Project Description
!!!!!SOLD!!!!! This is a 1/4 scale “Eclipse” can gun made by John Sutherland of Michigan. 8 13/16″ long overall with a 5 1/16″ barrel of about .14 caliber. The body of the cane is a light colored wood that has darkened circles to resemble cane or bamboo. The handle and handle plug are bone or maybe horn of some kind. The Eclipse can gun works in an unusual fashion. The cane is pulled apart near the middle which exposes a brass cartridge loading tray, the cartridge is loaded, then the cane is pushed back together to chamber the round. The plug is then removed from the handle and you blow into the cane handle which causes the firing pin to hit the cartridge primer firing the cane. These were commonly used for poaching small game in the King’s forest, or for warding off stray dogs & varmints. Complete with the original Sutherland walnut and mahogany glass topped case. The interior lined in a dark blue velvet. You would normally remove one end of the case frame to remove the glass, what I call a Chinese puzzle box case, but evidently someone didn’t know this and broke off the top of the other end to remove the glass. An interesting piece and seldom offered for sale. Stock # ES-17. !!!!!SOLD!!!!!
