Mutrah before HAEF restoration

Portuguese cannon, HAEF carriage, Mutrah

Prtuguese cannon on HAEF carriage, Mutrah

Portuguese cannon, HAEF carriage, Mutrah

16th Century breech-loading cannon

Quick-firing gun after conservation by HAEF at Mutrah

Quick-firing gun after conservation by HAEF at Mutrah

Cannon being assembled

Cannon being mounted on replica carriages at HAEF workshop

Cannon being assembled

Neglected cannon awaiting rescue

Neglected cannon awaiting rescue

Neglected cannon awaiting rescue

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Neglected cannon awaiting conservation

Restoring an antique Omani carriage

Restoring an antique Omani carriage

Restoring an antique Omani carriage