Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is a 1/12 scale Vickers-Maxim 2.95″ mountain gun or pack howitzer made by legendary Australian master miniaturist Frank Adlam, probably in the 1950’s – 1960’s.
Mr. Adlam was an armorer in the Australian military, and made a large number of one-of-a-kind miniature firearms as used by the Australian military during his service including pistols, rifles, machine guns, Gatling guns, & cannons over a period of about 13 years. Most of Mr. Adlam’s miniatures are featured in the book “The Art of Miniature Firearms – Centuries of Craftsmanship” on pages 102 – 108, this exact piece featured on page 107. Mr. Adlam made miniatures in 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, & 1/12 scales. Some models he made the same firearm in three different scales! When Australia started confiscating firearms many years ago, the powers that be in their government decided that Mr. Adlam’s miniatures were dangerous weapons & should have the barrels welded closed. The Australian firearms collecting community rallied together to keep the collection literally three steps ahead of the law until a bill was passed in 1993 by the Australian government exempting the collection from such a horrendous fate! At which point I was instrumental in helping my employer, Imperial Miniature Armory, to purchase the entire collection intact in about 1994. The collection was of very high quality & was easily sold for impressive amounts to several different very advanced collectors. Several of the pieces I have acquired in the past few years & resold. This mountain howitzer was sold by me when I worked for IMA, so has been off the market for almost 30 years. I am proud to once again be able to offer it for sale.
We initially thought this piece was 1/8 scale 30 years ago, but in looking up the measurements of the original today I find it is more properly 1/12 scale. 6 7/16″ long overall with a 3 1/8″ barrel of .256 caliber. Beautiful interrupted screw breech opened by a lever from left to right. 3″ diameter wood spoked dished wheels with brass hubs & rims, the hubs held to the spokes by steel rivets finished in the white. The carriage is mostly sheet metal with riveted construction & finished in an olive drab green paint. There is an elevation wheel on the rear left side of the barrel turning a gear set which turns a spiral gear which raises & lowers the barrel. The barrel housing & functional recoil mechanisms are also finished in an olive drab green paint. The breech end of the barrel including the complex breech itself is finished in the white. There are three rings atop the barrel & breech for lifting onto a pack mule, pack horse, or wagon. There is a front sight on the left front of the barrel, and the base for the rear sight on the left rear of the barrel, but the rear sight itself is missing. There’s a lever with what looks to be a safety release on the right side of the axle near the carriage. I’m not sure what it’s function is. I’m going to let the photos tell the rest of the story. A gorgeous extremely well made piece by a very famous maker & sure to be the centerpiece of your miniature cannon collection! Please note that I also have the equally outstanding big brother to this piece in 1/6 scale! Maybe buy the pair!!! Stock # RC-25. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
